Bain could have stepped in blood, court told

David Bain is on trial for the murders of his parents and three siblings. Photo / Pool

An expert has agreed blood found on the sole of David Bain's sock could have come from him stepping in blood, rather than it dropping onto the sock as he has previously suggested.

Peter Cropp gave evidence in the High Court today of his work as an ESR scientist, examining items from David Bain's Dunedin home after five members of his family died on June 20, 1994.

David Bain, 37, is on trial for the murders of his parents and three siblings, but his defence team are arguing that it was his father Robin who shot dead the rest of the family before turning the rifle on himself.

Dr Cropp also agreed today in court that blood found on a curtain in the lounge where Robin's body lay could have come from Robin's head as he shot himself and was falling down.

Evidence has already been given that blood was found throughout the Bain house, and in particular in the bedroom of David's younger brother Stephen, where a violent and bloody struggle occurred.

Dr Cropp testified yesterday about blood found on the sole of David Bain's sock that could have come from Stephen or Laniet. He said he believed blood had dropped on the sock and soaked through it.

Questioned today by Bain's lawyer, Helen Cull QC, he agreed it was possible the wearer of the sock could have stepped in blood.

"I can't exclude that. It would have to be wet and relatively fresh stain."

The court has heard evidence of bloody sockprints in the Bain house, which were all from the right foot. Dr Cropp said there was uncertainty about which of David's sock was from the left foot, and which was from the right.

Dr Cropp said he examined green curtains in the entrance to a computer alcove leading from the lounge where Robin Bain was found dead, with a .22 rifle laying next to him.

He examined blood from a series of what appeared to be nine elongated bloodspots in September, 1997.

These were between 600 and 750mm above the bottom edge of the curtain, which was less than 250mm above the floor. The shape of these indicated that they had fallen onto the curtain, Dr Cropp said.

The blood was tested and found to be human, and could have come from Robin, but not the rest of the family. Human blood was also found on the second curtain leading to the alcove, but its origin could not be found.

Asked if the blood on the curtain could have come from Robin as he fell after shooting himself, Dr Cropp said: "Yes it could".

Dr Cropp also gave evidence about other blood found around the house.

A sample of blood staining on a doorjam to the pantry in the kitchen was tested and confirmed as human blood. Further testing showed this blood could have come from David, Stephen, or his sister Laniet, but not from the rest of the family.

A sample was also taken was a blood spot in the bathroom basin, and testing showed this could also have come from either David, Stephen or Laniet.

Samples of blood from the doorframe leading to the bedroom of David's younger brother Stephen was also tested. This found blood that could have come from Stephen or Laniet.