The jury in the trial of a man charged with the 1985 murder of Aaron Easton heard that there was another suspect was seen brandishing a knife shortly after the killing.

In Supreme Court yesterday defence lawyer Mark Pettingill told the six woman, six man jury that the late Gladwin Woods was seen by two witnesses near Dellwood School in Pembroke.

Stanford Glenfield Archibald, 39, formerly of Somerset, has denied murdering Mr. Easton.

On May 4, 1985, Mr. Easton's body was found in a pool of blood with 49 stab wounds on Laffan Street, Pembroke. A concrete block had also been smashed over the victim's head.

Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser maintains that the case is based on circumstantial and DNA evidence.

Former assistant Police commissioner Wayne Perinchief told the court that there were other suspects and he spoke of how they were eliminated. Blood samples from six suspects were sent to Canada for DNA analysis.

The suspects who had blood taken for DNA analysis were neighbours of the deceased, the late Albert (Poochy) Smith, Albert Allen, Michael (Squiggley or Snoogedy) Eugene Dillas, roommate Troy (Yankee Boy) Rawlins, Rodney Burt and the accused, Archibald.

But during cross examination, Mr. Perinchief told the jury of another suspect.

Mr. Pettingill asked Mr. Perinchief about another suspect Gladwin Woods.

Two witnesses said they had seen Mr. Woods near Dellwood School, near the murder scene, waving a knife up and down in the air shortly after the slaying.

Mr. Perinchief said: “I do not discount that in addition to other information.”

Mr. Pettingill said: “The information was that he had been huffing and puffing as if he had been running. The knife he had appeared to big big and shiny - like a butchers knife.”

“That's correct,” said Mr. Perinchief.

Mr. Perinchief said Mr. Woods was not trustworthy because he was a drug addict.

Mr. Perinchief also added that many of the witnesses or suspects were unreliable, because they were afraid of exposing their drug related businesses.

Crown counsel Juan Wolffe asked the former Government analyst, Kevin Leask, what the procedure was when receiving vials of blood and what happened with them after.

Mr. Leask said that after he received the vials of blood in 1996, they were blood grouped and were then sent away to be analysed for DNA.

Mr. Leask said: “The pieces of concrete block were also sent to Canada at the same time.”

The court had heard previously, pieces of concrete block, which had blood stains and hair on them, had not been analysed before 1996.

Mr. Leask told the court that all the blood vials he received had been sealed in plastic bags, and were all purple topped, which signified that they had an anti-coagulate (anti-clotting) formula in them.

He explained that it was difficult to use blood which had clotted for DNA testing.

He said the vials were refrigerated after being delivered by pathologist Dr. Keith Cunningham.

Mr. Leask explained the procedure which related to each of the six suspects, saying that he took the vials out of the fridge individually, conducted a blood grouping (types) experiment and made a blood stained card for future reference.

Mr. Pettingill is being assisted by lawyer Larry Mussenden.

Representing the Crown is the acting DPP Mr. Ratneser, Crown counsel Mr. Wolffe and Cindy Clarke.

The case continues today before Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller.