Although T Previin’s injury was not fatal, it could have led to more severe problems such as facial nerve palsy or an injured lymphatic vessel, said Penang Hospital doctor S Sivanandhan.

“His injury was serious and required a bone graft. Without surgery, the injuries would have worsened,” he said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Muna Jaafar.

Previin was with T Nhaveen when the latter was mocked for being effeminate by a group of boys known to them in 2017.

Previin, 24, had confronted them over the remark which saw the boys attacking Nhaveen and him. Nhaveen was left in a comatose state and died a few days later.

Sivanandhan was testifying as Previin’s attending physician over a separate grievous assault charge brought under Section 326 of the Penal Code against the same five accused of Nhaveen’s murder.

According to a medical report admitted in court, Previin was diagnosed with three fractures on his right cheek and a broken blood vessel in his right eye. A bone graft surgery was carried out to fix the shattered cheek.

Previin had previously testified that he had been set upon with helmets by six people, including the five accused.

During cross-examination, lead defence lawyer Naran Singh asked Sivanandhan if the injuries sustained by Previin were likely caused by helmets or punches.

Sivanandhan explained that broadly, the injury was the result of blunt force trauma, and was likely caused by blunt objects such as helmets or bare-fisted punches.

Naran then asked the doctor if it was more likely that Previin’s injury was the result of having been punched, since being hit repeatedly with helmets would have caused cuts around his eye and more bruises around his face.

“If six people were to set upon him with a helmet each, as Previin claims, he would have massive injuries, more than just (to his) cheekbones, right?” Naran asked Sivanandhan.

Sivanandhan agreed, and said the injuries sustained were likely to have been the result of Previin having been punched.

Five people have been charged with murder in connection with Nhaveen’s death. They are S Gopinaath, 30, J Ragesuthan, 22, S Gokulan, 22, and two other unnamed persons who were juveniles when the offence took place. They are accused of committing the offence at the Jalan Bunga Raya park between 11pm and midnight on June 9, 2017.

The five are also charged with committing a grievous assault on Previin near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre in Bukit Gelugor that night.

S Yagoo and Maanveer Singh Dhillon also represented the accused.

Judge Radzi Hamid fixed March 27 to 29 for the hearing to continue.