The jury in the trial of the rape and murder of Blessie Gotingco has heard a forensic expert say blood traces found in the cemetery led him to believe her body was dragged through long grass and bush to where it was later found.
Eight witnesses were called by the prosecution in the High Court at Auckland yesterday, including neighbours of the defendant, police who formed part of the investigation and a forensic expert. Rian Morgan-Smith, a scientist for ESR, said he was called to the Eskdale Cemetery after police discovered Mrs Gotingco's body.
He said he used luminol technology to find "probable blood areas" and discovered a trail leading from part of the cemetery into the bush area where Mrs Gotingco lay. "She was lying on the ground with a sheet over her, she was also partially covered by loose vegetation."
He was asked for his expert opinion on what happened.
"Mrs Gotingco was brought to the cemetery in a vehicle, then most likely carried from the vehicle to the unmown area of grass then pulled to the area of bush. The person that did this has then walked back to the vehicle, leaving a trail of partial shoe prints."