A detective who examined the crime scene after last January's hold-up at Roosters said at the Supreme Court trial of Roger Eugene Lightbourne yesterday that imprints from a pair of boots found near the arrest site matched those on the restaurant's service counter.

"I compared the shoe impression found on the counter top with the impression photographed from the boot and they had the same pattern,'' said Det. Con.

Keith Cassidy, who testified that he acquired the boots from arresting officer P.c. Colin Paynter. "It is my conclusion that they have a high degree of similarity.'' Lightbourne has been accused of storming into the Court Street chicken shop in the early hours of January 28 and jumping over the counter in his effort to steal the restaurant's cash register and the approximately $700 that were in it.

Lightbourne was arrested behind the Emmanuel Baptist Church on nearby Dundonald Street shortly after the robbery took place. He and a second man, identified during the trial as Kimani Fubler, were alleged to have crashed their getaway bike after a pursuing taxi cut them off. Lightbourne has denied involvement.

During cross-examination by defence attorney Mr. Archie Warner, Det. Con.

Cassidy admitted that there are thousands of pairs of shoes with similar patterns and several different brands of boots which have the same markings as those found on the counter.

"Any similar boot of this brand could have made that impression,'' he conceded.

Mr. Warner added that Det. Con. Cassidy could not have looked at every boot with the same brand name.

The trial, which ran for only half a day yesterday, continues before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Meerabux on Monday.