No evidence of stamp on Sheku PC’s vest, says forensic expert

A FORENSICS expert who examined a vest worn by a police constable allegedly stamped on by Sheku Bayoh has told an inquiry she found nothing ‘of relevance or anything that looked like footwear’ on it.

Laura MacPhie, who works at the mark enhancement lab of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), examined the vest worn by PC Nicole Short on the day of Mr Bayoh’s arrest and death in May 2015.

An inquiry into the circumstances of the 31-year-old’s death, how police handled the aftermath and whether race was a factor is taking place in Edinburgh.

Other officers have previously told the inquiry they saw Mr Bayoh stamping on PC Short after she fell to the ground during the incident in Kirkcaldy.

But other witnesses have cast doubt on this. A man who watched the arrest from his home previously said he did not think the stamp could have happened. Last week, a medical consultant said he would have expected to see more evidence of fractured ribs if this had been the case.

A Scottish Police Federation representative said she saw a mark on the PC’s vest which appeared as if it was ‘roughly the shape of a shoe’.

Miss MacPhie yesterday described the examinations she carried out on the vest as part of an investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

She told the inquiry’s junior counsel Laura Thomson that particular attention was paid to an ‘area of discolouration’ to the rear of the police vest.

In her statement to the inquiry, the forensics expert said a highintensity light source examination was carried out, adding: ‘I did not see anything of any relevance or anything that looked like footwear when I carried out my fluorescence exam.’

Earlier, SPA scene examiner Judith Harley gave evidence. She told the inquiry she took photographs of PC Short, who is now retired, on May 3 and May 8, 2015.

The inquiry was shown photographs of the officer’s face, hands, elbows and knees. Miss Thomson asked why there were no photographs of her torso or back.

The witness replied: ‘I can only assume that it was never asked for or requested.’

The inquiry also heard from Alison Marven, who works at the SPA’s forensics laboratory and had analysed the vest worn by PC Short. Questioned by the inquiry’s senior counsel, Angela Grahame, QC, she told how she had compared a mark on the vest with an imprint of Urban Logic-branded boots worn by Mr Bayoh.

There was only a ‘partial mark’ on the vest, she said, and it was not possible to determine an overall pattern of a footwear mark.

The inquiry was shown notes from her examination, which said: ‘Marks on the jacket possibly included a triangle.

‘Possible that this is one of the elements from the shoes of the deceased but there really is insufficient detail/resolution for any meaningful comparison.’

The inquiry, before Lord Bracadale, continues.