Before making that statement, he showed the court what a pig’s brain looked like before and after the formaldehyde process. He said in comparison to a human brain, they are similar in size and in how they firm up after formaldehyde is used.
It is easier to autopsy a brain after treated by formaldehyde, and it takes about two weeks for the brain to be firm to have a clear vision of what is there.
Balko testified at the first Widmer murder trial in 2009, but not the second in 2010.
In both the 2009 testimony and Wednesday’s, he echoed renown forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz’s determination that 24-year-old Sarah Widmer drowned, but the manner of her death was “undeterminable” by anyone.
Assistant Prosecutor Travis Vieux began cross-examining Balko around 4 p.m. He started with questions about Balko’s studying of notes on the Widmer case, including the investigation, coroner’s report and trial summaries.
Widmer’s 911 call on Aug. 11, 2008 about his wife took about six minutes, and he started draining the tub before he made the call, according to trial testimony. First responders in all three trials said they became suspicious when they found Sarah Widmer and the drowning scene at the Widmer’s home in Hamilton Twp. virtually dry.
While on the stand in the 2009 trial, Balko told Vieux he performed his own unscientific experiment to see how long it would take to dry.
“I was curious about that myself. So I stood outside my shower this morning and didn’t dry off,” he said. “It took about seven minutes before I was substantially dry.”
Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson tossed the 2009 guilty verdict after it was discovered three jurors performed drying experiments at home during deliberations and reported their findings to their fellow jurors.
Because the Widmer family has spent almost $500,000 defending their son, Bronson declared Widmer indigent in January. The judge approved $6,500 of taxpayer’s money to pay for Balko’s testimony Wednesday.
Balko told the court he took a reduced fee payment to testify today. When the defense asked him to explain why, the prosecution objected.
Balko could not say why he agreed to take less money for his testimony.
The defense had asked for almost $50,000 to pay for five experts and approved $11,000 for Balko and Dr. Chandler Phillips. The judge did not offer taxpayer funds for Dr. David Smile or Spitz.
Smile testified for free earlier this week. Spitz’s testimony was given through a reading of the transcript of his 2010 testimony. He choked on a chicken bone Christmas Eve and was declared “unavailable” to testify.
Melissa Waller, a supporter of Widmer and who has not testified in previous trials, is expected to testify Friday with Phillips.
Phillips, a medical doctor, engineer and Nobel Prize nominee, will tell jurors it would be impossible for Widmer to attack his wife in the bathroom, given the cramped dimensions of the bathroom and the absence of defensive wounds on either Widmer.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
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