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Defence explains reason for Lawrence murder fibres link Defence explains reason for Lawrence murder fibres link
(40 minutes later)
A lawyer representing a man accused of murdering Stephen Lawrence says fibres linking his client to the murder may mean he had been in contact with the real assailant, a court has heard.A lawyer representing a man accused of murdering Stephen Lawrence says fibres linking his client to the murder may mean he had been in contact with the real assailant, a court has heard.
But David Norris's QC, Stephen Batten, said they did not necessarily link his client directly to the incident.But David Norris's QC, Stephen Batten, said they did not necessarily link his client directly to the incident.
The prosecution says blood on clothing fibres links the accused to the murder.The prosecution says blood on clothing fibres links the accused to the murder.
Mr Norris and Gary Dobson deny murdering 18-year-old Mr Lawrence in south-east London in 1993.Mr Norris and Gary Dobson deny murdering 18-year-old Mr Lawrence in south-east London in 1993.
Mr Batten spent the morning cross-examining prosecution witness Roy Green, a forensics expert who carried out extensive fibre analysis on the clothes of both the victim and suspects during the cold case review in 2007-2008.Mr Batten spent the morning cross-examining prosecution witness Roy Green, a forensics expert who carried out extensive fibre analysis on the clothes of both the victim and suspects during the cold case review in 2007-2008.
He identified six alleged Lawrence fibres on a top belonging to Mr Norris. "What you postulated to yourself is that he might know one of the real assailants for example, and have gone round to their address?" Mr Batten asked Mr Green.
"That was one of the scenarios that I considered, yes," he replied.
'Many scenarios'
Mr Green identified six fibres alleged to have come from Mr Lawrence's trousers on a top belonging to Mr Norris.
When asked by Mr Batten if the number of fibres found on Mr Norris's top was "low", Mr Green replied "not in the context of the case".When asked by Mr Batten if the number of fibres found on Mr Norris's top was "low", Mr Green replied "not in the context of the case".
When giving his evidence, Mr Green said that there was "extremely strong support" for the argument that a further 16 fibres found on the jacket of Mr Dobson came from Stephen Lawrence's clothes. Mr Green had previously suggested the small number of fibres may be a result of the sweater having been washed, but Mr Batten countered "you haven't a clue whether it was washed or not".
"It was offered as one of the many scenarios which I had considered," Mr Green replied.
Fibres were found distributed all over the sweatshirt, which Mr Green said could be as a result of the garment being moved around after it was seized.
He added: "We do have to remember that what we see here is what remains after other fibres have fallen off and so it doesn't necessarily give a completely true picture of what was originally there."
When giving evidence, Mr Green had also said that there was "extremely strong support" for the argument that a further 16 fibres found on the jacket of Mr Dobson came from Stephen Lawrence's clothes.
Mr Dobson's QC, Tim Roberts, has also questioned the validity of testing for fibres from Lawrence's underlying garments.Mr Dobson's QC, Tim Roberts, has also questioned the validity of testing for fibres from Lawrence's underlying garments.
He drew attention to the fact that the suspects' garments were only seized 14 days after the event.He drew attention to the fact that the suspects' garments were only seized 14 days after the event.