By Andrea Downer, Staff ReporterTHE RESULT of an autopsy that was performed on Amy Murphy, the 81-year-old resident of the Golden Age Home in East Kingston who earlier reports indicate had been mauled to death by dogs in January, has concluded that the cause of her death was "acute myocardial insufficiency" and "alherosclerotic heart disease".
The report further states that Murphy also suffered from "hypertension and epilepsy" prior to her death.
Ms. Murphy was found lying on the compound of the home in the pre-dawn hours of January 22, with bites all over her body. It was initially suspected that dogs that roam the compound of the golden age home and the neighbouring St. Joseph's Hospital, had bitten the helpless old woman to death.
In keeping with this belief, personnel from the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) assisted by employees of Guardsman Security, rounded up scores of the over 200 dogs that allegedly frequented the compounds and put them to death with lethal injections of Euthanol, less than 24 hours after Murphy's death.
DEEP LACERATIONS
Dr. K.S.N Prasad, the pathologist who performed the autopsy on behalf of the government, noted that there were 12 deep lacerations that punctured fatty tissue and muscle and 10 scratches all over Murphy's body. With the exception of two injuries, Prasad noted that the remaining 20 injuries were caused by animal (dog) bites. He noted that the two injuries that were not consistent with dog bites could have been caused by a fall to the ground.
The report further noted that the numerous dog bites that were present on Murphy's body were "perimortem" meaning that she was bitten during the process of her death.
Pamela Lawson, general manager of JSPCA, told The Gleaner yesterday that she does not think that killing the dogs was unjustified despite the fact that the autopsy states that Murphy's death was as a result of other causes and not the dog bites. She said she was acting on instructions from the government to remove the animals by "whatever means".
Annmarie Mittoo, public relations officer at the Ministry of Local Government, said following Murphy's death, the government issued a release requesting that the dogs be removed in the "most humane way possible."
She said that despite the autopsy's findings, the government was satisfied that the persons who put the dogs to death are professionals and that the dogs were put down in the most humane way possible.
Following Murphy's death, Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government, asked that an investigation be carried out into the matter.
When asked, Mittoo said the home had concluded its investigations some time ago and had submitted its findings to the Ministry. She said however that she could not disclose the findings, as that could compromise the government's position should Murphy's family decide to take legal action.
Questions were raised as to why Murphy was not taken for treatment at St. Joseph's Hospital which is separated from the home only by a perimeter fence.
Despite several attempts yesterday, The Gleaner was unable to reach Murphy's family for a comment.
