Autopsy on Man Who Died During Police Stop Reveals Blood in Lungs, Crushing Injuries

Preliminary autopsy findings on Abderrhaim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan man who died during a police stop in Bologna, indicate the presence of blood in his lungs and crushing injuries. The details emerged after a six-hour autopsy conducted by specialists appointed by the Bologna Prosecutor's Office.

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I am not a forensic doctor, but I believe there could be an indubitable picture of asphyxiation from compression.

Investigators are now focused on understanding the cause of the crushing injuries. A key question is whether these injuries resulted from excessive force used by the two police officers involved or if they occurred post-mortem during resuscitation attempts by Red Cross volunteers. Similarly, the presence of blood in the lungs is being examined to determine if it was due to Fakir's potential cocaine use or excessive compression.

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We are facing, as I had predicted, a new Magherini case.

Fabio Anselmo, the lawyer representing Fakir's family, who has previously handled cases like Stefano Cucchi and Federico Aldrovandi, stated his belief in a possible "asphyxiation from compression." However, he awaits the final conclusions. Anselmo also criticized the Interior Minister's statements, suggesting a pattern of defending officers regardless of circumstances.

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For what has been reported to me by my trusted medical examiner, the accurate analysis conducted during the autopsy did not reveal anything attributable to excessive, violent action by the two officers. Excess by the police is not recorded. There is no type of sign of violence or bone infractions.

Conversely, Gabriele Bordoni, the lawyer for the two police officers, asserted that their medical expert found no evidence of excessive or violent action by the officers. He stated that there were no signs of violence or bone fractures attributable to the police. The forensic doctor, Benedetto Vergari, involved in assisting the Red Cross volunteers also noted the complexity of the examination, emphasizing the need to await further results, including histological and toxicological tests.

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It was a very complex examination, we need to wait for the results of the investigations carried out.