The murder trial of Norris Simpson continued yesterday with the jury hearing about investigators searching a truck for traces of blood.Mr Simpson, 54, has been charged with the murder of his landlord, retired social worker Ida James, who was stabbed to death in her home overnight between September 1 and September 2, 2011. He has denied the charge.The court heard earlier this week that after Mr Simpson’s arrest on September 2, he was checked for injuries by Brenda Davidson of the Paget Medical Centre.She identified several minor scratches and bruises on Mr Simpson’s body, the majority of which she said had been caused within the previous 48 hours. She said one of the injuries, a cut to the inside of his left pinky finger, appeared to have been caused by sharp metal, and would have bled “quickly and profusely” after it was made.Asked about the injury, Mr Simpson allegedly said he had cut his hand getting into a work truck.Speaking on the stand yesterday, Government analyst Desiree Spriggs said that on September 4, 2011, she inspected a blue pickup truck on Seagull Lane in Pembroke.“I was asked to look at and test the truck for the presence of any trace blood evidence,” she said.While she carried out a presumptive test on several areas of the truck, including the tailgate, but found no evidence of blood whatsoever.Asked by prosecutor Cindy Clarke if the results of the test would be affected by the age of the blood, Dr Spriggs said no, but noted that blood evidence could have been washed away by rain or other conditions.Under cross examination, she told the court that a total of 21 items were seized in the North Shore Road home where Mr Simpson rented a room, including knives. However, she said the knives were tested and ruled out as the murder weapon.The trial is expected to continue today.