The trial of Patrick L. Curnes, an Ames man accused of murder, continued Thursday as prosecution witnesses described the violent and bloody death of Samuel J. Kingery.

One of the day’s key witnesses was Polk County Medical Examiner Francis Garrity, who explained for jurors the extensive list of bodily injuries Kingery sustained on Aug. 25 in the bedroom of Curnes’ trailer at the University Mobile Home Park, 3507 Lincoln Way #26.

During direct examination by Assistant Story County Attorney Angelina Newman, Garrity said Kingery’s body was “considerably blood smeared” when he examined it, with sizable wounds to his head, face, neck, chest and groin.

Specific injuries, Garrity said, included a scalpel and steak knife stuck in Kingery’s groin, head injuries apparently caused by a claw hammer that police later found in Curnes’ kitchen sink, chest wounds caused by a nearly foot-long barbecue fork and a 5-inch knife “inserted its full length” into his scrotum.

“An observer would be quite alarmed at the force used to make these injuries,” he said.

On cross examination by Curnes’ attorney Julia Keifer, Garrity said the mutilation of Kingery’s scrotum was consistent with “gay-bashing” rage.

The prosecution also called to the stand Ames Detective Mark Wheeler, who testified that Curnes, 44, was coherent throughout the night of the murder, although he said Curnes admitted he had been drinking and smoking methamphetamines.

Cross examination of Wheeler was postponed until today.

Police testified Wednesday that tests showed Curnes’ blood-alcohol content at the time of the murder was 0.113 percent, or slightly higher than the legal level of intoxication, and no methamphetamine was found in Curnes’ system.

In her opening statement Wednesday, Newman said Kingery sexually assaulted Curnes earlier on Aug. 25, and he masturbated in front of Curnes and a third man before Curnes allegedly killed Kingery.

The defense declined to make an opening statement Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Iowa District Court Judge Timothy J. Finn declared that a portion of the initial interview of Curnes conducted by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations special agent John Quinn was unconstitutional, effectively throwing out part of Curnes’ confession.

—Daily staff writers Kara Peterson and Megan McGurk contributed to this report.