Medical examiner testifies about violent attack

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) -- The Des Moines County medical examiner who did the autopsy on Michael Harper Junior says he had never seen a body so mutilated.

Doctor Eugenio Torres says the 17-year-old Burlington teen died from a combination of strangulation and stab wounds in February 2004.

Two of his friends are accused in his death. William Lucas Junior and Brent Saner are charged with first-degree murder. Lucas is on trial this week. Saner's trial is set for next month.

In his autopsy report, Torres says Harper was strangled with enough force to break his neck and stabbed or slashed 111 times all across the body.

Prosecutors say Lucas and Saner killed Harper because he planned to tell police about their role in stealing a paintball gun during a garage burglary.

The defense says Lucas doesn't have the capacity to form the intent to commit the crime. They're attempting to pin most of the blame on Saner.