Stephen Lawrence trial: Blood on accused’s jacket ‘fresh’
The tiny stain, measuring 0.5mm by 0.25mm, was discovered on the collar of a jacket belonging to Gary Dobson by a cold case team.
Defence counsel argue that it was caused when an old, dried blood flake got on to the jacket via contamination and was dissolved during tests for saliva.
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Hide AdBut yesterday forensic scientist Edward Jarman told a jury at the Old Bailey that his experiments suggested the stain was made by fresh blood. He said that old fragments of Mr Lawrence’s blood became “gel-like” during saliva testing and therefore would not soak into fabric.
Mr Jarman explained: “When these gel fragments were left to dry they became adhered to the fabric … but they had not absorbed into the fabric.”
When he repeated the test using flakes made from fresh blood, they dissolved and caused a stain.
Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, are accused of being involved in the gang attack that killed Mr Lawrence in Eltham, London, in April 1993, which they deny.