Victim was strangled

A 61-YEAR-OLD transvestite found dead in his flat nearly two years ago was strangled to death by a long-sleeved T-shirt with such force that it caused extensive fractures to bones and cartilage in his neck.

Forensic pathologist Gilbert Lau, testifying in court on his autopsy findings, said Mr Abdul Khalid Othman had probably been taken by surprise and very quickly overpowered by his assailant.

His body was found with the T-shirt wound around his neck and hands. A 28-year-old Malaysian, Astro Jakaria, is on trial for killing the older man in his rental Ang Mo Kio flat between June 19 and June 21 in 2008.

A prosecution witness - Mr Abdul Khalid's supervisor at work - alleged on Wednesday that Astro was the dead man's lover whom he supported financially. The defence disputes this.

On Thursday, Associate Professor Lau rejected a suggestion by the defence that Mr Abdul Khalid had inadvertently choked to death while trying to free himself from the bindings.

Mr Abdul Khalid, who dressed as a woman, was found dead on June 21 after his adopted daughter and her boyfriend forced their way into his room.