HK hostages shot at close range ‘not conclusive’ — NBI By Benjamin B. Pulta 09/09/2010

HK hostages shot at close range ‘not conclusive’ — NBI
By Benjamin B. Pulta
09/09/2010

Post-mortem examinations of the slain hostages in the Aug. 23 bloody bus siege showed no conclusive indication the victims were shot at close range, resurrecting the possibility that some of the hostages were killed in the crossfire from indiscriminate firing of police rescuers, the inter-agency fact finding body on the incident that outraged Hong Kong and China uncovered yesterday.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) medico-legal division chief Dr. Floresto Arizala Jr. explained “there was no report showing near or contact fire.”

He said the autopsy result is not yet considered conclusive since there still is a need to countercheck it through other physical evidence.

“I would suggest the clothes (of the fatalities) be retrieved,” he told the panel, referring to possible evidence that could answer the question on whether or not the victims were shot at close range.

Asked by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, head of the Insident and Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), to elaborate, he said there were “no signs of smudging, tattooing, or burning” in the bodies of the victims shown in the autopsy report.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100909hed1.html