Prince George, B.C. – Forensic Pathologist,  Dr.  John Stefanelli  was on the stand this afternoon in the  multiple murder trial of Cody Alan Legebokoff.

Dr. Stefanelli  performed the autopsy on the remains of Loren Donn Leslie, the 15 year old who was found  dead  off highway 27 in late November of 2010.

He  testified  Ms. Leslie had numerous injuries,  including fractures  to the  fingers on her right hand,  and a small  cut  on the second finger of her right hand  at the joint nearest the tip of the finger.  It was a cut he believes was consistent with what is  called a  defensive wound.

He told the court  sometimes  a victim will try to  grab a blade  or sharp object as a means of  protection, resulting  in this kind of  wound.  In his opinion “Ms. Leslie was trying to stop or block a sharp object from approaching her.”

When asked if  a person  with fractured fingers could  grip an item,  he said  that to do so “would very painful.”

During the autopsy he also  recorded  bruising and abrasions on the back of her left hand, injuries he said  were “consistent with  a defensive injury where a person puts their hand up to block a blow.”

Legebokoff  is accused of murdering Loren Leslie,  Jill Stuchenko,  Cynthia Maas and  Natasha Montgomery.  The trial is expected to last 6-8 months.