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Blood evidence focus of Day 3 of murder trial |
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Written by Delon Shurtz LETHBRIDGE HERALD
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Wednesday, November 18 2009, 9:05 PM |
Blood stains were found on a pair of work boots, a pair of running shoes, a pair of jeans and a green towel owned by a Lethbridge man accused of killing George Shawnee Many Shots last year.
But the source of that blood was never identified in Lethbridge Court of Queens Bench Wednesday during the murder trial of Bradley Frances Gray.
Court heard, however, the blood on the towel did not come from the deceased or a third man, Percy Panther Bone, who was also assaulted during an altercation in an alley off 5 Avenue North, right behind Gray’s home, in June 2008.
Panther Bone was initially suspected of killing Many Shots after police tracked him to a home just a couple of blocks east of the crime scene. But only a few hours later Gray was arrested and charged with the second-degree murder of Many Shots and aggravated assault against Panther Bone, the victim’s brother-in-law.
Testimony Wednesday focused primarily on evidence found at the crime scene, the home where Panther Bone was found injured and bleeding, and at Gray’s home.
Lethbridge regional police constable Russell Lawrence testified he found a pool of blood in the alley and a trail of blood stains on the sidewalk heading east on 5 Avenue away from the area. Once Panther Bone was found in a residence in the 1800 block of 5 Avenue North, police also discovered blood stains in the home, but no weapon that had been used in an assault.
Lawrence told the jury Gray had asked about the injuries to Many Shots and expressed his dislike for native people.
“One injured would be one less to worry about,” Gray told Lawrence.
At that point Gray was not a suspect, Lawrence noted.
A search was conducted at Gray’s home, which revealed numerous items the police seized as evidence, including a pair of work boots in a closet near the front door.
“It appeared there was some blood staining on those boots,” Lawrence said.
He also said he found in the home eight empty beer bottles in a Molson Canadian beer case, three full bottles in the fridge, and one empty bottle in the alley at the scene of the murder.
However, under cross-examination by defence lawyer Balfour Der, Lawrence said Gray’s finger prints were not found on the bottle in the alley and blood was not found on anything other than clothing, leaving only the blood on Gray’s boots and pants to connect him to Many Shots’ death.
Sgt. William Basso also investigated the crime scene and, as a blood splatter expert, testified how he followed a trail of blood along 5 Avenue North, which was likely made by a person wearing only socks, one of which was soaked in blood.
“The individual was, in all likelihood, running,” Basso said.
Lawrence testified while a search of Gray’s home revealed some bloody clothes, police never found a weapon, although he suggested a flashlight found in the home could have been used to kill Many Shots, who died of “blunt force” trauma.
He added, however, there wasn’t any blood on the flashlight.
The trial, conducted by Justice D. K. Miller, resumes at 10 a.m. today.
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