Autopsy results discussed in murder trial for slain OU dance student

Thursday, February 9th 2006, 6:07 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- The gunshot that killed University of Oklahoma dance student Jewell "Juli" Busken came from a weapon that was touching her skin when it was fired, a forensic pathologist testified Thursday at the trial of the man accused of killing her more than nine years ago.

Anthony Castillo Sanchez, 27, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, sodomy and rape in the death Busken, 21, of Benton, Ark. Sanchez was charged in 2004 after prosecutors said DNA evidence connected him to the murder scene.

Busken was found shot to death on the southeast shore of Lake Stanley Draper 12 hours after she disappeared from her Norman apartment complex.

Dr. John Parker, formerly with the state medical examiner's office, said Busken's body also showed signs of a sexual assault. Parker said he found scrapes on Busken's face and bruises on her genital area when he performed an autopsy the day after she was found.

A .22-caliber bullet was removed from her head. She'd been shot behind her left ear, he said.