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Forensic pathologist testifies gun was pressed to Richard Shiloh’s chest
Summary
Dr. Rajesh Khanan told jurors the left‑side chest wound on Richard Shiloh showed the features of a contact gunshot wound and concluded the cause of death was a gunshot to the chest resulting in hemorrhage; he supported his opinion after reviewing the autopsy photos and file.
Dr. Rajesh Khanan, a board‑certified forensic pathologist with Forensic Medical Management Services, testified that his review of the autopsy file and photographs of Richard Shiloh supports a finding that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest with resulting hemorrhage.
Khanan described the principal entrance wound on the left chest as a contact wound, saying "this particular entrance wound is a type we classify as a contact wound, meaning, the muzzle end ... is touching" the clothing or skin. He explained that a contact wound is accompanied by soot and blackening around the defect and contrasted that with the second wound to the lower back, which lacked those contact characteristics. Khanan also described internal injuries and blood accumulation in the abdominal cavity that, in his opinion, reflected vascular injury consistent with the gunshot trauma he examined.
Khanan confirmed he had reviewed the original autopsy photographs and reports prepared by another pathologist and said the file contained sufficient information for him to form an independent opinion. "The cause of death in this particular case is gunshot wound to the chest with the result in hemorrhage," he told the court. He further stated the manner of death was classified as homicide for the death certificate process. The state admitted a set of autopsy photographs during his testimony and Khanan identified them as accurate copies from the file.
