Michael Warham murder trial: Jury told no blood found on knife

The teenager suffered two serious wounds, one of which penetrated his heart, during a clash between youths armed with wooden poles and metal bars, in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, last year.

Giving evidence at Stafford Crown Court forensic scientist Martin Whittaker told the jury that no blood was found on the blade, but that there were traces of the victim’s DNA on it.

The court heard that the knife was discovered in foliage in the front garden of a property in Stapleton Road near where the 16-year-old was found fatally injured.

Miss Rachel Brand, prosecuting, asked Mr Whittaker if he was surprised by the lack of blood. Mr Whittaker replied: “I have seen it in the past. There are a number of explanations for that.

“If someone was to stab fatty tissue it could be due to wiping action on the fat, or blood not forming through the wound.

“Also stabbing through clothing can be like wiping blood off.”

He said if a knife was to become wet or any blood had never had a chance to dry it would be soluble in rainy weather.

The jury heard that it had been raining on the evening of the incident that happened at about 9.30pm.

Mr Warham, from Bootle, Merseyside, had spent the day in Shrewsbury with friends before he was stabbed following an altercation outside a flat in Moneybrook Way involving two groups of men.

He was found by residents in Wayford Close, but despite efforts to save him he died at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital three days later due to complications caused by his injuries. Declan Graves, 20, from Liverpool, denies murder.

He is alleged to have attacked the teenager as the groups dispersed in the surrounding streets.

The court heard Graves called at a property in Stapleton Road claiming that he was been chased by others in a dispute over a girl.

The jury heard it was in the garden of that property that the knife with Mr Warham’s DNA was located by olive officers investigation get the murder.

The trial continues.