Font ResizeThe only explanation for Julie Rosas' fatal plunge down a Rancho Palos Verdes cliff was that she was pushed or thrown, a deputy medical examiner testified Wednesday.
On the third day of the murder trial of Rosas' husband, Brandon Manai, Dr. Lisa Scheinin said the woman's injuries were not consistent with someone who jumped or slipped accidentally.
Manai, 28, of Torrance is accused of killing his 24-year-old bride of 13 days. Rosas' body was found on the rocky beach below a parking lot on Calle Entradero on July3, 2005.
The Norwalk woman died of multiple blunt-force trauma, with her most serious injury being a huge fracture on the back of her head, Scheinin said.
Using diagrams and photographs, Scheinin described Rosas' injuries for the jury in Torrance Superior Court.
Externally, she suffered dozens of abrasions, mostly on her right side and back, Scheinin said. Internally, Rosas had a brain hemorrhage, ruptured lungs and diaphragm, and torn liver and spleen, as well as fractured ribs, collarbone and pelvic bones, she added.
Rosas' lack of hand injuries and still perfectly manicured finger nails were inconsistent with someone slipping, Scheinin said.
She explained that a person who fell accidentally would grab at rocks or plants to stop herself, and would likely suffer broken wrists as she tried to break her fall.
During questioning by Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link, Scheinin said there was no way
Alternate Public Defender Jenny Cheng will cross-examine Scheinin on Tuesday.
A toxicologist from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Department said the only substance in Rosas' blood at the time of her death was a small amount of an over-the-counter antihistamine used to treat colds.
The jury also heard this week from Rosas' three siblings and some friends about her disappearance.
Xochitl Evodio, 22, was in tears before she began testifying. She said she was close with her older sister, and they shared a room her entire life.
Evodio said her sister had a unique ringtone on her cellular telephone to designate Manai's calls and text messages, which were "constant."
About once a week during late-night calls, she would hear Rosas and Manai fight over the phone, Evodio said.
On July 2, 2005, Evodio and Rosas went shopping, and Rosas bought the miniskirt, halter top and high-heel shoes she wore that night, as she had plans to go dancing with friends.
Later that night, her sister became upset when Manai was late to pick her up, she said. Manai called Rosas to let her know he was outside, and she went out - returning briefly once to grab a bag of clothes.
Their younger brother, Felipe Evodio, 19, testified that he heard Rosas and Manai arguing outside through the open kitchen window. However, he couldn't hear what the argument was about.
Evodio said it was unusual to not hear from her sister for a couple days - and even more unusual that Manai called her two days later and asked her to go to lunch.
"I'd never gone out with him," she added.
She said she asked Manai where her sister was, but he said they never went out that night.
Evodio called Manai a couple of days later to ask about Rosas, and he told her he "didn't know," she said.
Older brother Cuauhtemoc Evodio, 26, testified that he answered a call from Manai on the family's house phone the afternoon of July 3, 2005.
Manai asked to talk to Rosas, and the brother said, "I thought she was with you."
Manai told him that one of Rosas' friends picked her up from his house the previous night.
Cuauhtemoc Evodio called Rosas' cell phone repeatedly and went to her work on July5, 2005, before filing a missing person report the next day.
Meanwhile, Rosas' two best friends testified that they expected Rosas to show up at a downtown L.A. nightclub on July 2, 2005, and were surprised that their reliable friend never came.
Nancy Borja broke down in tears when she said she never saw her best friend again. Calls the friends made to Rosas' cell phone in the next few days also went unanswered.
One of Manai's former co-workers at a Torrance Hertz rental car office described a phone call she answered in May or June 2005.
A woman who identified herself as Julie asked to speak to Manai, said Lilia Tafoya.
She brought the phone to Manai, who cleaned the rental cars, and told him it was Julie, Tafoya testified. He told Tafoya to tell the caller he wasn't available.
When she did, Julie told Tafoya to let Manai know that if he didn't stop calling her, she would get a restraining order against him, Tafoya said.
