MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – Macomb County's medical examiner gave graphic testimony Thursday on the condition of Tara Grant's body during the fourth day of the Stephen Grant trial.
Local 4's Hank Winchester blogs from the Grant trial
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Dr. Daniel Spitz, the medical examiner, testified that even though some of Tara's remains were severely damaged, he was able to determine that she died as a result of strangulation and that he believes it was homicide.
"There was a large bruise near her mouth," Spitz said. "A bruise was also visible on her nose and eyelid and there was a bruise on the back of her head. It's clear there was a physical altercation before death."
Spitz said it took about four minutes for Tara to die.
Even though Spitz was able to conclude a thorough investigation, parts of Tara's remains are still missing, including part of her left leg, her right foot and a portion of her right arm.
Also on Thursday, Sgt. Larry King of the Macomb County Sheriff's Department and another deputy who helped recover Tara's body parts and other evidence from Stony Creek Metropark took the stand.
King said amid the snow-covered ground they recovered Tara's body parts, knives, saws, latex gloves and rags. Photographs of those items were shown to the jury.
The defense said Grant just threw the items in the park after he used them to mutilate his wife's body.
Also taking the stand on day four of the trial were two nurses who treated Grant in a Northern Michigan hospital in Petoskey after his capture.
Grant had been without a coat, boots or gloves. The nurse told the jury that even though Grant initially suffered from hypothermia, he was alert and very aware just hours after arriving to the hospital.
A second nurse seconded the first nurse's testimony and added that Grant was not given any painkillers.
The nurses' testimony is important because it leads up to the question of whether the judge will allow jurors to hear Grant's confession from the hospital.
The prosecution is building their argument that Grant was aware and alert when he gave his confession.
Circuit Judge Diane Druzinski ruled that no cell phones, turned on or off, will be allowed in the courtroom from now on.
This restriction comes after she already banned electronic media coverage inside the courtroom.
On Friday, the jury is expected to hear an alleged audio confession that Grant gave to police after his capture in Northern Michigan in March. Tomorrow morning, may hear audio confession that Grant gave to police.