Particles that make up gunshot residue were discovered in the car that two suspects allegedly drove away from a murder scene in, a court has heard.

Forensics expert Allison Murtha told a jury at the Supreme Court yesterday that she discovered traces of lead, barium and antimony on samples taken from inside the vehicle when she examined the “stubs” at a laboratory in Pennsylvania.

She said the results of the forensic tests showed that the particles found on the inside of the car could have come from a discharged firearm or other sources. Wolda Gardner and Patrick Stamp are accused of murdering Malcolm Augustus close to the St George’s golf course on the night of December 24, 2012.

The jury has heard from a witness who claimed he saw the shooting and said that Mr Gardner pushed Mr Stamp into his car, before jumping in himself.

The witness said he then drove the pair to a beach in St George’s. The car was later seized by police and samples were taken from the vehicle’s interior and sent away for forensic examination.

Ms Murtha explained to the jury that gunshot residue is made up of three elements: lead, barium and antimony, which are given off when a gun is fired. She said that the presence of all three was indicative of gunshot residue, but that samples could contain two component particles or one component particle.

Ms Murtha said: “The most I could say is that they [the particles] could have come from a discharge of a firearm or they could have come from other sources”.

She added: “From the passenger inside door area stub I found 12 two-component particles; eight were barium and lead and four were lead and antimony.

“I also found at least 41 one component particles. From the passenger side dashboard stub I found one two-component particle of lead and antimony, and at least 30 one-component particles.

“From the passenger side head rest stub I found one two-component particle and at least 36 one component particles.

“The absence of three-component particles could be because, one, the individual did not discharge a firearm, or two, many factors can contribute to particle loss like weather, time, and the firearm.”

Mr Gardner and Mr Stamp both deny murder. The trial continues.