Teen died of multiple stab wounds

[<bleeding_heart>]

MIAMI - (KRT) - Southwood Middle School student Jaime Gough died after being stabbed at least 40 times in the neck and face. Both his jugular veins were severed. And a "gaping" wound left his windpipe exposed, according to a Miami-Dade medical examiner's report released Thursday.

Prosecutors also made public a sworn statement by a classmate, identified as A.D.M. in court papers. A.D.M. alleges Michael Hernandez, the 14-year-old accused of killing Jaime, showed off a knife at school months before Jaime's Feb. 3 slaying in the second-floor bathroom of the Palmetto Bay school.

"The medical examiner's report is just devastating for Jaime's family," said their attorney, Lee Marks. "The stab wounds to his hands make it apparent that Jaime fought, and that makes it even more difficult.

"It's just a brutal and shocking attack."

Many of the stab wounds to Jaime's cheeks, lips, back and hands were superficial. The gashes to his neck were severe.

John Spencer, a forensic psychologist and member of Hernandez's defense team, acknowledged the report documents a brutal attack.

"I think the very nature of the injuries inflicted speaks to the severe disturbance of the person who inflicted them," said Spencer.

Hernandez's attorney, Richard Rosenbaum, is traveling out of the country.

Hernandez is being tried as an adult. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. Police say he gave a detailed confession on the day of the killing. If convicted, he would face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Rosenbaum has declined to say whether he will use an insanity defense in the case. Spencer said the team has not yet completed its testing of Hernandez.

"If this child did this - and that's if - then something terrible happened to this child along the way that got him to this point," said Spencer.

Full Article