'The Head and Face Were Unrecognizable'

'The Head and Face Were Unrecognizable'

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Story Published: Dec 1, 2003 at 1:42 PM PST

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 12:21 AM PST

By KOMO Staff

KING COUNTY - In the murder trial of Sebastian Burns and Atif Rafay Monday an officer described the gruesome scene he discovered in a Bellevue home nine years ago where Rafay's parents and sister were killed.

The police captain said Rafay's father had been beaten so severely his face was unrecognizable.

"There was massive tissue loss," said Captain James Kowalczyk. "The head and face were unrecognizable and the palor of the skin, our assumption at the time is he was deceased."

In opening statements last week prosecutors said Rafay and Burns committed the murders hoping to get insurance money.

Defense lawyers said the two men were not at the house at the time of the murders and that police failed to investigate other suspects.

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