ROY GIBSON
Items of clothing and a knife found in a rubbish bin at a Gosnells nursing home had blood on them which matched the blood of stabbing victim Claire Lisa Amos who died in her home in Rockingham.
Forensic scientist Martin Blooms told a Supreme Court jury yesterday that jeans, a grey singlet and a knife with a 20cm blade all tested positive to blood.
Darren Patrick Barry, 37, of Canning Vale, is alleged to have used the knife when he attacked Mrs Amos, 30, in her home in January last year. Mr Barry’s car was later found at a house in Gosnells.
He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of wilful murder and also to an alternative charge of murder.
Mrs Amos died from six stab wounds to her chest and abdomen.
Mrs Amos’ two children — a boy then aged nine and a girl, five, — were in the house at the time. They told the jury they saw Mr Barry attack their mother as she made breakfast in the kitchen.
Mr Barry and Mrs Amos had a troubled on-off relationship and they had a baby which died of cot death in 2003.
Yesterday, Philip Rofe, of Rockingham, said Mrs Amos and her children had been living in his home for about two months. On January 27 last year, he returned home to find Mrs Amos lying on the floor of the dining room.
The trial continues today.