Colchester murder trial sees forensic experts give evidence

Forensic scientist Damien Lyall and consultant forensic pathologist Benjamin Swift were cross-examined by lawyers at Chelmsford Crown Court who attempted to work out how 22-year-old Bako Azad Sheikha’s death unfolded.

Rakar Rahimi, 23, denies murdering Bako.

The court proceedings centred around the examination of blood spots in a Nissan Qashqai, where an altercation took place between Rahimi and Bako in the early hours of Thursday, September 22.

Also key to the evidence were the shapes of the stab wounds suffered by Bako, whose body was inspected by Dr Swift at Colchester Hospital the following day.

Mr Lyall was sworn in on Tuesday afternoon to help interpret the blood stain patterns on the windscreen and dashboard, and to discuss whether or not Bako sustained his fatal injuries inside the Nissan.

Bodycam footage from the police officers who responded to the emergency call was also referred to as evidence.

Upon cross examination from prosecuting barrister Andrew Jackson, Mr Lyall said: “Whenever we evaluate evidence, we look at two versions of events – in this case, it is whether Bako was injured in the driver’s seat [or whether] he was dragged out of the car and injured outside the car.

“Looking at the blood patterns and the heavy staining on the driver’s seat, and the drips on the car’s control console, it leads me to support the view Bako was injured in the driver’s seat rather than outside the car.”

Mr Swift, who conducted the post-mortem examination on Bako, was also cross examined by Mr Jackson, who drew attention to the section of Mr Swift’s post-mortem report relating to the condition of Bako’s skin.

It is alleged Rahimi ran Bako over in his car.

Explaining part of the report, Mr Swift said: “They are the sort of injuries you get if the body moves across a gravel surface.

“If part of the body moves across the road surface, it removes and refines outer layers of the skin.”

The trial continues.