Blood splatter found at Black Country home indicated assault, murder trial told
Blood splatter found at a Black Country home where a man was allegedly attacked was consistent with a “blunt force impact” and indicated an assault, a murder trial heard.
Four different patterns of blood splatter were found at a property on Yardley Close, in Oldbury, where Amjad Khan, 32, was allegedly beaten by Derek Brennan, 32, and his nephew Daman Sehra, 22, on June 8 last year.
Mr Khan died five days later after he suffered head injuries. Both defendants are standing trial accused of his murder.
Forensic scientist Peter Field, of West Midlands Police, told jurors one type of pattern found was called a “blunt force impact splatter” - which he likened to the splash caused by “stamping on a puddle of water”.
He examined the property 10 days after the alleged attack happened where blood was found along a skirting board, on a wall, on the inside of a cupboard and on a junction box, the court heard. The property belonged to Lisa Sehra who is the mother of Daman Sehra and sister of Brennan.
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Another type of pattern found was called “expirated” blood splatter which comes from a person’s airways, the court heard.
Mr Field said this can occur when someone sustains injuries to their face causing blood to "expirate" from the mouth and nose.
The two other patterns found were called "airborne blood splatter" and "cast off" splatter, he continued.
Droplets found in the first pattern "travel through the air" when force is applied to wet blood; while droplets found in the second pattern are caused by blood being cast off a moving object, Mr Field said.
He told the court: "I think the distribution along the wall indicates an assault at a low level and in close proximity to the that wall.
Responsibility
"Most likely, the movement of the victim is along the wall to the cupboard region."
The trial heard last week that Mr Khan was met by both defendants in the lounge area of the property before he was attacked.
Both defendants - Sehra, of no fixed address, and Brennan, of Halesowen Road, Netherton - deny murder.
Sehra pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the ground of diminished responsibility, as well as a charge of assault by actual bodily harm.
But he denies a further charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Brennan, of Halesowen Road, Netherton, also pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm.
The trial continues.
