Paramedics on man accused of killing father: He seemed shocked, dazed
He had to work fast to try to save the elderly man lying unconscious on the floor of the master bedroom.
But Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic Elroy Chan could not get help or information from the victim's son, who was in the room.
Mr Chan was testifying yesterday against Mark Tan Peng Liat, who is charged with the culpable homicide of his 67-year-old father, Mr Tan Kok Keng, on Feb 10 last year
Tan, 30, is accused of putting a fatal headlock and chokehold on his father around 5.20pm in their semi-detached house at West Coast Rise.
Mr Tan suffered a cardiac arrest, and was later pronounced dead in hospital. (See report )
Mr Chan, who was part of a team that responded to an emergency call that evening, said: "What surprised me... people are usually pro-active in providing (medical) history because it involves their loved ones. However, in this case, there was no response (from Tan) until I asked a second time."
QUARREL
While trying to resuscitate Mr Tan, Mr Chan tried to get Tan to give him vital information about his father for the hospital emergency staff.
But there was no reply from Tan, he told the court.
When he asked again, Tan finally told him: "We had a quarrel or fight. I pinned him to the ground. After that, he stopped breathing."
When asked by Deputy Public Prosecutor Kumaresan Gohubalan if Tan had said anything else, Mr Chan said that was their only exchange.
The paramedic said that when he arrived at the house, a woman directed him to the second-storey master bedroom, where he saw Mr Tan face-up behind the door.
The court heard that the unconscious man was showing signs of cyanosis, a condition resulting from a lack of oxygen.
On Thursday, Mr Tan's sister, Madam Tan Hoon Choo, testified that his lips had turned blue.
As Mr Tan's body was too close to the door, Mr Chan needed help to move him before he could render emergency medical aid.
But despite him asking Tan twice for help, there was no response.
"I saw this gentleman still sitting in a chair in a daze," said Mr Chan.
"(He) seemed shocked, not helping out."
Eventually, Mr Chan's colleague helped him to move Mr Tan.
Defence lawyer Derek Kang asked Mr Chan if Mr Tan could have stopped breathing as a result of his heart stopping.
Mr Chan said "yes".
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed on Mr Tan in his home and in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
If convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Tan can be jailed up to 10 years, fined or caned.
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