Victim's blood 'found splattered over clothing of two murder suspects'

Forensic scientist Jamie Burke, giving evidence in the trial of Michael Beckwith’s murder, said there is no doubt his blood was found on clothing belonging to Scott Swift and Joseph Smith.

How it got on their clothing is disputed. Mr Burke, speaking at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, said Mr Beckwith’s blood was found on trousers belonging to Swift.

Amjad Malik QC, prosecuting, claims it got on the trousers during the attack on the victim.

Mr Burke said: “We have determined, from the shape of and the direction of travel, these droplets of blood have been projected on the trousers by some application of force.”

The court heard this could have been due to force being used on the victim while the wearer was in “close proximity”, or could be due to exhalation of blood in an airway.

Blood was also found on items belonging to Smith.

Mr Beckwith, 44, of Goodlake Close, Dovercourt, died on August 2 last year.

It is alleged his ex partner, Rebecca Ryan, lured him to a secluded spot off Barrack Lane, Harwich, where Swift and Smith beat him to death.

Swift, 27, of Station Road, Dovercourt, Smith, 18, of Canning Street, Harwich, and Ryan, 22, of Hilltop Rise, Weeley, are charged with murder.

Ryan is also charged with perverting the course of justice. It is alleged, between July 30 and August 24 last year, she falsely claimed she had also been attacked.

Triston Biddlecombe, 24, and wife Enderlein Biddlecombe, 20, both of East Street, Harwich, both face one count of assisting alleged offenders Swift and Smith.

It is alleged they, between July 30 and August 3 and knowing or believing the pair had committed an offence, washed and burned clothing worn by Swift and Smith with intent to impede their apprehension.

They also face one count of perverting the course of justice by providing a false alibi for Swift.

All five deny the charges they are facing.

Mr Burke is due to be cross examined today.

The trial continues.