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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Board Certified Forensic Pathologist Kanthi De Alwis testifies on Kollin Elderts' fatal injuries.
Kollin Elderts died from a gunshot wound to the chest, with alcohol and traces of marijuana and cocaine in his system, the medical examiner who performed an autopsy said.
Retired city Medical Examiner Dr. Kanthi De Alwi testified Wednesday in the murder trial of State Department special agent Christopher Deedy.
There was also gun power on the right side of Elderts’ face, indicating the muzzle of a gun was 10 inches to two feet away when fired, De Alwis said.
De Alwis was called by the prosecution in the 11th day of Deedy’s trial on a charge of murdering Elderts at about 2:45 a.m. Nov. 5, 2011, at the McDonald’s Kuhio Avenue restaurant.
Deedy, 29, of Arlington, Va., was here to provide security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.
He is accused of being drunk and inexperienced at the time he shot Elderts, an unarmed 23-year-old Kailua man.
Deedy’s defense is that he fired in self defense after Elderts grabbed his gun. Three shots were fired, the third fatal.
De Alwis, who performed the autopsy, said the fatal bullet hit Elderts in chest and ended up lodged under the skin in his back.
She said Elderts’ blood alcohol content was .12. Under state law, .08 is the legal threshold for drunken driving.
De Alwis said Elderts’ blood also had the breakdown of marijuana and cocaine, but no evidence of methamphetamine or PCP.
She said the gunpowder was left on the face while Elderts’ heart was “still beating prior to the fatal wound.”
