May 26, 2009 - 04:06 PM

By Jeff Mitchell

WHITBY -- Murdered trucker Donald Woods died of a point-blank shotgun blast to the back of the head, an expert witness testified Tuesday.

Forensic pathologist Jacqueline Parai said Mr. Woods, whose body was found in the sleeper compartment of his rig in Pickering in June 2006, died immediately from the execution-style shooting.

"It was my opinion it was a contact wound," Dr. Parai said Tuesday in Superior Court in Whitby.

"It means the end of the barrel of the shotgun ... was in contact with the scalp to cause this wound.

"(Death) would have been immediate," she said.

Dr. Parai was testifying at the trial of Paul Cyr, who has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of Mr. Woods, 35. The Brockville-area trucker was found dead in the cab of his truck behind the Wal-Mart store on Brock Road in Pickering June 23, 2006. His cargo, a load of air-chilled chicken valued at $40,000, was missing.

Mr. Cyr, 51, of Montreal, was arrested several months after Mr. Woods's body was discovered. He is also charged with theft over $5,000.

Testifying Tuesday Dr. Parai said that in addition to the catastrophic gunshot wound to the head, an autopsy revealed bruising on the slain man's wrists. Durham investigators found a number of plastic ties in and around the truck, jurors have heard.

Court has heard Mr. Woods was bound for Bradford with the load of chicken. He last had contact with his wife June 21, 2006, and his body was discovered two days later.

Mr. Woods's cellphone, found in the cab of the truck, recorded 49 missed calls, jurors heard.

The trial continues.