A murder trial took on added drama Thursday when Oakland County Medical Examiner L.J. Dragovic suffered an apparent heart attack while being cross-examined in a Detroit courtroom.
According to an account in the Free Press by Jim Schaefer and Joe Swickard, Dragovic's head tilted back and his face suddenly turned an ashy gray about 30 minutes into his cross-examination by Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Reynolds in a trial before Circuit Judge Richard Skutt.
"He's having a heart attack," defense attorney Todd Flood shouted out, witnesses said.
Two jurors, a police detective and an assistant Wayne County medical examiner rushed to his aid.
Dragovic was given CPR and started to breathe only after they used an emergency heart defibrillator several times, Reynolds said.
Dragovic is 62-year-old forensic pathologist who is known as an expert witness who favors bow ties and delivers his opinions with Balkan-accented English.
He apologized upon regaining consciousness and waved to the courtroom as he was wheeled out on a stretcher.
