Baby's blood in accused killer's car
Bloodstains from the baby allegedly raped and killed by Mervyn Bell were found all over his car after he was arrested, the Supreme Court was told yesterday.
Mr Bell is accused of taking the 10-month-old boy from his home in Broome, then sexually assaulting and killing him during a 15-hour trip that ended at the Fortescue River Roadhouse in March.
The infant was covered in burns, bruises and wounds and had a broken leg and a broken arm.
Const. Kirstina Stewart, from the WA Police forensics unit, said she found the baby's blood dotted throughout Mr Bell's car.
Blood spots matching the infant were found on the steering wheel, a driver's side door, the centre console, dashboard and a CB radio in the passenger side footwell.
There was also blood from Mr Bell in the car.
Prosecutors allege Mr Bell had a violent confrontation with the child's mother hours before the boy disappeared the day before his death.
Mr Bell claimed the baby fell from the car and had also fallen into the Fortescue River.
Shimona Hill described chaotic hours leading to the infant's disappearance, during which Mr Bell was said to have seriously assaulted the child's mother. She said she handed the child to Mr Bell even though he threatened to "drop him off on the side of the road".
After driving away with the baby, he told Ms Hill on the phone that he intended to take him to his grandfather or to Queensland.
Instead, he burst into the roadhouse the next day, attempting to resuscitate the motionless child.
Roadhouse cook Ann Howell said she heard Mr Bell claim the baby had been on his lap and had then fallen into the river. After police told him of the child's death, Mr Bell began wailing and vomited.
