Autopsy photos shown in sex-slaying trial

It's one thing to hear about the lacerations, abrasions and bruises allegedly caused by Michael C. Sontoya during a sexual assault.

It was another thing entirely Wednesday when jurors saw the gruesome photographs taken during an autopsy on Gabriela Romo on Sept. 30, the day she died.

Romo, 31, bled to death from her injuries, which included a 14-inch internal tear that damaged her spleen, liver and diaphragm.

Sontoya, 32, of St. Paul, is on trial in Ramsey County District Court on charges of first-degree murder committed during a criminal sexual assault and second-degree murder committed during a felony assault.

The defendant repeatedly denied hurting Romo in a videotaped interview with a police investigator that was shown to jurors Tuesday. They had had sex, Sontoya said, but "nothing rough."

Ramsey County medical examiner Michael McGee testified otherwise Wednesday under questioning by County Attorney Susan Gaertner. Gaertner also showed the jury selected photos McGee took during the autopsy and asked him to explain each one.

Photos show horrific injuries

"I do not believe the subject was alive when she was dressed," McGee testified. If her underwear had been put on while she was alive, they would be soaked in blood from her injuries, he said.

There were photos of bruises on her arms and legs. A close-up photo of her genitals showed the external lacerations, abrasions and bruises. Another showed the horrific internal injuries. Yet another showed 14 separate bruises on her scalp.

The medical examiner also said Romo's blood-alcohol content was 0.15.

McGee said his conclusion after the autopsy was that Romo bled to death from "multiple traumatic injuries" during a sexual assault. The manner of death, he said, was homicide.

He estimated that it took five to 10 minutes for Romo to die and that she had been dead about eight hours before he first examined her body about 10:30 a.m.

The trial was interrupted for about 90 minutes Wednesday as District Judge Marybeth Dorn questioned jurors. The judge explained later that a juror had encountered two people on the street Tuesday evening "who appeared to purposely make a statement that could be construed as trying to influence the jury."

Dorn warned those in the courtroom -- crowded with family members and friends of the victim and the defendant -- that further action would be taken if the people are identified.

Sontoya chose not to testify, and the defense rested without calling any witnesses. The jury will hear closing arguments and begin deliberations today.