(CHAT News)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

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DNA evidence heard at Deborah Belyea murder trial, points to accused being at crime scene

Jan 12, 2024 | 3:56 PM

The fourth day of Deborah Belyea’s second-degree murder trial got underway Friday with another two rounds of RCMP testimony focused on blood and DNA testing that appeared to confirm the accused was at the crime scene.

Cpl. Tommy Thifault of the RCMP was involved with sampling pieces of evidence at the crime scene in Piapot, Sask., where the body of Cypress county councillor Alfred Belyea was found October 2021.

Thifault was able to confirm the red stains found in a black garbage bag, rugs and other items at the crime scene were human blood.

There were multiple tire tracks at the scene in Piapot leading up to where the garbage bin with the body inside was left.

Those tire tracks indicated a wheelbase that would belong to a van, SUV or sedan vehicle, Thifault said.

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The tracks could have been caused by either multiple vehicles driving in the same spot or one vehicle going back and forth.

DNA FROM ‘DB’ AT CRIME SCENE

Laura Reader, an RCMP DNA analyst, called into court from an office in Edmonton and was identified as an expert witness.

Reader, through a pair of reports testing DNA, determined that DNA material from a person identified with the initials “DB” was found at the Belyea residence in Suffield, in Belyea’s Volkswagen Golf hatchback sedan and on various items at the crime scene.

The court did not receive confirmation that “DB” referred to Deborah Belyea but Alfred Belyea was referred to as “AB” earlier in the testimony.

The trial continues Monday with more witnesses called by the Crown. The Crown said it expects to wrap up its witnesses by next Tuesday.

As the trial is scheduled for nine days, that would leave the defense with three days for its list of witnesses.