Golfito, Costa Rica ? After almost two weeks of delays, the trial for suspects accused of killing Kansas University student Shannon Martin resumed Wednesday in this impoverished Pacific port town.

Testimony from a forensic expert outlined a fierce struggle between Martin and her attackers. And in an unorthodox move, the judges moved their proceedings from the courtroom to the street where Martin was slain.

The judges took to the streets “to get a better idea of the topography and layout of the crime scene,” Chief Judge Benicio Castillo said.

For more than an hour, the three judges walked around with Ricardo Bolaños, chief investigator for the Judicial Investigative Police, familiarizing themselves with the crime scene.

Three Costa Ricans, Kattia Cruz, 29, Luis Alberto Castro, 33, and Rafael Zumbado, 52, are accused in Martin’s slaying. Cruz and Zumbado are in police custody.

The trial continued after two lengthy delays. Originally set to begin Oct. 27, the trial was postponed until Oct. 31 because of a change in Zumbado’s legal defense. Then, after one day of hearings, the trial again was suspended until Wednesday because of scheduling conflicts in the Golfito Tribunal of Justice.

‘Absolutely horrific’

Forensic pathologist Dr. Luis Del Valle Carazo presented photos from Martin’s autopsy, illustrating the force and violence of the crime.

“The victim presented a broken bone in her neck, which suggests that she was grabbed violently from behind,” Del Valle said. “She did not present any wounds or lesions on her legs, feet, or hands, which means that it is possible that more than one person participated in this crime.”

¢ 6News video: The trial in Shannon Martin’s killing will begin soon¢Past stories, video reports

He noted that Martin had not been sexually assaulted.

Martin’s mother, Jeanette Stauffer, of Topeka, was in the courtroom during the pathologist’s testimony.

“Today was the most difficult day of all my life,” she said later. “To see what these people did to my daughter is absolutely horrific. This crime was done with lots of violence, and Shannon fought for her life. Their intent was to kill.”

Stauffer broke down several times during presentation of the autopsy photos.

“Shannon doesn’t have a voice anymore. I’m her voice. I have to be here,” she said.

Evidence suggested Martin perhaps knew her attackers.

“According to the scrape marks on the body, the victim was not dragged but rather approached her attackers,” Del Valle said.

Bolaños, chief investigator for the region, supported the theory, saying crime scene evidence indicated that there was no struggle until Martin approached her attackers.

Murder weapon?

Martin was stabbed to death during the early morning hours of May 13, 2001, 100 feet from the home where she stayed in Golfito. She was 23 years old and had gone to Golfito to complete research just weeks before she was to have graduated from Kansas University.

Golfito Dist. Atty. Erick Mart–nez entered a knife as evidence, alleging it was the murder weapon. The folding, lock-blade knife measured 7 centimeters long and 2.1 centimeters wide.

Del Valle said the knife “could have been the murder weapon,” but did not rule out the possibility another similar weapon was used.

The prosecution still has not clarified where the knife came from, or who provided it.

Sources close to the investigation said the knife was discovered within the past two weeks.

“Without the help of Kansas Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Larry Thomas and interpreter Jesse Ybarra, the knife wouldn’t have come forward,” Stauffer said. “It’s been the Americans in Golfito that have found the majority of the information.”

“In fact, the person who gave us the knife tried to talk to the local prosecutor over a year ago,” said another source close to the investigation.

The trial is scheduled through the rest of the week, and a verdict is expected early next week. In Costa Rica, as in many Latin countries, the verdict will be decided by the tribunal instead of a jury.