Police deny allegations US engineer's death not properly investigated

[StarshipTroopers]

Parents of US scientist hit out at Singapore police

AFP
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
SINGAPORE - The parents of a US high-tech researcher found hanged last year in Singapore accused local police on Wednesday of failing to preserve evidence and insisted their son was murdered.

The inquest into the death last year of electronics engineer Shane Todd took an emotional turn on its third day after police staged a detailed re-enactment of his apparent suicide using an improvised noose in his own bedroom.

"What we have been discovering is evidence that we cannot rely on. It has been moved, it has not been preserved," his father Rick Todd, 58, an airline pilot, told reporters.

The session was abruptly halted for the day after the late scientist's mother Mary Todd, 57, broke down at the end of two hours of testimony by a Singapore forensic scientist who did extensive simulations of the hanging.

The couple are in Singapore to testify at the inquest. They allege their 31-year-old son was murdered because of his work for a Singapore institute with alleged links to a Chinese telecom firm accused of involvement in espionage.

Mary Todd, a Christian pastor, told reporters that Singapore authorities were neglecting evidence the family had gathered to show that there were multiple DNA strains on a towel and strap found around Shane's neck.

"Why are they not looking into the fact that all these things add up to murder and not suicide?" she said, sobbing outside a courthouse.

She also took issue with the fact that the noose suspending her son's body from a bathroom door was cut and the body laid out on the floor before forensic experts arrived. Police said it was standard procedure.

"I am very, very disappointed in the process and I want the truth to be known here in Singapore," the mother said.

"We came to Singapore to find out the truth and we were told that the (government) and our team would work as a team to find the truth, that they are not adversarial. Yet they are only looking at suicide."

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Todd's death consistent with hanging, not garrotting: pathologist

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 16 May 2013 4:22 PM

Rick Todd (L) and his wife Mary (C), the parents of US scientist Shane Todd, return to court in Singapore with their family lawyer Gloria James. (AFP/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: A senior consultant forensic pathologist on Thursday took the stand on the fourth day of the Coroner's Inquiry into the death of American researcher Shane Todd to explain the autopsy conclusions.

Dr Wee Keng Poh, who has been practising for more than 40 years, supervised the autopsy that was performed on Dr Todd's body.

Dr Todd was found hanged in his apartment in June last year.

Dr Wee emphasized three points to show that Dr Todd's death was consistent with hanging and not garrotting which is strangulation using a cord.

Dr Todd's parents believe their son was murdered over his work at Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics but Dr Wee noted that the ligature marks around Dr Todd's neck were typical of hanging - in that they extended from below the chin towards the back of the neck in an inverted 'V' shape.

If he had been strangled, the mark would have been more horizontal and completely encircled his neck, leaving no gap.

Dr Wee also noted that at the time of the autopsy, there appeared to be no haemorrhaging or fractures inside the neck, neither were there any scratches around the neck which would have indicated a struggle to relieve strangulation.

There were no signs of external injuries to the upper limbs and hands.

Dr Wee's findings were corroborated by two independent experts whose reports have been submitted to the Court.

The Todd family had also submitted a report from an expert they consulted - Dr Edward Adelstein, a Deputy Medical Examiner.

Dr Adelstein had expressed the view that Dr Todd's death was a homicide, referring to what looked like blunt trauma to both Dr Todd's hands as evidence of a fight.

Dr Wee explained on Thursday the bruise-like discolouration to Dr Todd's hands as "postmortem lividity" in which blood pools in the dependent parts of the body due to gravity.

The Todd family then put forward more photographs taken around July 4 last year at Dr Todd's wake, which showed what appeared to be scratches around Dr Todd's neck.

Their lawyer then asked if it was possible the marks could have been there but did not show up during the autopsy.

Dr Wee reiterated his point that the marks had not been present when Dr Todd's body was examined in Singapore.

On Thursday afternoon, the psychiatrist that Dr Todd consulted last year took to the stand.

Psychiatrist Nelson Lee told the court that he had diagnosed Dr Todd with moderate major depressive disorder with a significant component of anxiety.

Dr Todd had gone for a consultation on April 4 last year and was prescribed anti-depressants.

Dr Lee said that Dr Todd had complained of symptoms such as low mood, poor sleep and energy, as well as loss of concentration.

Dr Lee noted however, that Dr Todd did not talk about, or display any suicidal tendencies or self-harm at the time of the consultation.

Dr Todd was supposed to make an appointment for a follow-up three weeks later but did not do so.

The hearing continues.

- CNA/fa

 

[StarshipTroopers]

US scientist had relapse of depression: Witness

AFP
Thursday, May 16, 2013

SINGAPORE - A US scientist found hanged in Singapore last year had been suffering a relapse after a previous bout of depression, his local psychiatrist said Thursday, as his parents insisted he was murdered.

High-tech researcher Shane Todd "had a lot of worrying thoughts that he could not control", Singaporean psychiatrist Nelson Lee said on the fourth day of a coroner's inquiry to determine the cause of his death.

"Following my consultation with Shane, I diagnosed him to be suffering from a relapse of his depression and noted that he had a significant component of anxiety," he said in a prepared statement read at the inquest.

Todd was referred to Lee three months before he died on June 24, 2012 after he complained to his doctor of insomnia and an inability to cope with work-related stress.

Lee said he prescribed anti-depressant pills after Todd was assessed to have been suffering from a relapse of a previous bout of "major depressive disorder".

Todd's parents, who are attending the inquest, insisted Thursday that their son, aged 31 when he died, was murdered and said they would give details about who they think killed him when they testify at the inquest.

"We have our suspicions on who that (killer) may be, but we are not going to get that out until we get it out in court," Todd's father Rick, an airline pilot, told reporters.

The state counsel at the inquiry issued a statement late Wednesday asking the parents to provide evidence for their claim that he was murdered, rather than committing suicide as medical experts said.

The inquest is due to last until May 28. A verdict is expected by late June.

The parents allege he was killed because of his work for a Singapore institute with purported links to a Chinese telecom firm accused of involvement in espionage.

Also testifying on Thursday was forensic pathologist Wee Keng Poh, who supervised the autopsy of the late scientist. He told the inquiry the cause of death was "asphyxia due to hanging".

Wee said "ligature strangulation" was unlikely as there were no injuries found other than those around the neck.

Wee also disputed findings by Edward H. Adelstein, a US pathologist engaged by the Todd family who had concluded that the researcher was killed by "garroting" and that there was evidence he had put up a fight.

Findings by Adelstein of "multiple blunt traumas" on Todd's hands - which the US doctor said indicated he engaged in a fight - were "post-mortem lividities" that formed after the autopsy, Wee said.

Two US-based doctors, acting as independent experts, had reviewed the autopsy report and said the findings were consistent with suicide.

Singapore police who inspected the apartment where the researcher was found hanged on June 24, 2012 have told the inquiry they saw no signs of a struggle.

The state counsel in his opening statement Monday said Adelstein appeared to have based his opinion on the autopsy report and some pictures.

Todd's former employer, Singapore's state-linked Institute of Microelectronics, and Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies, have denied the family's claims that they worked together on a project involving Todd.

At the time of his death Todd had just finished a stint with the institute, where he was part of a team working on gallium nitride, a tough semiconductor material that can be used in radar and satellite communications.

A US congressional committee last year labelled Huawei and ZTE, another Chinese telecom firm, as potential security threats that should be excluded from US government contracts and barred from acquiring US firms.

 

[Ginchiyo Tachibana]

HSA expert describes how researcher could have died

May 15, 2013 - 11:54pm

By: Rennie Whang

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SfePHF92enA?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>

Before the start of the forensic scientist's examination yesterday, lawyer Steven Lam called for a break on behalf of Dr Shane Todd's mother, Mrs Mary Todd, who looked ill as she leaned slightly over in her seat.

Mrs Todd and her husband, Mr Rick Todd, had just sat through almost two hours of Ms Lim Chin Chin’s testimony, in which the laboratory director of the Health Sciences Authority’s Forensic Chemistry and Physics Laboratory described how their son could have died.

Ms Chin said simulation experiments showed that a subject with Dr Todd’s height and build could – without human assistance – have attached a noose around his neck, secured the other end to the toilet door while standing on a chair and then pushed the chair away with his legs.

The strap would stretch, suggesting it was possible for his feet to reach the floor.

In this manner, Dr Todd would have brought about conditions similar to what was found on June 24 last year in a Spottiswoode Park apartment.

Read the full report in The New Paper on May 16 (Thursday).

 

[Ginchiyo Tachibana]

Todd's research group not involved in confidential projects

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 17 May 2013 4:29 PM

Family members of US scientist Shane Todd at the subordinate courts in Singapore. (AFP/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: American researcher Shane Todd was never involved in any sensitive or highly-confidential military and defence-related projects while working for Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics (IME).

This is according to four of his colleagues who took the stand on day five of the inquiry into his death.

Dr Todd's parents believe their son was murdered because of his work on a highly-sensitive project between IME and Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies.

However, his colleagues testified on Friday that the group he was part of did not have any sensitive research projects with Huawei involving a semiconductor material called Gallium Nitride (GaN).

GaN has commercial uses but has potential to be used in military applications.

IME's deputy executive director for research Dr Patrick Lo, who testified in court on Friday, said there were meetings between IME and Huawei.

He elaborated that these meetings and preliminary talks were about a possible collaboration between the IME's GaN research group and Huawei on a potential commercial product called a GaN amplifier, and also for Huawei to understand the capabilities of the GaN research group.

However, for various reasons, it didn't materialise into an actual project.

Three other colleagues took the stand to give details about their working relationships with Dr Todd.

The court heard that Dr Todd had told his colleagues that transferring to the GaN group was a mistake. He said he had difficulties because his area of expertise was in silicon, and he lacked knowledge in GaN.

They added however, that Dr Todd had not appeared unhappy or stressed.

This evidence disputes an earlier Financial Times article that described Dr Todd as a GaN expert and that the IME was working with Huawei on a GaN device with military applications.

Mr Susai Lawrence Selvaraj, who worked in the same GaN research group as Dr Todd, said the group was still in its infancy and in the early stages of research and therefore could not have developed any highly-sensitive technology.

Dr Lo said the frequency and power specifications of the GaN amplifier would make it more suitable for base stations and commercial applications. He also emphasised in his testimony that the IME does not conduct classified military-related research.

One of the writers of the article, Mr Raymond Bonner, is in Singapore to attend the inquiry.

Tai Wei Shyong, the senior state counsel for Dr Todd’s inquiry, welcomed Mr Bonner to give evidence in this inquiry.

"If he (Bonner) wishes to give evidence, we would be happy to accommodate that and we would have to apply to the court to see if the court would be prepared to hear his evidence. The state would be happy to make the application because we want the full story about this case to be told."

The Todd family's first witness is expected to testify via video-link when the inquiry resumes on May 20.

Dr Todd left his job at the IME on June 22 last year, two days before he was found hanged in his apartment.

- CNA/fa

 

[StarshipTroopers]

US-based pathologist, computer analyst engaged by Todd family to testify on Monday

By Lim Yan Liang
The Straits Times, AFP
Friday, May 17, 2013

SINGAPORE - The United States-based pathologist, who suggested in a post-mortem report that Dr Shane Todd had been murdered, will testify on Monday via video-link at the coroner's inquiry of the American researcher, said Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong.


Get the full story from The Straits Times.

US scientist not involved in classified research: Witnesses

SINGAPORE - Colleagues of a US scientist found hanged in Singapore last year told a coroner's inquiry Friday he was not involved in projects with military applications and was never asked to compromise any country's national security.

High-tech researcher Shane Todd, whose death under disputed circumstances last June sparked global media attention, was part of a research team working on gallium-nitride (GaN), a semiconductor that can be used in radar and satellite communications.

Todd's parents allege their son was murdered after he had grown anxious the project he was working on for the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) was linked to a Chinese telecoms firm and could endanger US national security.

Medical experts have said that an autopsy report point to a suicide, but the family, backed by senior US officials, asked for a deeper probe.

"During his time at the IME, Shane was never asked to do anything that would compromise the national security of any country," Patrick Lo, deputy executive director for research at the institute, told the inquest on its fifth day.

"Shane was also never asked to obtain restricted or classified information and to provide them to other countries," said Lo, who was Todd's immediate superior.

The coroner's inquiry, which is due to last until May 28, will determine the cause of his death.

At the time of his death at age 31, Todd had just finished a stint with the IME, where he was part of a team working on GaN.

His former colleagues however told the inquiry there was nothing sinister about the project and that research on GaN is commonplace in the industry.

 

[General Veers]

American researcher's death: Todd 'not involved in any work for Huawei'

This was except for stint examining commercial radio frequency devices

Published on May 18, 2013

Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong addressing the media yesterday. He said the State would welcome Mr Raymond Bonner - the journalist behind the Financial Times article - if he decides to testify at the inquiry. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

By Feng Zengkun

American researcher Shane Todd's work at the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics (IME) did not involve any classified military research, an inquiry into his death heard yesterday.

A comprehensive account of his employment record there by his colleagues and direct supervisor, Dr Patrick Lo, also showed he was not involved in any work for Huawei Technologies, except for a nine-day stint examining the Chinese firm's commercial radio frequency devices.

In fact, IME does not conduct any classified military-related research work at all, said Dr Lo, the institute's deputy executive director for research.

Dr Todd was found hanged in his apartment near Chinatown last June shortly after he quit IME. His parents have alleged that he was murdered over his work, which they said had links to Huawei, a firm that has been suspected of espionage by the United States government.

Yesterday, during the fifth day of an inquiry into Dr Todd's death, three of his colleagues and Dr Lo gave a detailed account of his work at the IME and the institute's dealings with Huawei.

IME has had five contracts with Huawei since 2007, but none of them were military in nature or classified, said Dr Lo. Those contracts also included other firms, such as Hitachi Cable and Nissan Chemical Industries from Japan.

The IME researchers also refuted claims in a Financial Times (FT) article in February about Dr Todd's death, which suggested he was involved in a joint IME-Huawei project that could be put to military ends. This involved a semiconductor material called gallium nitride (GaN), the FT said.

Dr Lo, however, clarified that while Dr Todd had been involved in talks for a project between the IME and Huawei, these were to develop a GaN amplifier for commercial use.

He also gave details of the proposed project, which eventually fell through.

Dr Todd joined the IME in 2010 as a fresh doctoral graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara, the court heard. But upon his request, he was transferred internally to a new GaN-on-silicon research group in March 2011 even though he had no experience in the field.

"I don't believe that a person should work forever in the same field as his PhD work," said Dr Lo, who headed the new group. "If they are interested, a new programme is a good platform to entertain young staff's interest and to grow that and the programme together."

Dr Todd's colleagues said he helped recruit more people to the group, which is focused on using the material to lower costs for the industry, particularly in the power and radio frequency fields.

The FT article had suggested that after he joined the group, Dr Todd travelled to the US to purchase equipment from Veeco, a manufacturer of process devices, which the article said could be used for military purposes.

Dr Wang Weizhu, 30, who worked with Dr Todd in the group and assumed responsibility for the machine, said it was used to develop semi-conductor films. The only formula or "recipe" which the group received from Veeco was for LED application.

"Currently, we are just starting to develop the recipe for GaN-on-silicon from scratch. None of these recipes are defence or military-related," she said.

Another colleague in the seven-man group, Dr Yuan Li, 28, said the group's projects could not be used for military purposes.

"The speed of the devices would not be fast enough. The operating frequency of the devices used for power electronics is much slower... than for military applications," he said.

Speaking to media after the day's proceedings, Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong said he understood that Mr Raymond Bonner - the journalist behind the FT article - was in Singapore.

He added that the State would welcome Mr Bonner if he decides to testify at the inquiry.

"The State would be happy to make the application (to the court) because we want the full story about this case to be told."

[email protected]

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Todd's supervisor denies influencing witnesses' evidence

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 20 May 2013 4:58 PM

This undated handout photo made available to AFP shows Shane Todd, a researcher who died in Singapore in June 2012. (AFP PHOTO/Courtesy of MARY TODD)

SINGAPORE: A meeting between the colleagues of American researcher Shane Todd about the statements they gave to the police was brought to the court's attention on day six of the coroner's inquiry into his death.

Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong told the court on Monday that a recording of the meeting was submitted to the police by one of the colleagues who attended the meeting.

This led Mr Tai to question if there was any attempt made to try and influence the evidence of witnesses who gave the recorded statements.

He directed his questions to Dr Patrick Lo who is the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics' (IME) Deputy Executive Director of Research.

Dr Lo, who is also Dr Todd's supervisor, said that he had called the meeting on April 11 this year to let Dr Todd's colleagues know they could exercise the option of seeking legal advice about their statements, as these would be made public and could reveal information about IME's clients.

Dr Lo added that he had obtained advice from the in-house legal counsel about his statement as he was worried about breaching client confidentiality.

"I have concerns that it will be detrimental to IME's business conduct in future if confidentiality of customers is compromised," he told the court.

Mr Tai then asked Dr Lo if this could have been perceived by those who attended the meeting as trying to prevent them from talking about the possible collaboration on a commercial project with Chinese telecoms giant Huawei involving the semiconductor material gallium nitride.

Dr Todd's family have claimed that their son was murdered over his involvement in a highly-confidential project between IME and Huawei.

Dr Lo then emphasized that he had urged Dr Todd's colleagues to tell the truth and had not in any way, influenced them to change their story.

It was heard that Dr Lo had also asked Huawei for permission to disclose certain information.

Mr Tai told the court that he intended to ask colleagues who were at the meeting if they wished to add anything to their statements.

The hearing continues this afternoon.

- CNA/fa

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Expert witness retracts opinion that Shane Todd was garrotted

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 21 May 2013 3:32 PM

This undated handout photo made available to AFP shows Shane Todd, a researcher who died in Singapore in June 2012. (AFP PHOTO/Courtesy of MARY TODD)

SINGAPORE: The medical examiner engaged by the family of American researcher Shane Todd has retracted his initial opinion that the 31-year-old was garrotted.

Giving his evidence on Tuesday over video-link from the US, Dr Edward Adelstein said he agreed with four other forensic pathologists that Dr Todd was not garrotted - which is strangulation with a cord or wire - as there were no signs of any internal neck injury.

This came after he reviewed more information he received from Dr Todd's family a few days ago. Dr Adelstein had based his initial findings on the autopsy report and photographs of Dr Todd at his wake.

Dr Adelstein added however, that he still believes Dr Todd's death to be a homicide.

When questioned by Senior Counsel Isaac Tan as to what caused Dr Todd's death, Dr Adelstein suggested that he could have died from a taser or from a carotid armlock or a neck chokehold - but admitted he did not have medical evidence and could not know for sure.

Dr Adelstein added that he believes that Dr Todd was already dead when he was "strung up with the ligature around his neck".

He confirmed however, that he was not a certified forensic pathologist.

The Todd family walked out of the subordinate courtroom shortly after the afternoon session began.

They said a witness, who allegedly saw Dr Todd the day before he was found hanged, has been sprung on them by surprise and they did not have time to prepare for his evidence.

They have asked for his evidence to be adjourned till Wednesday, but the witness - Luis Alejandro Andro Montes - is due to leave Singapore on Tuesday evening.

The Todds told reporters they have not decided if they will attend the remainder of the inquiry.

- CNA/xq

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Shane Todd's inquiry adjourned after family walked out of court

POSTED: 21 May 2013 6:07 PM

Parents of the late American Shane Todd, Mary (R) and Rick Todd (L), outside Singapore's Subordinate Courts. (AP File/Wong Maye-E)

SINGAPORE: The coroner's inquiry into the death of American researcher Dr Shane Todd has been adjourned for a day.

This comes after the Todd family walked out of court on Tuesday, shortly after the afternoon session began.

The family was unhappy as they claimed that the prosecution had introduced "at the last minute" a new witness -- Luis Alejandro Andro Montes -- who allegedly saw Dr Todd the day before he was found hanged.

The family members said they did not have time to prepare for his evidence and asked for an adjournment till Wednesday.

Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong had in his opening statement on 13 May said that although Mr Montes was not in Singapore, the Attorney-General's Chambers was still making arrangements to see whether he could attend as a witness.

But Mr Montes, who was due to leave Singapore on Tuesday evening, has now postponed his travel plans.

The family told reporters they have not decided if they would attend the remainder of the inquiry.

Earlier in the day, the medical examiner engaged by Dr Todd's family, has retracted his initial opinion that the 31-year-old was garrotted.

Giving his evidence over video-link from the US, Dr Edward Adelstein said he agreed with four other forensic pathologists that Dr Todd was not garrotted -- which is strangulation with a cord or wire -- as there were no signs of any internal neck injury.

This came after he had reviewed more information received from Dr Todd's family a few days ago. Dr Adelstein had based his initial findings on the autopsy report and photographs of Dr Todd at his wake.

Dr Adelstein added, however, that he still believes Dr Todd's death to be a homicide.

When questioned by Senior Counsel Isaac Tan as to what caused Dr Todd's death, Dr Adelstein suggested that he could have died from a taser or from a carotid armlock or a neck chokehold, but admitted he did not have medical evidence and could not know for sure.

Dr Adelstein said he believes that Dr Todd was already dead when he was "strung up with the ligature around his neck".

However, he confirmed that he was not a certified forensic pathologist.

- CNA/al

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Shane Todd inquiry: Todd family storms out of courtroom, says they "lost faith" in process

Published on May 21, 2013

The family of American researcher Shane Todd stormed out of the courtroom, shortly after the inquiry into his death resumed after lunch on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

By Lim Yanliang

The family of American researcher Shane Todd stormed out of the courtroom, shortly after the inquiry into his death resumed after lunch on Tuesday.

This after the State Coroner turned down a request from their lawyer Foo Cheow Ming, to have a witness stood down to the next day so they would have time to prepare and "corroborate evidence" because the witness was due to fly out this evening.

The witness, French national Luis Alejandro Andia Montes, was apparently the last person to have seen Dr Todd alive before his body was found hanged in his home on June 24.

Mr Montes, who was Dr Todd's colleague at the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics (IME), had not been due to take the stand as he was not in Singapore.

Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong, however, told the court just before the lunchbreak that the State had managed to locate Mr Montes and that he had agreed to take the stand.

Dr Todd's parents, Mr Rick and Mary Todd told the media outside the Subordinate Courts that the evidence had been "sprung upon" the family, and that the court was showing double standards, having earlier "chastised" their lawyers for introducing evidence at the last minute.

"We only got the evidence when we came here... this comes actually from the prosecution themselves. It showed that my son actually had obtained recipes for gallium nitride. The judge chastisised us for doing this, yet the prosecution brings forth witnesses at the last minute, and we have no chance to question," he said. "Basically, we've lost faith in the process."

"(Mr Montes) is claiming our son was alive on the 23rd (of June 2012). We don't believe that," added Mrs Todd, who said her son's girlfriend did not recognise Mr Montes.

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Unfortunate that Todd family chose to walk out on inquiry: Shanmugam

By S Ramesh
POSTED: 22 May 2013 7:40 PM

Rick Todd (2nd L) and his wife Mary (L) walk out of court in Singapore on May 21, 2013. (AFP/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Foreign Affairs and Law Minister, K Shanmugam, says it is unfortunate that the Todd family have decided to walk out on the coroner's inquiry into Shane Todd's death.

The Todds said they will not be participating in the rest of the inquiry, after their key witness - US medical examiner Dr Edward Adelstein - gave his testimony on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday evening, Mr Shanmugam noted that the family had said last week that they were happy with the way the court inquiry was proceeding and that they liked the judge and liked how he was proceeding.

They had also said they had faith in the Singapore court system.

During the news conference, the minister noted that Dr Adelstein had changed his original testimony and confirmed that Dr Todd was not killed by garrotting.

The medical examiner had also gone on to speculate how Dr Todd could have been murdered, noted Mr Shanmugam.

Minister Shanmugam stressed that the objective of the inquiry is to establish the full facts surrounding the death of Dr Todd and the State is committed to presenting all evidence, including all relevant evidence which the Todd family wish to present.

Mr Shanmugam said: "It would have been useful if the family had continued (to participate in the inquiry). I will mention two facts which the family's evidence would have been particularly useful.

"A key point, which had been made previously, was that the family had said that they found the external hard drive themselves in the apartment and they asserted that this hard drive had been processed by a third party after Dr Todd's death and that hard drive contained important information which had been overlooked by the Singapore Police.

"Evidence has come out that that hard drive was something which the police had looked at and something the police handed over to the family in the presence of US Embassy officials.

"It would have been useful to hear the family's side as to how they came to a different view of the facts.

"Second, by reference to Mr Luis, the family had said that neither they nor Dr Todd's girlfriend knew Mr Montes. But Montes confirmed in his testimony today that he had actually met his parents in their hotel room along with some other close friends days after Dr Todd was found dead.

"Again this direct conflict of evidence could have been better looked at if the family had chosen to come to court to give their testimony."

On Tuesday afternoon, Dr Todd's family walked out of the hearing.

They were unhappy with what they claimed was a surprise appearance of a witness - Mr Luis Alejandro Andro Montes - who is said to have seen Dr Todd the day before he was found hanged.

The family added that they only received Mr Montes' recorded statement on Tuesday morning, and had not been given sufficient time to prepare.

Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong had told the court that he had - in his opening statement last Monday - said that the State intended to call Mr Montes as a witness and had been trying to make arrangements for him to attend the inquiry as he was not in Singapore.

- CNA/ir

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Shane Todd's family quit inquiry, discharge lawyers

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 22 May 2013 10:40 AM

Shane Todd's family at the Subordinate Courts in Singapore. (AFP PHOTO/ROSLAN RAHMAN)

SINGAPORE: The family of American researcher Shane Todd said they will not be participating in the remainder of the coroner's inquiry into his death.

The team of five lawyers for the Todd family has also been formally discharged.

This comes after the family walked out of court midway through the hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

Their lawyers said the family will be returning to the US soon.

The inquiry will continue.

A spokesman for the US Embassy also told reporters that the Todd family had met with the US Ambassador David Adelman on Tuesday at about 5pm.

"He expressed his condolences and listened to their concerns," he said, adding that the rest of the conversation was private.

- CNA/xq

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Shane Todd's death consistent with asphyxia due to hanging: pathologists

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 22 May 2013 2:21 PM

An undated photo of Shane Todd, an American researcher who died in Singapore in June 2012. (AFP/Mary Todd)

SINGAPORE: Two certified forensic pathologists from the US who provided expert opinions have confirmed that Dr Shane Todd's death was consistent with asphyxia due to hanging.

The two pathologists, Dr David Fowler and Dr Valerie Rao, took the stand in day eight of the coroner's inquiry into the death of the American researcher.

They also dispelled theories by the Todd family's expert witness Edward Adelstein that Dr Todd could have died because of a taser or a carotid armlock, which is a neck chokehold.

Dr Fowler said Dr Todd's body had shown no signs of taser marks or vertical scratch marks up and down his neck - which would have indicated a struggle to remove the chokehold.

They also corroborated the evidence of two Singapore forensic pathologists that the discolouration on Dr Todd's hands was due to a pooling of the blood in the limbs that occurs after death.

Both were also of the opinion that based on all information they had access to, they believed Dr Todd's death to be a suicide.

Earlier in the day, the family of Shane Todd said they will not be participating in the remainder of the coroner's inquiry into his death.

The team of five lawyers for the Todd family has also been formally discharged.

This comes after the family walked out of court midway through the hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

Their lawyers said the family will be returning to the US soon.

The inquiry will continue.

A spokesman for the US Embassy also told reporters that the Todd family had met with the US Ambassador David Adelman Tuesday at about 5pm.

"He expressed his condolences and listened to their concerns," he said, adding that the rest of the conversation was private.

- CNA/xq

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Ex-colleagues say Dr Todd happy to leave IME

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 23 May 2013 5:08 PM

This undated photo shows Shane Todd in Singapore. (AP Photo/Courtesy Rick Todd)

SINGAPORE: American researcher Shane Todd did not like his job but appeared open to staying in Singapore because he liked the city.

This is according to two of Dr Todd's ex-colleagues from the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) who took the stand on day nine of a coroner's inquiry into his death.

One of them, scientist Vincent Pott, told the court on Thursday that he sensed that Dr Todd was happy to be leaving IME but had "mixed feelings" about leaving Singapore.

Mr Pott said he did not get the feeling Dr Todd wanted to leave Singapore immediately.

They also testified that Dr Todd had complained of being "overloaded" with work when he transferred to the gallium nitride research group. He also told them he had "a lot of problems" but would not elaborate.

Research engineer Jeffrey Soon observed that Dr Todd worked harder after being transferred to the new group, including on weekends but that he appeared more relaxed after handing in his resignation.

Counsel for IME Philip Jeyaretnam also questioned Mr Soon, who described Dr Todd as a perfectionist, if he felt Dr Todd might have been disappointed in himself when he realised he was not suited to gallium nitride research.

Mr Soon replied, "Yes I do feel he was, a little bit."

Dr Todd's colleagues also testified that he appeared subdued at his farewell lunch on June 22 last year and did not talk or laugh much.

Another former colleague, Cheam Daw Don, took the stand on Thursday afternoon and gave evidence that he, along with Dr Todd's other friends, had met Dr Todd's parents at his apartment a few days after his death.

Mr Cheam said Dr Todd's mother, Mrs Mary Todd, was very emotional and was in the bedroom with the rest of the family and the police.

He said he heard her asking people what the officer was trying to tell her - which prompted Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong to ask if it was Mr Cheam's impression that Mrs Todd did not understand what the police officer was saying.

Mr Cheam said: "She said she hasn't slept for many days and was very emotional."

Earlier, Mr Soon, who was also in the apartment at the time, testified that he had not heard any mention of nuts, bolts, and pulleys.

Dr Todd's parents, who had indicated that they no longer want to participate in the inquiry, left Singapore for the US early Thursday morning.

- CNA/fa

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Ex-colleagues testify at coroner's inquiry into Shane Todd's death

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 24 May 2013 12:26 AM

An undated photo of Shane Todd. (AFP/Mary Todd)

SINGAPORE: Former colleagues of American researcher Shane Todd said they did not hear police talk about nuts, bolts and pulleys in a conversation with his family.

The colleagues were at Dr Todd's apartment, on an invitation by Dr Todd's parents, five days after he was found hanged in June last year.

While they were there, they overheard some discussion between Dr Todd's family and police officers about how he died.

Three of them, including research engineer Jeffrey Soon testified however that they did not hear the police officers talk about any nuts, bolts or pulleys.

He added that it was mostly the family who spoke, while the police officers listened.

Two of them also said Dr Todd's mother, Mrs Mary Todd, was very emotional and was heard asking people what the officer was trying to tell her.

This prompted State Counsel to ask one of them, Mr Cheam Daw Don, if he got the impression that Mrs Todd did not understand what the police officer was saying.

Mr Cheam replied: "She said she hasn't slept for many days and was very emotional."

Dr Todd's aunt Mary Williamson - who has been observing the proceedings over the past two days - tried to explain Mrs Todd's reaction.

This led to some parts of Mrs Todd's recorded statement being read in court, in which she said she was given an initial description of how Dr Todd died, involving bolts and pulleys, but saw no evidence of this in his apartment.

Earlier Thursday, Dr Todd's former colleague - Vincent Pott - testified that Dr Todd had been happy to leave his job at the Institute of Microelectronics.

But Mr Pott also said he did not get the feeling that Dr Todd wanted to leave Singapore immediately.

Others testified that Dr Todd complained that he was "overloaded" with work after transferring to the Gallium Nitride research group and told them he had "a lot of problems" though he would not say more.

It was also heard in court that a system that Dr Todd helped to purchase from US equipment supplier Veeco Instruments had been customised for IME.

This was a Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition system used to deposit gallium nitride on silicon wafers.

It has been heard in court that Dr Todd was concerned that the work he was doing would violate US national security.

It was heard in court that the system can have both commercial and military applications, and that Dr Todd believed his work was linked to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei - which has been suspected of spying by the US government.

He had then been anxious about facing sanctions when he went back to the US.

Dr Todd's family have also claimed that he was made to copy by hand recipes for the system when he went to the US for training.

But Surani Dolmanan, a specialist at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering who testified on Thursday, said that would have been 'impossible" as the recipes were complex and it would take a long time.

The witness also said Dr Todd had been mostly in the classroom with him. They also did not have easy access to the labs, he added.

Dr Todd's family left for the US early Thursday morning.

But Dr Todd's aunt, who was present at Thursday's hearing, told the court that she will be leaving on Friday and thanked the State Coroner for allowing her to pose questions to the witnesses.

The inquiry resumes on Monday.

- CNA/ir

 

[ShangTsung]

Shane Todd's formula had nothing to do with gallium nitride, says IME witness

By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 27 May 2013 4:22 PM

Institute of Microelectronics' executive director Professor Dim-Lee Kwong at the Subordinate Courts on May 27, 2013. (Photo: Ernest Chua, TODAY)

SINGAPORE: An alleged scientific recipe that American researcher Shane Todd copied was in fact identical to a formula found in his doctorate thesis and had nothing to do with gallium nitride.

Institute of Microelectronics' (IME) executive director Professor Dim-Lee Kwong, who was giving evidence on the tenth day of an inquiry into Dr Todd's death, said the formula was "absolutely not" a recipe for the tool and had nothing to do with gallium nitride.

"It (the formula) appears to have something to do with Shane's research interests and nothing to do with gallium nitride recipes," said Prof Kwong.

Dr Todd's family have alleged that he was made to copy the 'valuable recipe' while on a training stint in the US to learn to operate a tool that deposits gallium nitride on silicon wafers. Dr Todd's family claimed the recipe put his life in danger.

Prof Kwong also said that the 31-year-old was never forced to do anything that would compromise US national security, or to obtain any restricted or classified information.

The court heard on Monday that in her recorded statement, Dr Todd's mother, Mrs Mary Todd, said he felt "extreme discomfort" from being asked by IME to collaborate with a Chinese company and that he was being asked to compromise US security. Dr Todd added that he felt he was in danger.

Prof Kwong said Dr Todd had never raised these concerns and so he was not aware of how Dr Todd had felt.

He also said that Dr Todd had only been involved in one face-to-face meeting with Chinese telecoms giant Huawei about a potential commercial project involving gallium nitride. The project eventually did not materialise.

Prof Kwong added that the tool IME and Dr Todd had been involved in purchasing was also available in China and came with the same scientific recipe.

Prof Kwong noted that all conditions in the tool's export license had been complied with as it was going to be put to commercial use.

It was also heard in court that after securing the job at IME, Dr Todd did not declare his previous history of depression or that he had been prescribed anti-depressants in the past.

The hearing continues on Monday afternoon with the investigating officer for the case, Muhammad Khaldun Sarif, expected to take the stand.

- CNA/fa

 

[winnipegjets]

Prof Kwong added that the tool IME and Dr Todd had been involved in purchasing was also available in China and came with the same scientific recipe.

Why doesn't he tell us which Chinese firms have those equipment?

It was also heard in court that after securing the job at IME, Dr Todd did not declare his previous history of depression or that he had been prescribed anti-depressants in the past.

So, the new line of attack is that Shane Todd is a liar. Previously, IME and Scroobal tried to paint Shane Todd as a incompetent cog in the IME research world. Then, their next line is that Shane Todd does insignificant work (logistical work).

What does an individual medical condition important in such research work? So, he had a bout of depression previously. It is not a death sentence. People do recover from depression and even not have to rely on medications.

 

[scroobal]

Bro, you need to improve your comprehension skills. A major issue in this forum.

Shane Todd did not lie. All the claims have been made by one or both parents, some of which they purportedly claim to have come from Shane. Shane did not write any of these in his notes or left any writing to the effect.

So far no body have been able to corroborate their claims and they certainly lied about the hard drive and about the Bangkok pathologist.

Now we find the machine is available in China. As I said before , the only thing missing in their pack of allegations is the spaceship landing. Hopefully you might get a seat on it.

Why doesn't he tell us which Chinese firms have those equipment? So, the new line of attack is that Shane Todd is a liar. Previously, IME and Scroobal tried to paint Shane Todd as a incompetent cog in the IME research world. Then, their next line is that Shane Todd does insignificant work (logistical work).

 

[winnipegjets]

Earlier Thursday, Dr Todd's former colleague - Vincent Pott - testified that Dr Todd had been happy to leave his job at the Institute of Microelectronics.

The sinkapore counsel keeps painting that Shane Todd was depressed, so he committed suicide.

Others testified that Dr Todd complained that he was "overloaded" with work after transferring to the Gallium Nitride research group and told them he had "a lot of problems" though he would not say more.

One interpretation which the Sinkapore counsel won't go into is that Shane Todd was forced by IME to do stuff that would violate US technology restriction. Thus, Shane felt 'overworked' and experienced 'a lot of problems'.
For an inquiry that is supposed to be fact finding, the sinkapore counsel is just pushing for the verdict it wants - suicide.