A fingerprint expert told a court how a murder accused’s palm print was found in blood which had been recovered from the alleged crime scene.
Karen Smith told a jury yesterday that part of Michael Taylor’s hand matched a print found on the kitchen floor of a house in Inverness last year.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the palm print had been found close to where the body of Elizabeth MacKay lay following her death.
Ms Smith told prosecution lawyer David Taylor that another print which matched Michael Taylor’s other palm had been discovered on a wall in the kitchen.
She said: “It matched the left palm of Michael Andrew Taylor.”
Ms Smith, who works for the Scottish Police Authority in Dundee, was speaking on the fifth day of proceedings against Mr Taylor, a prisoner of HMP Inverness.
The pensioner denies murdering Elizabeth MacKay, who was also known as Muir, at a house in Inverness’s Kintail Court.
On Wednesday, Ms Smith told the prosecuting solicitor advocate that she analysed prints which police forensic officers had recovered from the Kintail Court property.
The court heard that the print found on the kitchen floor had been discovered in blood which lay next to Ms MacKay’s body.
She said she compared the prints from ones which had been obtained from the accused.
The court heard Ms Smith say that she concluded that the print which had been found next to Ms MacKay’s body matched Michael Taylor’s right palm.
Ms Smith also said that she analysed another palm print which had been found on the kitchen wall and concluded that it was a match for his left palm.
Jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh have heard the contents of a legal document which details the charges against Mr Taylor.
Prosecutors allege that between March 28 and March 31 last year, Mr Taylor assaulted Elizabeth by seizing hold of her body and her hair at Kintail Court.
It is claimed that Mr Taylor repeatedly punched her on the head and caused her to fall to the ground.
The Crown alleges that Mr Taylor then repeatedly struck Elizabeth on the head and body with a “blunt” object before removing her clothing and handling her breasts.
Prosecutors also allege that Mr Taylor bit her breast and that he “did murder her”.
The second charge alleges that at the same address on the same dates, Mr Taylor searched through a handbag before stealing groceries, pots, cutlery and keys.
Mr Taylor, who is represented by advocate Shelagh McCall QC, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial, which is being heard before judge Michael O’Grady QC, continues.
