A SPECK of blood found on the sock of a man accused of murder may have got there as a result of a kick, a court has been told.

The sock belonged to Richard Wallis, one of four men accused of the murder of 41-year-old Jan Jedrzejewski, on January 12.

Forensic scientist Andrew Davidson, who examined footwear and clothing belonging to the quartet on behalf of Gwent Police, told Newport Crown Court yesterday the location of the blood on the sock was where he might expect it to be if the wearer had kicked the victim.

The bloodstain was the only one, from all the items he tested, which matched a DNA sample from Mr Jedrzejewski.

It was on the top of the sock near the ankle, it was said. Mr Davidson agreed with Mr Ali Bajwa QC, representing Callum Banton - one of Wallis’ co-accused - that the mark was consistent with what Mr Bajwa called “a free kick/penalty-style movement”.

The court was told that in a police statement, Banton said he saw Wallis run towards Mr Jedrzejewski and kick his head like a football.

Mr Davidson was asked by Mr Bajwa if what Banton described “is exactly what you found on the sock?” He replied that it was one of the possible scenarios.

Defending Wallis, Paul Lewis QC put it to Mr Davidson that he had not dealt with the possibility of indirect contact between the sock and the blood - that it may have come from the victim as he was turned over, or from a third person who had blood on his hands, for instance.

He asked Mr Davidson why as an expert witness he had given an opinion on the scenario involving a kick in court, but had not included it in his report.

Mr Davidson said he had not gone into great detail in the report because there were “quite a few complex interpretations involved, and many unknowns”.

Resident Lesley Heames told the court he had gone out at 11.30pm on January 12 after seeing emergency vehicles. He had seen Wallis, who he described as a neighbour, on his bike and asked him what was going on.

Mr Heames said Wallis told him “I think someone has been jumped”.

Wallis, 43, of Keene Street, Newport, along with Callum Banton and Shaquille Crosdale, both 18 and both of Fleetwood Close, Newport, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Jedrzejewski in the Cromwell Road area. So has a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Crosdale has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice, as has 64-year-old Catherine Coslett, of Valley View Road, Cwmtillery.

Proceeding.