Bassetlaw murder trial: Footprints on victim’s coat match trainers of accused man

Forensic scientist Adrian Downey told Nottingham Crown Court that he had also matched the soles of the shoes recovered at Matthew Duffy’s home to a partial footprint discovered at in an Everton field, close to where the body of Alan Easton was found.

Duffy, 23, of Sussex Street, Balby, Angela Dowling, 48, of Windmill Avenue, Conisbrough, and Mark Bingham, 50, of Fishponds Road West, Sheffield have gone on trial accused of murder.

Stephen Schofield, 31, also of Windmill Avenue, Conisbrough has admitted murdering Mr Easton, 50, who had moved from Dumbartonshire to Conisbough.

Mr Downey told the jury that the partial footprints found on Mr Easton’s coat matched to the soles of Lonsdale trainers found on the radiator in Duffy’s house and also to boots found in a wheelie bin in Windmill Avenue, which were worn by Schofield.

He said the footprints were most likely caused by stamping on the coat, or by it being walked over when on the ground.

Mr Easton’s body was found in a shallow grave in a ditch in farmland in Everton in February, last year.

The jury heard earlier this week that he was beaten and stabbed and could possibly have still been alive when he was buried.

Dowling’s son, Andrew, 22, is due to give evidence this afternoon.

The trial continues.