Statement read at Bain retrial,as last expected witness Dean Cottle flee's to Australia

The closing addresses in the David Bain murder retrial will be heard after Queen's Birthday weekend.

The case, which started at the beginning of March, officially wrapped up on Thursday.

The closing addresses won't be heard until after the long weekend, to give both counsel adequate time to prepare.

On Thursday Justice Panckhurst acknowledged the job of the jury thanking them for listening to three months of evidence. He said it has been a long haul, and from time to time they have been inconvenienced.

The Crown will close its case next Tuesday. The defence to follow on Wednesday, and the Judge will sum up on Thursday after which time the jury will retire to consider its verdict.

Defence closes its case

The defence closed its case on Thursday following a technically difficult cross-examination out of the UK and a statement from a witness the police can't find.


Fingerprint expert Carl Lloyd gave evidence last week but has returned to the UK, meaning the cross examination took place via video link.

While there is no dispute that David Bain's fingerprints were on the murder rifle, Lloyd disagreed with a Crown expert who said they were made in blood, saying there is no evidence of that at all in the photos.

He also disputed that the prints were fresh, and said they could have been on the rifle for some time before the murders.

Also on Wednesday, it was revealed that Dean Cottle, a witness that was expected to give evidence at the retrial, was in Australia and wouldn't be appearing in court.

Instead a short statement was read, in which Dean Cottle talked about his relationship with David Bain's sister Laniet.

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• David Bain retrial
• Robin Bain
• Stephen Bain
• Jury
• Police
• defence
• File
• blood
• fingerprints