Forensic evidence dominates second day of murder trial

Make text smaller Make text larger

Police were unable to find the shoes that left prints in the blood at the scene of a murder.

Supreme Court heard yesterday that the prints were discovered by forensic officers at the Paget home of retired social worker Ida James.

Ms James, 66, was found dead at the home, having been stabbed 60 times.

Norris Simpson — a tenant at one of her properties, who allegedly owed her money — is on trial at Supreme Court accused of the murder, which he denies.

Yesterday, the jury heard from Jewel Hayward of the Forensic Support Unit.

The jury has already heard from other witnesses that Ms James was a “hoarder” who lived in a very cluttered house that contained a lot of cash.

Detective Constable Hayward showed pictures of the house, with the body in situ.

He explained that more than $10,000 was found in the victim’s home, and in a car at the property.

He also explained that after his initial assessment of the scene, he recommended that an overseas “blood spatter expert” be called in to assist the police.

He went on to describe how he examined various shoes, including a pair seized from Mr Simpson after his arrest.

He also examined shoes belonging to a police inspector who was one of the first on the scene and the couple who discovered the victim’s body.

These, he said, were “forensically excluded” from the investigation — with a report from a foreign expert indicating that they did not match footprints in the blood at the scene.

In addition to seizing the defendant’s shoes, scrapings were also taken from underneath Mr Simpson’s fingernails.

Prosecutor Rory Field has told the jury this revealed the victim’s DNA under the nails.

The case continues.

Make text smaller Make text larger

Take Our Poll