Jurors in the Aaron Glen Easton Supreme Court murder trial heard yesterday that no fingerprint evidence from the accused was found at the scene of the crime.

Stanford Glenfield Archibald, 38, has denied killing Mr. Easton on May 4, 1985.

Mr. Easton's body was found in a pool of blood on Laffan Street 18 years ago.

The prosecution alleged that Archibald (pictured) killed Mr. Easton in one of the "most cruel and vicious murders" that the Island has ever seen.

Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser told the six woman, six man jury on the second day of the trial that the case was based on circumstantial and DNA evidence since there were no eyewitnesses.

Lawyer Mark Pettingill, who is defending Archibald, is trying to show inconsistencies through misplaced evidence.

Mr. Ratneser asked former Det. Sgt. Keith John Cassidy, who had worked in the Scenes of Crime Office as head of the fingerprint section, if he found fingerprints of the accused.

Mr. Cassidy said: "No, I did not."

Mr. Pettingill jumped to his feet and said: "For one year I have asked for this information.

"For one year I have been asking for disclosure of the fingerprint evidence."

Mr. Cassidy said that inside the apartment only fingerprints belonging to Mr. Easton and his roommate Troy Rawlins were found and that no fingerprints of neighbour Albert (Poochy) Smith, who is now deceased, and Archibald were found.

In cross examination of Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Pettingill asked if a gold ring was seized, which was found in the pool of blood near to Mr. Easton's body.

Mr. Cassidy said he found the ring, photographed it and collected it for evidence.

Mr. Pettingill suggested that Mr. Cassidy had been in charge of the crime scene because his initials, KJC, which stand for Keith John Cassidy, were on much of the physical evidence.

But Mr. Cassidy denied being in charge saying he was part of a team of officers.

Mr. Pettingill asked Mr. Cassidy if he had anything to do with the evidence that was collected from Mr. Smith's apartment, but he said that he had nothing to do with it. He said he was not at Mr. Smith's apartment.

He also denied knowledge of Mr. Smith's arrest, although he received his blood samples.

Mr. Pettingill asked the retired detective whether he had picked up the parts of broken concrete block which had been smashed over Mr. Easton's head.

Mr. Cassidy said that he had picked up the pieces with gloves so that the evidence was not contaminated.

"Standard professional Police behaviour," Mr. Pettingill said.

The jury heard that the blood stained concrete block pieces were then secured in paper bags and were not re-opened again until October 1996.

Mr. Pettingill is being assisted by Larry Mussenden.

Representing the Crown is Mr. Ratneser, who is being assisted by Crown counsel Juan Wolffe and Cindy Clarke.

The trial continues on Monday before Acting Chief Justice Norma Wade-Miller.