A forensic pathologist is set to continue testifying Monday in the trial for the death of Manuel Ellis.died in police custodyOfficers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins are charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Officer Timothy Rankine is charged with first-degree manslaughter.
Mitchell has been a practicing forensic pathologist since 2007 and is currently the chair of pathology and the chief medical officer for ambulatory care at Howard University. His experience spans over a decade overseeing thousands of death investigations in New York, Washington D.C., New Jersey and Texas.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled Ellis' death a homicide, saying it was caused by hypoxia due to the physical restraints police used on him. Ellis was"hogtied" with a hobble, he was handcuffed and a spit hood was placed over his head, even after Ellis was heard saying he couldn't breathe. The medical examiner determined the hood played a significant role in Ellis' death. Rankine also applied pressure to Ellis' back while he was in restraints.
“Mechanical asphyxia can have more of an effect on a person’s body than just hypoxia,” Mitchell said Thursday. “I believe that it was not only hypoxia – because hypoxia played a part – but the fact that Mr. Ellis could not move his chest to be able to breathe the way he needed to breathe because of his position and because of the presence of individuals on top of him.”