MANILA, Philippines — The defense lawyers of suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. said on Wednesday there were inconsistencies in the original autopsy report and final report submitted in court by the police medico-legal officer who examined the bodies of 12 of the 57 victims of the Maguindanao massacre.

Sigfrid Fortun, legal counsel of Ampatuan Jr., said the initial report of medico-legal officer Chief Insp. Dean Cabrera showed that the bodies were in the “early state of decomposition.’’

However, Cabrera’s final report indicated that the bodies were in an “advanced state of decomposition,’’ prompting the medico-legal officer to respond that there might have been a typographical error.

During the hearing, Fortun said Cabrera did not use normal autopsy equipment like microscope, retractable probe and x-ray in examining 12 of the 57 corpses as he later revealed that the medico-legal officer used magnifying lens and a banana cue stick.

Fortun also questioned Cabrera’s statements regarding the possible trajectory of the bullets that killed the victims, prompting Cabrera to disclose that he never visited the massacre site.