The trial of a man charged with murder has started in Supreme Court.

Taaj Muhammad, 26, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ronniko Burchall, who was 30, on December 30, 2018.

Mr Muhammad, from St George, also pleaded not guilty to using a firearm to commit the offence.

The shooting was alleged to have happened at St David’s Cricket Club in the early hours of December 29 after a Christmas party at the clubhouse.

Mr Burchall was shot in the head and died a day later.

Diana Dissington, a consultant forensic support expert for the police, said that she arrived at the crime scene at about 2.55am.

Ms Dissington told Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney that the crime scene had already been taped off when she arrived, and she began to take photographs and gather evidence, including two bullets and a helmet.

She added that she took swabs from what appeared to be a pool of blood and brain matter at the scene.

Ms Dissington collected a black T-shirt on a second visit to the crime scene later that morning.

She told the court she also attended an autopsy on Mr Burchall’s body on January 3, 2019.

Ms Dissington said that a bullet was recovered from the left side of Mr Burchall’s brain and given to her to log as evidence.

The trial, before Acting Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe, continues.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.