18/07/92
- Scientists failed to link sisters with killing
Times
SCOTLAND Yard forensic scientists were unable to discover
any evidence linking two accused sisters with the murder
of bank official Alison Shaughnessy. the Old Bailey was
told yesterday.
Adrian Eames, of the Metropolitan Police laboratory, agreed
with Mr Justice Blofeld that no scientific material had
been found connecting either Michelle Taylor, aged 21. or
her 18 year-old sister, Lisa, with anything found in Mrs
Shaughnessy's flat.
The prosecution alleges that Michelle. supported by her
sister, attacked Mrs Shaughnessy, 21, stabbing her 54 times.
Both sisters, of Forest Hill, south London, deny murder.
Mr Eames, a specialist in the examination of bloodstains,
showed the jury photographs of the victim's black sweatshirt,
on which he had tagged 44 knife cuts.
Giving evidence on the tenth day of the trial, he said he
was struck by the lack of blood at the flat in Battersea.
southwest London. "I would assume that much of the
bleeding had been internal and that external bleeding would
have been absorbed by her clothing." he told the jury.
He agreed with Richard Ferguson, QC, for Michelle, that
he had taken head hair samples from both Michelle and Lisa
but found nothing to match them in the flat. He had also
examined a number of pairs of shoes and training shoes belonging
to them, but had found no blood.
However, a fingerprint expert told the court that fresh
prints of both girls were found in the flat. John Nutting,
for the prosecution, said Lisa had not visited the flat
before the killing. He alleges that Michelle's motive for
the murder was her love for Mrs Shaughnessy's husband. John,
30.
The trial continues on Monday.
