Defense In Sylvie Cachay Murder Trial Trying To Poke Holes In Cause Of Death Ruling
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The murder trial against fashion designer Sylvie Cachay's boyfriend has entered its second month.
Nicholas Brooks, 26, is accused of strangling and drowning Cachay, 33, on Dec. 9, 2010. Her body was found partially clothed in an overflowing bathtub at the swanky Soho House Hotel.
As WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported, Brooks' defense hangs on the testimony of noted medical examiner Dr. Charles Wetli. The medical expert was hired by the defense.
Defense In Sylvie Cachay Murder Trial Trying To Poke Holes In Cause Of Death Ruling
He testified that while Cachay's injuries are consistent with strangulation and drowning, it's not conclusive as to cause of death.
But during cross-examination, Wetli agreed with the prosecutor that the injuries to both the front and back on Cachay's neck and the internal neck bleeding are evidence of choking.
"Wouldn't you also agree that that caused her death?" prosecutor Joel Seidman asked.
"It's possible," Wetli conceded.
The defense is hoping to put some doubt in the minds of jurors, who have heard conclusive testimony from the ME that conducted Cachay's autopsy that the designer was manually strangled and drowned.
The defense has argued that Cachay had taken sleeping pills and other prescription medications that could have caused her to black out and fall into the tub and that the injuries caused to the front and back of her neck could have been caused during the efforts to revive her.
Late last month, Cachay's doctor testified that the combination of pills would not have caused Cachay to black out because none of the pills "have a great sleepiness result."
New York medical examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson also testified and backed up the doctor's assertion that pills played no role in her death.
The defense team has also argued that Brooks' DNA was never found near the bathtub faucets.
The trial is expected to wrap up later this month.
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