The autopsy report on slain Australian baseballer Chris Lane supports the police and prosecutors' theory about how he was shot at random in the back while jogging in the US state of Oklahoma.
A US medical examiner says the Melbourne athlete was struck by a bullet that collapsed both his lungs, fractured two ribs and ripped through his aorta and pulmonary artery.
The autopsy results released on Tuesday say 22-year-old Lane was killed by a "penetrating gunshot wound to the back".
Prosecutors have charged two teenagers with murder over the August 16 shooting in an Oklahoma suburb.
Another boy is accused of being an accessory and of driving a vehicle during the discharge of a weapon.
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Art LeFrancois, a criminal law professor at Oklahoma City University's School of Law says the autopsy report will be a critical piece of evidence but does not link the teens to the crime.
"It certainly is significant that the autopsy thus far does not seem to contradict or seem to be inconsistent with the theory that the police have of the case," LeFrancois said.
"It would have been troubling and problematic for the prosecution if the autopsy was inconsistent with the police's case."
The report supports the theory of Duncan police that Lane, was shot with a small-calibre weapon from behind by someone passing him in a car and that the shooter intended to kill the athlete by aiming for his upper torso.
Police say Lane was killed with a .22-calibre handgun, and they found .22-calibre ammunition in a suspect's vehicle.
Chancey Allen Luna, 16, and James Francis Edwards, Jr, 15, have been charged as adults with first-degree murder. Michael Dewayne Jones, 17, is charged with accessory to first-degree murder.
Police say three teenagers targeted him at random to break up the monotony of an Oklahoma summer.
Luna's lawyer, Jim Berry, told AP his client was not involved in the shooting, but declined further comment. Edwards' lawyer, Al Hoch, and District Attorney Jason Hicks also declined to discuss the case, citing a gag order the judge in the case issued on Tuesday.
Stephens County Special Judge Jerry Herberger's gag order prohibits police, prosecutors and defence lawyers from discussing the case publicly.
Lane moved to Oklahoma to play baseball at East Central University.
Lane will be farewelled in a Melbourne funeral at St Therese's Church in Essendon on Wednesday.
