Semen sample confirmed in Peter King case

Government Analyst Dr Judith Mowatt testified yesterday that semen was present around the anal region of 64-year-old ambassador Peter King's body.

The doctor said the semen was deposited recently and she saw the semen on the body when she went to the crime scene on March 20, 2006.

The Crown is alleging that King was murdered in his master bedroom at 11A Waterloo Road, St Andrew, between March 19 and 20, 2006. The body was found with multiple stab and chop wounds on the morning of March 20, 2006.

Sheldon Pusey, 26, is charged with King's murder and he has been on trial in the Home Circuit Court since January 19. Three prosecution witnesses testified that Pusey was at King's house on the afternoon of March 19, 2006.


Crime scene

Dr Mowatt said she collected samples from the crime scene. She said she saw semen on a penal swab which she took from the deceased. She said semen and spermatozoa were also found on the deceased's pubic hair and they were deposited recently. She also found semen and blood on a red bath towel which was on the bed.

Government analyst Sherron Brydson said she received samples which were allegedly collected at the murder scene. She said she conducted tests to ascertain DNA profiles from the samples which contained blood and semen. She said DNA profile could be used to exclude persons from a crime scene.

She said she conducted tests and made comparisons from the blood-stains from a towel allegedly taken from King's bedroom. She came to the conclusion that DNA profiles of the deceased King and Pusey could have been found on the towel.


A note

Yesterday, defence lawyer Berry Bryan brought to the attention of the court a note which one of the jurors in the case had slipped in his bundle during the refreshment break. "Mr Bryan, please have your robe stitched up at the sleeve. It's condition does not behove the professional standard you should exude. An observer."


Tattered robe

When court resumed, Bryan told Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh about the note. He said it was obvious that the person who wrote the note was not aware that in the legal profession senior lawyers whose robes were tattered were accorded a lot of respect. He said the tattered robe was evidence of a lawyer's many years of experience and learning at the Bar.

"It is a gem in the profession when a senior lawyer is seen wearing a tattered gown," a female lawyer told THE STAR yesterday.