Defense points to ‘mistakes’ by doctor in Mount Union double homicide trial | WTAJ

HUNTINGDON, Pa. (WTAJ) — Testimony heard by the jury during the third day of the double homicide trial of Morico Johnson called into question the facts and findings that the autopsy expert reported more than 15 years ago but revised last week.

On Friday morning, the Commonwealth began hearing testimony from Dr. Harry Kamerow, a pathologist at Mount Nittany Healthcare, who performed the autopsies on victims Christine McWhorter and Beatrice Daniels. He confirmed that the cause of death for both women was homicide and a gunshot wound to the head. He also noted that a secondary gunshot wound to McWhorter’s left forearm was consistent with a defensive position in an attempt to protect herself from gunfire.

Following a brief recess, defense attorney Jonathan Simms called the jury’s attention to multiple “errors” made in the doctor’s reports, in particular, with Daniels’ autopsy report initially stating that the gunshot wound was indicative of a near-contact gunshot, a belief supported by the doctor’s July 12, 2022 testimony at a hearing in this case in which he said, according to the hearing transcript, that the “gunpowder stippling” around the wound was typical of a near-contact gunshot wound, at approximately 6-8 inches specifically or, more generally, less than 12 inches away.

Last week, he amended both autopsy reports with an addendum to show that the gunshot wound was caused by a gun fired at an intermediate distance — 12 to 18 inches or less than 36 inches. He also corrected other errors, including the inclusion of the women’s incorrect ages and incorrect time of death, as well as multiple spelling mistakes. The attorney submitted into evidence copies of the doctor’s autopsy reports in which he handwrote these corrections and his personal notes.

The Commonwealth then called State Trooper Chadwick, a retired Pennsylvania State Police Huntingdon trooper who was involved in the investigation, to the stand. They laid the groundwork for establishing that he was involved in collecting evidence at the autopsies and canvassing the neighborhood after the homicide to gather information.

The defence began cross-examination to ask why officers were alerted in August 2009 to the discovery of another bullet in the mattress of a bed at the property where the homicide occurred and how the investigation into this bullet was conducted. This line of questioning proved tedious as Chadwick had to refresh his memory using documents provided by counsel and had few first-hand recollections of these events. He was also asked if the PSP had ever confirmed the location of another possible suspect in the homicide during the time of the homicide. Chadwick had no recollection.

Chadwick testified that he was in Harrisburg in May 2009 to interview people about this homicide investigation and a narcotics case involving some of the same people. After Simms asked if those people had ever been charged at the federal level, the Commonwealth requested a judicial conference, which was granted.

As the attorneys left the courtroom, the court recessed for lunch and testimony will resume at 1:30 p.m.

Stay with WTAJ News for more coverage of this trial.