A forensic psychologist who performed an autopsy on Colleen Rebelo said he could not rule out that the mother of four died from asphyxiation.
Forensic pathologist Reimar Junckerstorff told the Washington Supreme Court that it was possible for people to die from asphyxiation or suffocation, without any discernible signs in their body or brain post-mortem.
“You can hit people and not leave a bruise, it’s less common,” he told the WA Supreme Court on Thursday.
Dr. Junckerstorff was testifying in the murder trial of Andre Zachary Rebelo, accused of killing his mother to make money from life insurance policies he took out against her the week before her death.
He has pleaded not guilty to her murder.
The forensic pathologist agreed with defense attorney Anthony Elliott If Mrs. Rebelo had been asphyxiated, it would be possible that she had injuries such as defensive wounds, but she did not observe those types of injuries on her body.
He said it was more common for police to carry out tracing work and take nail scrapings than pathologists.
It is still unknown how Ms Rebelo died, and Dr Junckerstorff told the court that ancillary tests carried out on her body did not help determine the cause of her death.
Andre Zachary Rebelo (pictured with his ex-partner, model Gracie Piscopo) is accused of killing his mother to make money from the life insurance policies he took out against her the week before her death.
Days after his mother’s death, Rebelo began the claims process to access the premiums that allowed him to earn $1.15 million.
Dr Junckerstorff performed an autopsy on Ms Rebelo three days after her death and told the court she had blood spots on her eyelids that would be present with asphyxiation, CPR, a chest injury or neck compression.
Dr Junckerstorff said blood spots on the eyelids occurred when there was a blockage in the nose or mouth preventing the person from breathing.
He performed a CT scan of Ms. Rebelo’s body which revealed that she did not have any bleeding in the brain, skull fractures or skeletal injuries.
He found injuries to her face and body, including bruises and an abrasion to her eyebrows, along with some bruises and abrasions to her hands, arms and legs.
When Mr Elliott asked him if the bruise on his eyebrow could have been caused by a punch, he replied: “Yes.”
Dr Junckerstorff told the court that bruising on the back of Ms Rebelo’s left hand, wrist and forearm could have been due to force or grip, and that injuries around her eyebrows were consistent with an injury. collapse type.
Ms Rebelo was found dead at her home in Bicton, south-west of Perth. on May 25, 2020 by her youngest son, Fabián, after she failed to pick him up from work that day.
Rebelo was charged with his mother’s murder when police discovered he had taken out three life insurance policies against her the week before her death.
It is unknown how Colleen Rebelo died
Colleen Rebelo’s GP, Dr Niall Dermott Barrett, told the Washington Supreme Court that she was unlikely to die due to a medical condition she had been living with for some time. Photo: facebook
Days after Mrs. Rebelo’s death, her son began the claim process to access the premiums in which he could earn $1.15 million.
he too submitted falsified documents to one of the insurers, including false medical information about his mother, a false coroner’s report regarding her death, and her last will and testament.
The insurer suspected the claim was fraudulent and reported it to the police.
Rebelo pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud in connection with the forged documents.
Ms. Rebelo’s death, although unexpected, was not treated as suspicious by first responders who were called to her home when she died.
Andre Zachary Rebelo (pictured with his former model partner) has pleaded not guilty
Medical experts, including Ms Rebelo’s GP Dr Niall Barrett and endocrinologist Timothy Welborn, gave evidence at the trial and told the court Ms Rebelo was healthy when she died.
Both witnesses said it was unlikely that Mrs. Rebelo died suddenly or from medical conditions she had been experiencing at the time of her death.
The trial continues.