State medical examiner testifies at Parks trial

http://ktlo.com/wire/newswed/03159_PARKS_TRIAL-THIRD_DAY_173306.php

by Ray Dean Davis

 State medical examiner Dr. Charles Kokes was among the prosecution's witnesses testifying during the third day of the Gary Parks capital murder trial in Baxter County Circuit Court. Kokes' testimony involved an autopsy done on the body of Dr. David Millstein of Mountain Home.

Parks is accused of murdering Dr. Millstein, his stepfather, in June of 2006 at the Millstein residence in Mountain Home.

Ray Dean Davis has more on the story.

Dr. Kokes presented in detail the results of the autopsy, which was done on June 20th, 2006, two days after the victims body was found on the bedroom floor of his residence.

According to the testimony, the victim had a total of 30 sharp-force injuries on various parts of his body, including a slice across his throat. Kokes said the instrument used to inflict the wounds was likely a knife or knife-like object that was about one-and-one-quarter inches wide and six inches long. One of the wounds penetrated to a depth of seven inches.

Kokes said at least one puncture to the chest area had penetrated the victim's heart, resulting in rapid blood loss and leaving him weak and unable to resist further attack.

He said the assault likely began as Dr. Milstein lay in bed. The victim then probably rolled onto the floor, where he sustained further injuries to his back and finally to his throat. Kokes said by the time the victim's neck had been pulled back with great force and his throat cut, there was very little bleeding, indicating that he was already deceased or very near it at that time.
There were also some blunt force injuries on the body.

The jury was allowed to view seven of more than 60 photos taken of the autopsy as Dr. Kokes described his findings.

The medical examiner estimated the time of death at between 1 and 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 17th, 2006.

Several witnesses testified that on days just prior to his murder Dr. Millstein had expressed some concern regarding his stepson, the defendant. Testimony further indicated that the two had often disagreed over money matters.

Parks' ex-wife, Rhonda Parks, a physician, testified that she had met Parks and his mother, Jane Parks, on June 17th in central Arkansas, where Parks was to return his daughter after a weekend visitation. The ex-wife asked about Dr. Millstein and Gary Parks replied that they didn't know where he was.

There has been some conflicting testimony regarding whether or not Dr. Millstein was on call at Baxter Regional Medical Center. Gary Parks says Millstein was supposed to be at a family get-together that weekend in Little Rock. Some of his co-workers testified that he was on call and would never have planned to go out of town.

Two of the workers at Millstein's medical practice described Parks coming into the office in the days following Millstein's death. They described him as appearing agitated, rather than grieving.