Khaseen Morris' heart wasn't beating when he arrived at hospital, doctor testifies at Tyler Flach murder trial

Khaseen Morris’ heart wasn’t beating when he arrived at an Oceanside hospital, as a medical device strapped to the 16-year-old stabbing victim's chest performed compressions as part of lifesaving efforts that included two trips to an operating room, his surgeon testified Wednesday.

A team of trauma experts at Mount Sinai South Nassau were able to get the Oceanside High School senior’s heart beating again before transferring him to an intensive care unit in critical condition, physician Daniel Haller also told jurors at the trial of Morris’ accused killer.

When the teenager became unstable again, medical personnel restarted his heart a second time with CPR in the operating room, according to Haller.

But he said Morris’ life kept slipping away.

“He continued to get worse, until a point we could not help him anymore,” the trauma surgeon added, as Morris’ family members listened in a Mineola courtroom.

The physician testified that Morris died at 11:55 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2019 — about eight hours after an after-school fight that left what he said was only one deep wound that required attention after the stabbing.

Photos of Morris’ torso appeared on two large screens in a Mineola courtroom during the physician’s testimony, including one next to Tyler Flach’s seat at the defense table.

Flach, now 21, is standing trial on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree gang assault and misdemeanor assault and weapon charges following Morris’ death.

Prosecutors contend Flach meant to kill Morris when he plunged a knife into him during a prearranged fight at an Oceanside strip mall after friction that sparked up with the jealous ex-boyfriend of a girl Morris walked home from a party.

Prosecutor Daryl Levy said during opening statements in Nassau County Court last week that Flach stabbed Morris three times — a departure from a previous account from authorities that the teenager suffered a single stab wound to his chest.

Flach’s defense team contends the Lido Beach man, then 18, stabbed Morris just once in a “reckless” and unintentional manner while throwing punches with a knife in his hand.

They appear focused on making a case for second-degree manslaughter, which carries a top penalty of 5 to 15 years in prison as opposed to a maximum sentence of 25 years to life behind bars for a second-degree murder conviction.

The causes behind a total of five lacerations on Morris’ torso area emerged as a point of contention as the surgeon testified Wednesday.

Haller said during questioning by prosecutor Ania Pulaski that the wound on Morris’ left side, just below his heart, was the only wound he recalled seeing or treating.

He classified another laceration as superficial and yet another laceration, a vertical incision, as something that wouldn’t be typically done during patient care.

In addition, Haller said medical personnel inserted two chest tubes into Morris’ torso, one on each side of his body.

But the surgeon acknowledged during questioning by defense attorney Edward Sapone that only a single stab wound was noted on paperwork known as a trauma flow sheet when Morris came into the emergency room.

Haller also agreed during a cross examination, which grew intense at times, that in the 215 pages of Morris’ medical records, every reference was to a single wound.

“Superficial wounds can sometimes go unnoticed," the physician told Sapone. “If someone comes into the emergency room dead, I don’t address them,” he said of non-life-threatening wounds.

Haller also said the description of the single wound was part of a primary survey of Morris’ condition, a survey focused only on life-threatening wounds. Morris didn’t live long enough for a secondary survey, the doctor said.

Haller said he didn’t recall if one more than incision was needed for the insertion of a chest tube in Morris’ case, but that normally he'd be informed if a trauma team member had to make more than one incision for such a reason.

“I’m not trying to be smart, I’m trying to answer appropriately and truly,” the surgeon added.

The defense contends that besides a single stab wound from the fight, the other lacerations were the result of medical intervention, Sapone said in an interview after court.

“There will be no doubt once the medical examiner explains her findings,” he said ahead of that witness’ expected testimony Thursday.

As Wednesday’s proceeding concluded, members of Morris’ family paused outside the courtroom for a few moments to shake Haller’s hand and thank him for his efforts to save their loved one’s life.

“Be well,” the surgeon told them. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

CORRECTION: A headline on a previous version of this story misspelled Tyler Flach's first name.