The retrial of Roderick Washington in the 2006 murders of Jeffrey and Alexis Sosa has resumed.
Washington faces two counts each of first-degree murder and kidnaping in the double-slaying.
This morning the state called Chief Deputy Medical Examiner Robert Pfalzgraf, who described the autopsy findings of the Sosas.
Pfalzgraf said Alexis had been shot at least four times, two of which were fatal. Due to the condition of his burnt remains, it is unclear whether or not other bullets had entered his body.
Alexis Sosa had been burned in the trunk of a car in a north Cape Coral industrial park, while Jeffrey Sosa’s body was found on the ground near the vehicle.
A lack of any significant amount of carbon monoxide in the Sosas’ lungs indicated they had suffered fatal gunshot wounds prior to the car having been set fire to, Pfalzgraf said. Small amounts of carbon monoxide, such as the amount found in Jeffrey’s lungs, could indicate cigarette smoke or various other things.
“It is my opinion (Alexis Sosa) was not alive when he was burned,” he said.
Defense attorney Paul Sullivan is asking Pfalzgraf questions about the transportation of the Sosas‚ bodies from the industrial site to the Medical Examiner’s Office and about the autopsy process.