The family of a US scientist found hanged in Singapore last year walked out of a coroner’s inquiry into their son’s death Tuesday, saying they had “lost faith” in the proceedings.
“The prosecution brings forth witnesses at the last minute and we have no chance to question it. Basically we actually have lost faith in the process,” Rick Todd, father of the late Shane Todd, told reporters outside a courthouse.
The walkout came as the inquiry was told a new witness was about to be introduced, and after the family’s star witness, US pathologist Edward Adelstein, was chided by a senior Singapore government lawyer for speculating on the cause of death.
Adelstein, 75, a deputy medical examiner in Missouri, said Todd was murdered and his death made to look like a suicide as part of a conspiracy. But he admitted his conclusions were based on pictures of the body and second-hand information.
“We were told from the beginning that this will be honest and open. We were just chastised this morning for bringing forth evidence,” said Rick Todd.
Todd’s parents, who also plan to testify, say their son was killed in June 2012 because of his work for a Singapore electronics research institute with alleged links to a Chinese firm accused of involvement in espionage.
Adelstein testified that Shane Todd was “a very dangerous person” to the two Asian companies, and asserted without offering any evidence that “they had him killed” and well-trained “assassins” may have been involved.
Family of US scientist walks out of coroner's inquiry
