"The cause of death given on the autopsy report (which must surely be only a brief summary, as no judicial autopsy report can possibly be this short) is useless and gives no true information at all about the underlying pathology leading to the death 6 it is merely a statement of the terminal mode of death, not the cause and is thus of no value whatsoever. "The autopsy reveals bruising of the soles of both feet, a perforation of the large intestine at the rectosigmoid junction, extensive bruising and oedema of the buttocks, various other bruises on the face, arms, head and legs. The only potentially fatal injury is perforation of the rectosigmoid junction. The only cause for this, in the absence of any serious stated disease such as cancer, severe colitis etc., is a perforating injury. This can only be caused, in the absence of gross abdominal injury, by an object being introduced into the rectum. This could occur without any damage to the anal margin, if a thin, pointed object, such as a thin rod was slid into the anus. Thus the objections of the three professors are unfounded, if they base their denial on the absence of anal damage. The bruising of the soles of the feet can only occur from beating in falanga. The bruising and oedema of the buttocks is typical of a beating in that area. "I entirely concur with Professor Pounder and agree that this cannot be a "traffic accident", but is a deliberate injury to the lower intestine by the introduction of a thin weapon into the rectum, in a man who has been beaten on the feet and buttocks." 9.8 The second report, prepared by Professor Fournier of the Université René Descartes in Paris on 10 October 1994, indicates that: "[The autopsy report], which may be described as very succinct, furnishes no evidence as to the true cause of death. ... Most of the lesions described could be ascribed to a road accident. However, two factors rule out this hypothesis: The perforation of the rectosigmoid junction, which cannot be accounted for in terms of a mechanism of sharp deceleration and cannot be linked to an osteal lesion of the pelvis. The lesions on the soles of both feet, which are difficult to imagine in such circumstances. ... "The hypothesis of death by inhibition is compatible with the observations made during examination with the naked eye. This type of death, which may be observed when violence is applied but also sometimes independently of any context of violence or torture, has been described on the occasion of vaginal or rectal examination, various punctures (of the pleura, the lumbar region, etc.), or injury to the testicles, the solar plexus region or the neck. The exact mechanism of death is not known, but pulmonary congestion is usually observed. As the dossier stands, and in the absence of more precise data concerning the prior clinical state and the toxicological context, the hypothesis of death by inhibition following the deliberate and traumatic introduction of a foreign body into the rectum appears to be highly likely." 9.9 Lastly, the third report, prepared by Professor Thomsen of the University of Odense on 11 November 1994, states in relation to the autopsy report: "The above pattern of injury is not consistent with any known type of road traffic accident. The pattern of injury is much more consistent with having been inflicted deliberately by the use of blunt violence. Thus the haemorrhages of the foot soles are very indicative of the type of torture known as phalanga (or falaca) inflicted by the beating of the soles of the feet with clubs or similar instruments. A 72