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Expert details injuries to slain teen

A U.S.-based expert in tool-marks on bones took the witness stand Thursday during the trial for accused serial killer Cody Alan Legebokoff. Dr.
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A U.S.-based expert in tool-marks on bones took the witness stand Thursday during the trial for accused serial killer Cody Alan Legebokoff.

Dr. Steven Symes testified that after an autopsy on Loren Donn Leslie was completed in Kamloops, her body was transported to Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania where he took a closer look at the injuries to her right hand, facial bones, neck and skull.

Crown prosecution is alleging a pipewrench and a multitool with Leslie's blood on them were seized from Legebokoff's pickup truck the night her body was found and that she died from blunt force trauma and stab wounds.

Symes told the court there was a "line of trauma" across the right side of Leslie's face and she was hit in that area at least four times. Symes also testified that fractures to the inside of Leslie's skull were found, indicating she was hit with a "notable" force, "bordering on tremendous."

Using leather to reproduce marks, Symes said he conducted tests using a pipe wrench similar to the one found in Legebokoff's truck. Symes said he could not rule out the pipe wrench as the weapon.

On the multitool, Symes was less conclusive although he noted the stab wounds to Leslie's throat caused by a single-edged blade similar to the one found on the device.

Symes noted the ring Leslie was wearing on a right-hand finger was compressed on both sides while the finger itself was broken right through. Speculating on the cause, Symes said the hand could have been stepped on while on the ground, caught in a car door or hit while Leslie was trying to protect her head from being hit.

"I've seen that before," Symes said.

Symes holds a doctorate in forensic anthropology after completing a dissertation on tool-marks on bone. He is also an authority on saw and knife mark analysis on bone and skin, the court heard.

As has occurred for much of the trial, the 14-person jury was shown photos from Syme's examination of Leslie as well as those from her autopsy.

Leslie's body was found on the night of Nov. 27, 2010 and sparked an investigation that has led to Legebokoff facing four first-degree murder charges. In addition to Leslie, 15, Legebokoff is accused of murdering Jill Stacey Stuchenko, 35, Cynthia Frances Maas, 35, and Natasha Lynn Montgomery, 24.

Earlier Thursday, pathologist John Stefanelli, who carried out the autopsy on Leslie, said there were no signs Leslie had tried to commit suicide by slashing her wrists. Although there were scratch marks, some healed over and some inflicted recently before her death, Stefanelli said none were deep enough to be life-threatening.

Legebokoff told police Leslie "went crazy" and tried to kill herself on the night in question.

Symes will return to the courthouse this morning to give testimony on the death of Maas, whose body was found in L.C. Gunn Park on Oct. 9, 2010.