'There was a lot of blood,' Forensic evidence presented in 1994 Katherine Janeiro murder trial
Warning: Readers may find some details in this article disturbing or upsetting.
Forensic evidence collected nearly 30 years ago was a key focus in court Tuesday during the trial of Bruce Ellis, also known as Robert MacQueen, who is charged with the 1994 murder of Katherine Janeiro.
Ellis, accused of fatally stabbing the 20-year-old mother, sat in the courtroom as Det. Const. Brad Deakos, a former identification officer with the Ontario Provincial Police, testified about working on the investigation in the hours and days following Janeiro's death.
Deakos recounted collecting suspected blood samples from Janeiro's apartment on Dunlop Street, where her body was found lying face down in her bedroom.
"There was a lot of blood at this crime scene," Deakos shared with the courtroom.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
The detective described to the jury a series of photographs taken during the investigation, showing suspected blood drops throughout the unit, including blood spatter on the living room wall above a couch, and significant amounts of blood in the bathroom, particularly in the bathtub and on the floor.
The officer testified about a sweater and a face cloth found in the tub, both covered in coagulated blood and a "ring of blood" around the tub itself.
He also pointed to blood transfer on a doorjamb near Janeiro's bedroom, indicating that her body may have been moved from the bathroom to the bedroom, making contact with the doorframe along the way.
The Crown asked the witness to describe blood drops recovered near a phone jack in the living room.
Investigators believe the phone had been ripped from the wall. A photo shown to the jury revealed a home phone that was found months later, submerged in a creek not far from the apartment.
The phone's speed dial list included 10 names, with mom listed at number one.
The trial continues on Wednesday with further testimony and cross-examination from the defence.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel intensifies bombardment of Gaza and southern Lebanon on the eve of Oct. 7 anniversary
A new round of airstrikes hit Beirut suburbs late Sunday as Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon in a widening war with Iran-allied militant groups across the region. Palestinian officials said a strike on a mosque in Gaza killed at least 19 people.
Rare cloud formations ripple the sky over Ottawa
A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.
The cooking method you need to learn to get excited about vegetables this fall, expert says
'Eat more vegetables,' doctors and dietitians say over and over. But for many people, it’s hard to do, because they aren’t excited about veggies or just don’t like them.
Hurricane Milton is growing stronger as it blows toward Florida's Tampa Bay region
People across Florida were given notice Sunday that Hurricane Milton is intensifying rapidly and will likely be a major hurricane before slamming midweek into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.
New Far North hospital moves closer to being built after $1.8B design, build contract awarded
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Government of Ontario have awarded a $1.8 billion fixed-price contract to design, build and finance a new Far North hospital.
Inmate dies following assault at Toronto jail, another prisoner charged
A 54-year-old inmate at the Toronto South Detention Centre has been charged in connection with a deadly jail beating late last week that claimed the life of a 69-year-old prisoner.
Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, dead at 63
Christopher Ciccone, a multihyphenate artist, dancer, designer and younger brother of Madonna, has died. He was 63.
'Environmental racism': First Nations leaders claim cancer-causing contamination was covered up
The people of Fort Chipewyan believe the federal government knew its water was contaminated and hid the issue for years. Now the chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is leading the call for immediate action.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.