Blood expert testifies in murder trial of C.B. teen
Toxicology results from victim also revealed
CBC News
Posted: Jul 13, 2012 6:19 PM AT
Last Updated: Jul 13, 2012 8:07 PM AT
Friday marked day five in the second-degree murder trial of a Cape Breton teenager.
The now 18-year-old man is on trial for the December 2010 murder of his girlfriend.
The 17-year-old girl had 104 stab wounds from several knives, according to a pathologist who testified earlier this week.
The identities of the accused and the victim are protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Friday, the majority of the testimony was from one witness, Sgt. Adrian Butler, an RCMP blood-stain analyst.
He gave detailed testimony about the many stains and splatters of blood throughout the house where the victim was found.
Butler showed the court more than 70 pictures from the crime scene and, based on the blood spatters, told the court what kind of force he believes caused the patterns.
He testified that the way the blood appeared on the door and in the doorway of the bedroom, where the victim was found, indicating the door was ajar when the blood was deposited.
Butler noted the blood patterns did not show signs of a struggle.
Drug results
Christopher Keddy, a toxicologist with a specialty in drugs and alcohol, also took the stand on Friday.
He testified there were high amounts of alcohol and codeine in the victim's urine and blood. There were also traces of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
Keddy said the level of alcohol, along with the codeine, could have contributed to significant sedation, possibly even unconsciousness.
The trial is being heard in provincial court by judge only.
The trial continues on Monday with the last of the Crown's witnesses.
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