THE grim details of a forensic examination of a house where a young woman was stabbed to death have been the focus of evidence in a murder trial.
Blood spatter was profiled throughout the house while clumps of hair and blood-soaked clothing were recovered from the two-bedroomed house on Vulcan Way, Thornaby, where Toni Butler suffered her fatal injuries.
Forensic scientist Michelle Walton told Teesside Crown Court how significant efforts had been made to clean up the house after blood spatter from the 25-year-old was found in an upstairs bedroom and the hall where her body was discovered.
Keegan Barnes is charged with murdering Miss Barnes following a drink and drug fuelled party on Thursday, June 10, last year.
Ms Walton said there was clear indications there had been a fight in the bedroom and Miss Butler’s blood was found on the back of the door, on the chest of drawers and on the wardrobe.
Jurors were shown photographs of the blood-soaked clothing and bedding, and where attempts had been made to clean the house.
The witness said clumps of hair belonging to Barnes was recovered from the house which showed signs it had been ‘forcibly removed’.
She said: “In the bath there was a bloodstained body sponge, a clump of blood-stained hair, and a clot of blood. The hair had been forcibly pulled from the head but testing on the hair gave a mixed result.”
Ms Walton concluded it was the defendant’s hair with Toni Butler’s blood on it.
Jurors heard how efforts had been made to clean Miss Butler’s body before different clothes were put back on her. The alleged victim’s blood-soaked Dumbo nightie was discovered in a plastic bag in the kitchen of the house.
During cross examination from defence barrister, Michelle Colburn, the forensic scientist confirmed that she saw pictures of Keegan Barnes, after she was arrested. Barnes had two black eyes.
Ms Colburn said both Miss Butler and Barnes had been drinking and taking drugs at the time of the incident.
The barrister reads out a Snapchat posting from Toni Butler’s phone.
She posted a video of herself on snapchat where she is wearing her pink Dumbo nightie, at 2.30am, with the caption: “How the f*** am I off my nut cleaning someone’s else’s gaff?”
Ms Walton confirmed that the video was likely to have been taken while Miss Butler was in Barnes' home at the time.
Earlier, a medical expert told the jury how Miss Butler’s death was the result of blood loss caused by a stab wound to the calf.
Pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton said the 25-year-old had suffered a puncture wound to one of the main veins in her leg which would have resulted in her bleeding to death over a period of time between several minutes and an hour.
Barnes, of Vulcan Way, Thornaby, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The 28-year-old maintains that she acted in self-defence after Miss Butler attacked her.
The trial continues.
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