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Stephen Lawrence probe 'lacked written forensic system' Stephen Lawrence probe 'lacked written forensic system'
(40 minutes later)
The trial of two men accused of killing Stephen Lawrence has been told there was no written procedure for handling forensic evidence in the case.The trial of two men accused of killing Stephen Lawrence has been told there was no written procedure for handling forensic evidence in the case.
Exhibits officer Robert Crane told the Old Bailey there was no process to ensure evidence was not contaminated.Exhibits officer Robert Crane told the Old Bailey there was no process to ensure evidence was not contaminated.
Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, both from south London, deny murder.Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, both from south London, deny murder.
The prosecution says DNA evidence links the men to a group of white youths that attacked the black teenager in Eltham, south London, in 1993.The prosecution says DNA evidence links the men to a group of white youths that attacked the black teenager in Eltham, south London, in 1993.
The 18-year-old A-Level student was forced to the ground at a bus stop and then stabbed twice, the prosecution says.The 18-year-old A-Level student was forced to the ground at a bus stop and then stabbed twice, the prosecution says.
Mr Crane told the court that items of clothing were placed in brown paper bags, but not always sealed. Mr Crane, a detective constable who was an exhibits officer at Eltham police station in 1993, told the court that items of clothing were placed in brown paper bags, but not always sealed.
He said there was no written procedure for ensuring that evidence was not contaminated.He said there was no written procedure for ensuring that evidence was not contaminated.
And those handling the clothes wore gloves, but not the white forensic suits used today.And those handling the clothes wore gloves, but not the white forensic suits used today.

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Jury shown police surveillance photos of Gary Dobson and David Norris in days after Lawrence murder”Jury shown police surveillance photos of Gary Dobson and David Norris in days after Lawrence murder”
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Mr Crane told the court that at the time he "had a degree of forensic awareness" and understood the potential for cross-contamination.
The jury heard that exhibits were stored in a disused cell in the building, and there were no designated forensic retrieval or packaging areas.
In cross-examination by Timothy Roberts QC, who represents Mr Dobson, the court heard that exhibit bags could be left open while officers were waiting for a photographer.
Mr Crane said he was not aware of any special procedures to prevent fibres or fragments being passed on to an exhibit by a police officer when they opened and resealed packages.
Meanwhile, Det Con Steven Pye, who collected the teenager's personal belongings from the hospital after he died, told the court that the items were in plastic hospital sacks and he bagged them up in police paper sacks using rubber gloves.
And the court heard that some of the paper bags were not sealed at the hospital because blood stains on the items were still wet.
BBC home affairs correspondent Matt Prodger said the reliability of scientific evidence was at the heart of the trial.BBC home affairs correspondent Matt Prodger said the reliability of scientific evidence was at the heart of the trial.
The prosecution has said textile fibres, and blood and hair matching Mr Lawrence was on clothing seized from the defendants in 1993 and discovered as part of a cold case review in 2007.The prosecution has said textile fibres, and blood and hair matching Mr Lawrence was on clothing seized from the defendants in 1993 and discovered as part of a cold case review in 2007.
But in opening statements, lawyers for Mr Dobson and Mr Norris contended there had been contamination of evidence by the police. 'Nervous' when questioned
But in opening statements, lawyers for Mr Dobson and Mr Norris contended that there had been contamination of evidence by the police.
Earlier, an officer who questioned Mr Dobson while on house-to-house inquiries said the defendant had seemed nervous.Earlier, an officer who questioned Mr Dobson while on house-to-house inquiries said the defendant had seemed nervous.
Following the teenager's death, Graham Cooke conducted house-to-house inquiries during which Mr Dobson was questioned at his parents' home and asked whether he had been at the scene of the murder that night.Following the teenager's death, Graham Cooke conducted house-to-house inquiries during which Mr Dobson was questioned at his parents' home and asked whether he had been at the scene of the murder that night.
The retired police officer told the court: "Dobson said no, he was at home all night studying. He arrived home from college at 5.30pm, that his mother and father were indoors at the time.The retired police officer told the court: "Dobson said no, he was at home all night studying. He arrived home from college at 5.30pm, that his mother and father were indoors at the time.
"He said that he did not know the victim, he had heard about the incident from the papers.""He said that he did not know the victim, he had heard about the incident from the papers."
"In my opinion he was nervous at the time," said Mr Cooke."In my opinion he was nervous at the time," said Mr Cooke.
The jury was also shown police surveillance photographs of the defendants outside a house in Bournbrook Road in Eltham.The jury was also shown police surveillance photographs of the defendants outside a house in Bournbrook Road in Eltham.
The trial continues.The trial continues.