A blood splatter expert yesterday claimed on Friday that missing patches of blood near the body of murder victim Aaron Easton could have been caused by raised ground - not evidence tampering.

Insp. George Neil Fraser of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, had agreed with defence lawyer Mark Pettingill on Thursday that blood-free areas near Mr. Easton's body may have been caused by pieces of concrete block being moved.

But on Friday, under re-examination by Crown counsel Juan Wolffe, Insp. Fraser said it was a possibility that the ground may have been raised or uneven, which could have led to uneven pools of blood around the body.

However, he said he could not say for sure as the areas photographed were two dimensional, instead of three dimensional.

On Thursday, Mr. Pettingill had claimed that the lack of blood was due to evidence tampering before DNA testing had taken place.

Stanford Glenfield Archibald, 39, formerly of Somerset, has denied killing Mr. Easton, then 19, in a vicious stabbing 18 years ago on Laffan Street in Pembroke.

Mr. Easton's body was found on May 4, 1985, with 49 stab wounds all over his upper body.

He also sustained a fractured skull after having a concrete block thrown at his head, which broke into pieces on impact.

The trial has heard how both Mr. Easton's and Archibald's blood was found on pieces of the concrete block.

However, Mr. Pettingill has claimed that he believes there was a mix up when Archibald's blood was initially taken, and that the blood used in evidence actually belonged to a third suspect who is now deceased, Albert (Poochy) Smith.

He has also questioned why three different dates had been given to the court as to when Archibald's blood was taken - when it was only taken once.

At the start of the trial, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser told the six-woman, six-man jury that his case was based on both DNA and circumstantial evidence.

Mr. Ratnesser presented forensic evidence, which showed that Archibald's blood was found on three pieces of concrete block.

Prosecutor Mr. Wolffe said the areas in the photographs where blood appeared to be missing may possibly have been caused by uneven ground.

Insp. Fraser said: “In looking at this surface, it's two dimensional, so I don't know whether some areas are higher than others because blood is a fluid and it will go to the lowest point.”

In cross-examination, Mr. Pettingill asked Insp. Fraser whether a drop of blood, which fit the DNA profile of Archibald, was on top of a blood stain that was found on a piece of lone concrete some distance away from the body in a flowerbed.

Mr. Pettingill has questioned how that piece of concrete come to land where it did, when all of the rest were around the body, and whether it had been moved from it's original spot, where a small piece of ground was found to be clear of blood.

The expert witness told the court that blood could transfer from one source to another, known as a transfer, because materials, such as concrete, could absorb or soak it up.

But Mr. Pettingill, referring to a photo on the projector, queried how the piece of concrete could have soaked up blood from Mr. Easton when it was so far away.

He said: “Now, the body is here and the piece of block is over there. Do you agree that, on the basis of all the evidence, a transfer stain wouldn't have happened?”

Insp. Fraser said: “It could've been moved in that area or was deposited there when it all happened.”

The case continues today before Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller. Lawyer Larry Mussenden is assisting Mr. Pettingill, and Mr. Wolffe and Cindy Clarke are assisting Mr. Ratneser for the Crown.