Scientists point to blood traces in Liberty trial

A 16-year-old boy, is on trial for the murder and indecent assault of Liberty Templeman. Photo / Supplied

Forensic scientists and police officers who investigated the murder of Liberty Templeman are continuing to give evidence as the trial against her alleged killer nears the end of its first week.

A 16-year-old boy, who was aged 14 when Liberty died on November 1, 2008, is on trial in the High Court at Whangarei for the murder and indecent assault of the former Kerikeri schoolgirl.

Scientists from Environmental Science and Research (ESR) provided evidence to the court this morning, saying that blood that had been found on the accused boy's bag and shoes was believed to have been Liberty's.

Continuing in his evidence from yesterday, ESR scientist Rian Morgan-Smith told the court that several items from the boy's home, including clothing and computers had been tested for blood and semen, but none had been found on them.

However, a spot of blood was allegedly found in a car that was at the boy's home and on other clothing including shoes and a shirt.
DNA testing from the blood found on a shirt allegedly found hidden in bushes in a plastic bag outside the boy's bedroom window "provided extremely strong scientific support" that the sample had come from Liberty, Mr Morgan-Smith said.

An area on the Kerikeri High School field, where the boy told police Liberty got a bleeding nose, had been cordoned off and tested with Luminol, which shows areas that might have contained blood by glowing.

Four areas of possible blood staining had been found in the area, but Mr Morgan-Smith said no DNA could be obtained from them. It was possible that enzymes in plant materials or other chemicals could appear glowing, not just blood and it was not unusual for that to happen, he said.

Areas of possible blood staining had also been found in the boy's home, including on the front door area, on carpet and door mats and window latches as well as on the boy's bedroom floor and five handles of a set of drawers.

Police allege the boy hit Liberty and strangled her, knocking her unconscious and dragging her into a creek where she drowned.
They also allege he removed parts of her clothing to make it appear as if someone else had attacked her.

The trial before Justice Raynor Asher is expected to continue until the end of next week.

More than 40 witnesses are giving evidence in the trial.