As tired as you probably are of hearing about Michael Mineo's buttocks, imagine how the jury feels. In court yesterday, they were treated to a graphic close-up photo of his behind, which the Times says "did little to clear up several mysteries." The image was presented during testimony from a colorectal expert called by lawyers representing three NYPD officers accused of participating in the sodomy of Michael Mineo in a Brooklyn subway station during his arrest in 2008.

Dr. Frank Sconzo testified yesterday that Mineo's injuries were not consistent with sodomy from a retractable police baton, and said that a blood sample taken from Mineo shorty after the incident suggested he had an "ongoing infection" that developed days prior. He also argued that an abscess Mineo later developed "was not caused by anything from the anus or the rectum." Under oath, Sconzo testified, "You would expect to see a fairly extensive injury... I don't believe it happened."

But under cross-examination, Sconzo acknowledged that the photograph seemed to show evidence of an anal fissure, and conceded that other areas where Mineo might have been injured were obscured by shadows or hair. Also testifying yesterday was Thomas A. Kubic, a professor of forensic science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He said the baton "could not have made that square hole in the boxer shorts" and such a baton would have cut an L-shaped hole.

Kubic also testified that two chemicals found on the underwear matched those used in tattoos. Mineo worked in a tattoo parlor at the time, and lawyers for the police have argued that he made the hole himself. But under cross-examination Kubic acknowledged one of those chemicals also could be found on rubber used in a police baton. It's unclear whether the defense will call any of the accused officers to testify when the trial resumes.