Bullet that killed Nykera Brown was fired ‘very close to the head’: forensic pathologist

WATCH: On the fourth day of Andrew Rosenfeldt’s second-degree murder trial, Saskatchewan’s chief forensic pathologist took the stand to provide testimony.

This story contains details some readers may find disturbing.

It’s possible 20-year-old Nykera Brown shot herself, Saskatchewan’s chief forensic pathologist testified.

Dr. Shaun Ladham took the stand on the fourth day of Andrew Rosenfeldt’s second-degree murder trial.

Brown was found dead on Nov. 15, 2022, inside the apartment she shared with Rosenfeldt on Avenue P South.

Ladham said the bullet that killed Brown was fired less than a centimetre from her head.

Graphic photos of Brown’s body on a metal table were shown in court as Ladham walked the judge through his forensic analysis.

He identified the black, swollen circle below Brown’s chin as the gunshot wound and noted a faint ring around it caused by gunpowder residue.

“The gun was very close to the head at the time that it was discharged,” Ladham testified, estimating Brown would have died within minutes of being shot.

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Chris Murphy used a measuring tape to demonstrate the length of the gun seized at the scene — about 40 centimetres.

Holding the tape under his chin, he asked whether the gun could have been fired by the victim.

“So you’re asking me, is it possible she did it? Certainly it is. That weapon is not long enough to preclude her arms from being able to hold it and pull the trigger,” Lahdam responded to Murphy.

“And the wound that we have is classed as one that could be from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

A single bullet was recovered from Brown’s brain. Two small-calibre lead bullets were found inside the left pocket of her pants.

A toxicology report found meth and cocaine in Brown’s system.

Rosenfeldt’s 911 call recording plays in court

The Crown entered Rosenfeldt’s 911 call as evidence.

On the call, Rosenfeldt told the dispatcher that two masked people entered the apartment and shot his girlfriend in the head.

Then, the line went quiet.

There was about 30 seconds of silence before Rosenfeldt returned to the call, giving more details about his girlfriend’s condition and the alleged home invaders.

Surveillance footage, showing the front and back entrances of the apartment building, showed no masked people entering or leaving during that timeframe.