A forensics expert revealed yesterday that a murder victim’s blood was found on clothes belonging to his alleged killers.
Gary Clampett died following a distrubance on Fernie Place, Fraserburgh, last summer.
Seven men are on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of murdering him by hitting him with knives, a machete, a sword, a chain, a hammer, a crowbar, a wrench, a stick, bats, golf clubs, poles and a metal bat.
John Henderson, 47, Gary Martin, 37, Joseph Martin, 40, Thomas Martin, 45, David Graham, 46, James Connor, 52, and Dean Leech, 25, deny the charge.
But yesterday, forensics expert Julie Goodeve told the court that Mr Clampett’s blood was found on a top and trainer belonging to Joseph Martin.
She also said that the 39-year-old’s blood was also found on a cap – which DNA tests linked to Thomas Martin.
Ms Goodeve told advocate depute Paul Kearney that she had examined clothing from Joseph Martin, adding: “Blood on the top and the left trainer matched that of the deceased Mr Clampett.
“One explanation is that Joseph Martin was close to the deceased as he was struck while bleeding.”
She said that tests were carried out on a cap found lying on a driveway, which had two minute blood spots on the peak and a bloodstain on the side.
Ms Goodeve said that an examination of the cap revealed DNA matching that of Thomas Martin.
The court also heard that Thomas Martin’s DNA was also found in nail clippings taken from Mr Clampett’s right hand.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Donald Findlay QC, Ms Goodeve agreed that there was no way to date bloodstains and that someone’s DNA could be found on an item – even if they had never touched it – by secondary transfer.
The jury also heard that a jemmy and a sword were recovered by police from Fraserburgh harbour.
Both items were examined for blood and DNA . No DNA was found, but there was a reaction to a test for blood on the sword.
Ms Goodeve admitted that there was no way of telling if the reaction to blood was accurate or even if it was human blood.
Ms Goodeve said: “Both items were fairly well rusted.”
The trial, before Lord Beckett, continues.
