Traces of woman’s blood discovered on accused’s boot
THE blood of a woman found dead in her home with catastrophic injuries was discovered on the boot of her partner, who is accused of her murder, a court heard.
Michelle Denise Rosser, 38, was discovered on a sofa at her home in Bedlinog, Merthyr Tydfil, by police on May 29 after her partner Simon Winstone woke a neighbour up in the early hours of the morning shouting: “She’s gone, she’s gone.”
She had suffered a ruptured kidney, bruising to the brain, a fractured skull, broken ribs, bruising to her heart and lungs, and multiple bruises and grazes to her face, neck, back, head, arms, legs and torso.
There were also cuts to her right eye and to the right side of her head, which had been bleeding.
It has been claimed by the prosecution at Winstone’s trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court that Ms Rosser, known to friends and family as Denise, sustained the injuries in what was the culmination of a campaign of domestic violence.
The court was told neighbours heard the couple arguing the night before Ms Rosser died and her family said she was frequently seen with black eyes and a swollen lip, which she explained as being caused by her falling down the stairs or tripping over the dog.
Winstone, 50, of Brecon Road, Merthyr Tydfil, claims he was not responsible for killing his partner and said he believes she either fell down the stairs or was murdered by someone else while he was asleep in the same room.
Yesterday forensic scientist Margaret Boyce gave evidence to the court and spoke about her examination of the scene at Ms Rosser’s house in Lewis Street on the day her body was discovered.
Ms Boyce also examined the clothes Ms Rosser was wearing when she was found dead and the clothes the defendant was wearing when he was arrested.
Ms Rosser was wearing grey jogging bottoms, which were in a poor condition and had urine stains, the court heard. There were bloodstains which had soaked through, especially in the left knee area.
She said Ms Rosser had also been wearing a white T-shirt with the Welsh flag and the words “Come On Wales” on it. The court heard the garment was in a poor and dirty condition and there were also some bloodstains that appeared old.
There was also damage to the seams of the T-shirt on the neckline and the shoulder, which was of recent appearance.
Among the clothes belonging to the defendant which were analysed was a black and white striped polo T-shirt and camouflage combat trousers.
These were of a grubby appearance, with small amounts of blood-staining, of old appearance, the court heard.
The most significant discovery was of blood on the right boot Winstone was wearing, found on the heel of the sole.
It was swabbed and sent for analysis and found to match a DNA profile belonging to Ms Rosser.
Ms Boyce said: “The heel of the sole of the right boot has been close to a source of Michelle Rosser’s wet blood to which a force was applied.
“The absence of blood on the defendant’s clothes does not assist in whether he caused the injuries which led to Ms Rosser’s death, as blood would not have necessarily transferred to the assailant’s clothing as blood is slow to flow from an injury.”
In reference to the house, Ms Boyce said it was in a “poor and dirty” condition, with piles of old clothes, rubbish and furniture heaped up.
She was unable to get into one of the bedrooms due to the build-up of contents and was only just able to step into another bedroom.
There were also bloodstains throughout the home – in the bathroom, the landing, the stairs and stairwell, as well as in the living room.
There were no bloodstains at the bottom of the stairs, or skin or tissue extracts, but Ms Boyce said she would not necessarily expect to find that, even if Ms Rosser had fallen down the stairs.
The witness said: “In my opinion, the vast majority of the bloodstains was of old appearance and didn’t relate to the death of Michelle Rosser.”
Winstone denies murder.
The trial continues.