Police chief: Autopsy shows Campbell fought off attackers

US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell died more likely after fighting off at least two attackers. This became apparent in the "defense injuries" discovered during a police autopsy on her body.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Calderon said Tuesday this was the initial reconstruction of Campbell's last moments, based on the autopsy so far.

"Nakikita namin mukhang lumaban si Julia. Athletic ito, may resistance. May tama sa balikat, mukhang defense injury, hanggang tumama sa ulo niya (We saw indications that Julia fought back. She was athletic and offered stiff resistance. There was an injury on her shoulder, which indicate she was hit with a blunt object. But she likely lost consciousness when she was hit on the head with the object)," Calderon said in an interview on dzRH radio.

But Calderon also admitted that at this point, the evidence they have gathered so far is circumstantial and may be "good enough" only for homicide and not murder.

"Pinag-aaralan ng legal officers kasama ang prosecutor. Siyempre may batas tayo, lumalabas na circumstantial ang lahat na ito. Kumukuha kami ng evidence dito (Our legal officers and prosecutors are studying the case. So far the evidence is circumstantial. We're still trying to gather more evidence)," he said.

Calderon said that a piece of bloodstained wood, which police have recovered, was likely the blunt object used to hit her on the head.

He also said the "circumstantial" evidence they have gathered so far bolstered the theory that the suspect, Juan Dontugan, had an accomplice in killing Campbell.

"Maaring dalawa. At this time mahirap magbigay ng insinuation na ganyan (There could have been two of them but at this time it is hard to make insinuations)," he said.

The initial reconstruction also indicated that Dontugan and his companion may have thrown away Campbell's camera, then hastily buried her.

On the other hand, Calderon declined to give further comment, saying the official results of the autopsy will be out in one week's time. - GMANews.TV