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Expert Says Guards Set Off Sickle Cell Trait

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By MELISSA NELSON, The Associated Press

Published: October 5, 2007

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A 14-year-old boy died because complications from a blood disorder were triggered when boot camp guards interrupted his breathing by making him inhale ammonia capsules, a medical examiner testified Thursday in the manslaughter trial of the drill instructors and a nurse.

Thomas Andrew, New Hampshire's chief medical examiner and a prosecution witness, told jurors that Martin Lee Anderson's death was caused by a chain of events that set off the undiagnosed genetic blood disorder called sickle cell trait.

The boy had collapsed after running laps at the Panama City camp run by the sheriff's office. The guards broke the ammonia tablets and then held them under Anderson's nose with his mouth covered, Andrew said. That deprived him of oxygen while he was already dehydrated, Andrew added.

That exacerbated the usually benign disorder, causing his blood cells to shrivel into a sickle shape and limiting their ability to carry oxygen, Andrew testified. He said Anderson could have recovered if he had been given time to rest, catch his breath and drink some water.
Defense attorneys said in opening statements a day earlier that they would show Anderson's death could not have been prevented and was caused solely by sickle cell trait. Prosecutors say the guards killed the boy because of the videotaped altercation and the nurse stood by without helping him.

Prosecutor Scott Harmon asked Andrew whether the guards' kneeing, hitting and dragging Anderson's limp body across the camp yard for 30 minutes along with the ammonia could have hurt his ability to recover.

'What he needs is oxygen and what he is being is deprived of is oxygen, so this is increasing an already dangerous situation,' Andrew said. 'That's what makes it so dangerous, the sickling began because of the lack of oxygen, so over time it gets worse.'

Generally, people who carry sickle cell trait have healthy lives, Andrew testified. It is common among blacks; Anderson was black.

People with sickle cell trait have some normal red blood cells, but also some that are abnormal. Those abnormal cells can begin to sickle under stress, Andrew testified. He said the reaction causes a victim to have a higher demand for oxygen.

James White, defense attorney for guard Raymond Hauck, called Andrew a 'Monday morning quarterback.'

'You cannot look at that videotape and tell whether they're gaps between their fingers,' White said, and suggested his client and the other guards allowed Anderson to breathe.

Andrew said he could not see the tape clearly enough to view the guards' exact hand positions.

White also suggested Andrew lacked experience with sickle cell trait.

Earlier Thursday, jurors watched intently as prosecutors played the exercise yard surveillance video of the guards hitting Anderson. Jurors showed little reaction - some shifted slightly in their seats during the most violent parts.

The hourlong video from Jan. 5, 2006, shows Anderson and the other boys on the day they entered the Bay County boot camp. Anderson died the next day at a Pensacola hospital.

The boy's father, Robert Anderson, sat near jurors in the front of the courtroom with his head in his hands throughout the video.

Jason Foland, a pediatric critical care doctor who treated Anderson at the hospital, testified that he arrived in critical condition.

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