No murder weapon found in Liam death investigation 25/5/13
No murder weapon was found during the extensive investigation after Liam Aitchison was killed, a trail was told.
Detective Sergeant Iain Morrison of Stornoway police was one of the senior police officers in the inquiry.
Two Lewis men, Johnathan Mackinnon and Stefan Millar deny murdering Liam Aitchison in a derelict house in November 2011.
The prosecution allege Liam was killed around 2am on 23 November 2011.
At Glasgow High Court on Friday, Iain Morrison agreed with prosecutor Iain McSporran that
He concurred that “lots of knives” and possible weapons as well as clothing were removed from a number of houses during police searches.
The detective indicated door-
He said that during the process police received information from Mrs Kennedy.
Two weeks ago Steinish resident Donalda Kennedy told the trial she had seen three people with hooded tops over their heads walking in the village after 12.15am in the early hours of Wednesday 23 November.
Det Sgt Morrison said: “Officers were deployed to go back over ground in Steinish to ascertain whether three people in hooded tops attended any address” in the village.
He indicated police spoke to all people over 12 years old living in Steinish and a questionnaire was received by all households.
The detective said there was “no evidence that any three males attended any house in such clothing that night.”
The jury had previously seen a video of a drive-
Iain Morrison said he walked the two different routes to the abandoned house where
Liam was found -
One was along the main road from Plasterfield and into Steinish which went past a number of houses. He indicated that the Mrs Kennedy’s house was about half way along the journey.
The other route leaves Plasterfield in the opposite direction, past the end of North Street and along a track to a farm which continues by the derelict house. He agreed there were very few houses in that direction.
Mr Patterson said the trial had heard that if Liam had walked to the house then he would have been drunk with a level of alcohol three times the legal driving limit.
He added: “It could add a substantial amount of time to a walk like this.”
Mr Morrison replied: “I have seen people who are three or four times the limit when taken into custody for drink driving and being able to walk quite well.”
The defence counsel said it could get very, very dark when the streetlights go off at night in places outside Stornoway making it difficult to see the road.
The police detective replied: “I would say you have difficulty in navigating.”
Mr Patterson said calls from Mr Mackinnon’s mobile were made in the early hours of Wednesday 23 November 2100 to two people then living in the Cearns area of Stornoway,
Mr Morrison told the court he was aware of people selling cannabis who lived in the Cearns.
Det Sgt Morrison also told the court that Johnathan Mackinnon was interviewed under caution after he gave a statement as a witness.
Defence lawyer Iain Patterson said Mr Mackinnon was detained as of 10 December 2011 and consulted a lawyer as was his right.
The detective said, during the interview, Mr Mackinnon fixed his view on a wall and did not engage in eye contact.
Defence lawyer Mr Patterson pointed out Mr Mackinnon was entitled to do that.
Det Sgt Morrison said Mr Mackinnon made no reply when charged.
Johnathan Mackinnon and Stefan Millar deny murder.
The prosecution case closed after the detective’s evidence. The defence called witnesses Donald John Macrae and Calum Smith on Friday. There is no court on Monday due to a bank holiday. The trial continues on Tuesday.