Ana Kriegel trial hears her blood was found on one of accused boy's boots
Blood matching that of Anastasia Kriegel's was found on boots worn by one of the boys accused of her murder, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Forensic scientist John Hoade told the trial that the blood pattern on the boots indicate that: "[Boy A] either assaulted Anastasia Kriegel or was in very close proximity to Anastasia Kriegel when she was assaulted."
The accused, who are both 14, cannot be named because they are minors. They have each pleaded not guilty to murdering the 14-year-old Kildare schoolgirl at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan on 14th May last year and are on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Boy A is further charged with the 14-year-old’s aggravated sexual assault in a manner that involved serious violence to her. He has pleaded not guilty to that count also.
Mr Hoade today told Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution that he examined the black Timberland boots that Boy A said he was wearing on May 14 last year, the day Ana disappeared. Mr Hoade sampled nine areas of blood staining on both boots and found the DNA from that blood matched a sample taken from Anastasia Kriegel.
He said he used a microscope to identify the areas of blood as they were not easily visible to the naked eye. Mr Hoade pointed out various areas of staining on the boots to the jury.
He said one area of staining was evidence of blood spatter, which he said results from force applied to a source of liquid blood. Based on that he formed his opinion that Boy A either assaulted Ana or was very close to her when she was assaulted.
The scientist also examined a 92cm long by 4cm by 3cm stick that gardaí found near Ana's body. Showing the stick to the jury he pointed out that it was charred on one end and had blood stains along it with heavy blood staining on the charred end.
This was, he said, transfer blood staining which results from contact with a blood bearing surface. He described another area of blood staining as "percussive" explaining that such stains are caused when there was already blood on the stick and it was swung and impacted on a surface.
The DNA from that blood matched Anastasia Kriegel's, he said. He added that the stains he saw on the stick were what he would expect to see if it was used as a weapon in the assault on Anastasia Kriegel.
Mr Hoade also identified for the jury a section of a nine-inch concrete block which, he said, was taken from the scene. He agreed with Mr Grehan that it was heavy and awkward and would require two hands to manipulate.
He noted blood stains on all six sides of the block but told Mr Grehan he did not sample those stains. When Mr Grehan asked why, he said it was his understanding that "there was no suggestion the block was used as a weapon in the assault."
The jury has spent much of the morning viewing a video of Boy A in an interview with gardaí at Clondalkin Garda Station. Detective Garda Marcus Roantree told Mr Grehan that Boy A, his father and a solicitor came to Clondalkin Garda Station on May 24, 2018. Det. Gda Roantree formally arrested Boy A at 8.07 that morning on suspicion of Ana's murder.
He told Mr Grehan that he was satisfied that Boy A understood the caution given to him before his interview and said gardaí went to great lengths to explain everything to him.
The trial continues in front of Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
