NOT GROUPED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 145, 21 June 1934, Page 8

NOT GROUPED.

BLOOD AT LAKEY'S. COUNSEL'S CRITICISM. Mr. Northcroft then made another attack on the blood stains as evidence, on the ground that no effort had been made to ascertain to which group they belonged, thus identifying them with any particular person. The fact that all human blood fell into one of four groups was most useful to medical science in the detection of crime. For instance, if a man was murdered with a knife, and the blood-stained knife was thrown away, tests could be made to show whether that blood coincided with that of the man suspected of murder or of the victim. The murderer might say that it was his own blood on the knife. This could be scientifically proved by the grouping test, and if it was proved that it was not the suspect's blood, then it was of supreme importance. In the case of the blood found about Lakey's place and on Bayly's sledge and trousers., and the microscopic portion on his knife, if that blood had been grouped, it could have been shown whether it was Bayly's or not, or that of his children or wife. The blood at Lakey's could have been grouped, and so could Mrs. Lakey's, but this was not done. Dr. Gilmour had attempted to justify himself 'by saying that blood could not be grouped if only a small stain was found, yet Sidney Smith, in his classic on forensic medicine, said that if the test was applied, any unknown stain could be identified.

Mr. Xortheroft criticised Dr. Gilniour for not taking the ordinary precautions or : preserving a sample of the blood he tested, to allow of the defence making a check test, if not in New Zealand, then in Australia. On the teste carried out by t-ho pathologist**, the jury was asked to lind important things. ''But remember, gentlemen of the jury, that you have to winnow the grain from the chaff, that you have to get facts and not mere unstable opinions."

When the Court was about to adjourn at 1 p.m., his Honor asked counsel if he thought tlio jury would be able to go to Kuawaro to-morrow.

Mr. Xortheroft: Yes, sir, I'm quite sure they will.