A FORENSIC expert told a murder jury that footprints found at the scene were probably made by trainers believed to belong to defendant Gavin Cox.

Burnley pensioner Brian Platt, known as 'Joe,' sustained 43 head and neck injuries in what was described as a 'sustained and forceful assault.' Cox, 25 of Park Road, Waterfoot denies murdering Mr Platt at Nunnhills Mill, Blackwood Road, Stacksteads, on February 10.

Cox's girlfriend at the time, Sara Bugat, 32, of Church Street Stacksteads, denies handling stolen goods.

Preston Crown Court was told how Mr Platt had been subjected to at least 11 separate blows with a blunt instrument. He also suffered broken bones in his face and three fractured ribs.

Mr Platt, 74, of Sycamore Close, Burnley, had worked for Calder Marketing, at their Stacksteads mill for nine years.

Footprints found on a door, a piece of paper, from the carpet of the mill, on a sports bag and on a pyjama top recovered from the scene of the crime were analysed by footwear impressions expert Jonathon Robinson.

After eliminating all the prints from those who had access to the scene, such as the police, Mr Robinson told members of the jury that prints found on a piece of paper, a section of a door and on the sports bag matched the Nike trainers believed to belong to Cox. Paul Reid QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Robinson if the results of his examinations "Provide extremely strong support that prints could be matched to the left Nike trainer."

Mr Robinson said they would.

He said: "It is my opinion that these marks were made by the shoes and the chances of them being made by any another shoe is remote.". No other footwear impressions, apart from those people who had access to the scene, and those of the Nike trainers were found at the scene."

Under cross-examination from Cox's barrister, Steve Riordan QC, Mr Robinson admitted that further footprints, found in the foyer of the mill were not clear enough to complete a full test on.

Later, the court heard how on the night of February 10, Cox called at the house of a neighbour of his girlfriend's. It is claimed he told the neighbour that he and Bugat had been arguing and they would not be able to go out.

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