UK - Nikki Allan, 7, brutally murdered, Sunderland, 7 Oct 1992 *arrest in 2014*

[ColourPurple]

The kind of pig who spits from his balcony, is just the type of pig who engages in other disgusting acts, imo, speculation.

He's also referred to it soaking into her skin, when he'd only been asked about the DNA being on her clothing not on her skin. It was only found on her clothing AFAIK.

 

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10:43KALI LINDSAY

Day two begins​

The trial is back under way

10:44KALI LINDSAY

Statement from victim's dad​

A statement made by Nikki’s dad, David Allan, on October 9 1992, is being read to the court.

11:01KALI LINDSAY

Jurors hear background family information​

Mr Allan said in the statement the last time he saw Nikki was around three weeks earlier, when she was with a group of other children at an ice cream van and he thinks he gave her a £1 coin.

11:02KALI LINDSAY

'Not overly concerned' about Nikki being missing​

Mr Allan said on October 7 his sister phoned him to reveal Nikki had gone missing and that the police were involved.
He added: “At that time I was not overly concerned because I expected Nikki to be found at one of the neighbours’ houses.”

11:09KALI LINDSAY

'Something seriously wrong'​

However around half an hour later he then got another call saying the police were searching for Nikki.
Mr Allan said: “I realised something was seriously wrong.”

11:09KALI LINDSAY

Family went searching​

Mr Allan said he and his family decided to go looking for Nikki in his mam’s light blue Ford Escort around 1am on October 8. At one point he saw men carrying torches searching bushes.

11:16KALI LINDSAY

Drove near building where body was found​

At one point they drove near the building where Nikki’s body would later be found.

11:17KALI LINDSAY

Search for hours over east end​

Mr Allan said they drove around for a further two to three hours, looking all over the east end of the city and at Hendon beach.
He spoke to fishermen but they hadn’t seen his daughter.
They also checked Whitburn beach.

11:18KALI LINDSAY

Dad tells of distress during search​

As they drove around in the early hours, Mr Allan said: “I was so distressed I couldn’t see properly to drive. I couldn’t believe Nikki could be in that area and not be found given the dozens of people we saw looking for her."

11:19KALI LINDSAY

Dad later told where body was found​

Mr Allan revealed how he was later told Nikki’s body had been found.
He said the building where she was found used to have a big sign advertising judo and he knew it as “The judo”.
He said when he was 13 or 14 his friend and him used to hang round there and the surrounding buildings and went inside that building once or twice looking to catch racing pigeons.

11:20KALI LINDSAY

Nikki 'never mentioned' building​

He added: “I have not been inside the building in the past 14 years. Nikki never mentioned the building to me and as far as I’m aware she had not previously been there.”

11:21KALI LINDSAY

'Outgoing and friendly' girl​

Mr Allan says Nikki was an “outgoing, friendly girl who liked to be talkative”.
He adds: “I feel she might have struck up a conversation with a stranger if someone approached her. I don’t think she would have strayed that far from home if a stranger approached her.”

11:54KALI LINDSAY

Jurors hear statement from defendant's mum​

Statements are read from Boyd’s mother, Margaret Bell, who gives some family background information.
She said she was asked if she had any photographs of her son and confirms she provided the only photograph she could find, from around Christmas time in the early 1990s, which jurors are shown.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

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12:21KALI LINDSAY

Artist sketch of man​

Jurors have heard previously that a witness, Margaret Hodgson, who saw a man walking with a young girl in his company, who said they had the appearance of being father and daughter, helped a police artist four days after the killing to produce a sketch of the man that she had seen on the 7th October.
The artist produced two drawings, one of the face of the man she had seen and a further sketch also depicting his clothing and those images have now been released.

12:22KALI LINDSAY

Artist's impressions​

One of the sketches produced by the artist:



12:23KALI LINDSAY

Second image​

A further sketch also depicting his clothing has also been released.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

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12:24KALI LINDSAY

Jurors told defendant bore 'striking resemblance' to man in sketches​

During the opening of the prosecution case last week, Richard Wright KC said: “You may conclude that the man she drew had a distinctive appearance.
"The police have been able to identify some images of David Boyd from the late 1980’s and one from the early 1990’s.
"We invite you to conclude that at or about the time of the murder of Nikki Allan, the younger David Boyd bore a striking resemblance to the man depicted by the police artist on the instructions of Margaret Hodgson.”

12:50KALI LINDSAY

Boyd in the 90s​

Murder accused David Boyd in the 1990s

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

12:52KALI LINDSAY

Jurors hear statement from woman in relationship with defendant​

A statement is read by Caroline Branton snr, who was in a relationship with Boyd at the time, when he was 20 years younger than her.
She said on the night Nikki went missing she went to the pub but Boyd did not and she thinks he was looking after her son, Colin.

13:00KALI LINDSAY

Woman occasionally babysat Nikki​

Ms Branton said she would occasionally babysit for Nikki and her sisters if her mum, Sharon, wanted to go out and would do so at Sharon’s flat, although Nikki had been to her flat.

13:03KALI LINDSAY

Jurors told defendant never had a job​

She says Boyd never had a job and was always on the dole and was not interested in drinking alcohol and had no hobbies.

13:03KALI LINDSAY

Defendant's reaction to murder​

Ms Branton added: “I’ve been asked about David’s reaction to Nikki’s disappearance and murder.
"Thinking back I don’t really remember David talking about it, I don’t remember discussing it with him. I don’t think he had much to do with Nikki before her death.”

13:04KALI LINDSAY

Never saw Boyd on own with victim​

She adds that when she babysat for Nikki at her mum’s home, Boyd would not be there and said she never saw him on his own with her.

13:05KALI LINDSAY

Jurors hear new statement​

A statement from Ms Branton’s son, Colin Branton, is read to jurors.
He gives some background information and adds: “I didn’t like David Boyd and he was a major factor in me leaving home at the age of 12 and going to live with my aunt.”

13:09KALI LINDSAY

Jurors hear further evidence​

Colin’s brother, Jason Branton, said he saw Nikki when visiting his mum’s home and he said she would babysit her both at Sharon’s flat and her own. He said Boyd, who he knew as David Smith at the time, was present on occasions.

13:10KALI LINDSAY

New statement read to jurors​

A statement is read from then-12-year-old Colin Pearson, from October 1992.
He said he had been to the Old Exchange Building, where Nikki’s body was found, on October 4, three days before Nikki disappeared.
He said he was with David Smith (Boyd) and they were looking for pigeons.

13:12KALI LINDSAY

Boy gives further statement to police​

In a further statement given to police in 2018, he said there were a few lads with Smith that day and said he “didn’t know why Smith would have wanted to go in there with all of us”.
He said he would usually stay on the ground floor and had occasionally went downstairs, where Nikki’s body would later be found, but found it scary and said there were no windows and a torch was needed to find your way around.

13:13KALI LINDSAY

CCTV released​

Grainy CCTV footage which prosecutors say shows Nikki Allan being led away by an adult on the night she disappeared has now been released.

13:19KALI LINDSAY

Adjourned for lunch​

The case has now been adjourned for lunch.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

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He told the court: 'The final tragic glimpse of Nikki before her murder was captured by a CCTV camera positioned on a building known as the Roseline bonded warehouse situated on the route between the MacFish factory and the rear of the Old Exchange Building.

'The footage is of an extremely poor quality. However, it undoubtedly records Nikki's killer walking towards the Exchange building with Nikki following along a short distance behind him at 21:57 that night.

'That last sighting of Nikki Allan was no more than a one minute walk to the rear of the Exchange building where she would be attacked.' [...]

Boyd, of Norton, Stockton on Tees, denies murder and the trial, expected to last four weeks, continues.

Man accused of Nikki Allen murder bears 'resemblance' to police sketch

Prosecutors say a comparison of the two images is compelling evidence that David Boyd was the man who lured Nikki away from her home and beat her with a brick before stabbing her.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

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14:46KALI LINDSAY

Case resumes​

The case has resumed and jurors are being read witness statements from then-children who saw Nikki on October 7 before she disappeared.

14:48KALI LINDSAY

Woman saw Nikki outside pub​

A statement is read by a Denise, who lives in the area, and said she saw Nikki sitting outside The Boar’s Head pub, with her back to the pub, that night.
But when she looked back out around 9.55, she had gone.

14:53KALI LINDSAY

Woman told victim's body found​

Then around 11.50pm she said a woman knocked on her door saying Nikki had gone missing.
The next morning she heard Nikki’s shoes and coat had been found then at 10.30am she heard Nikki’s body had been found.

15:08KALI LINDSAY

Nikki 'waiting for her mam' outside pub​

A statement is read from Dorren Graham, a friend of Nikki’s mum, Sharon, who got off the bus that night after working in the kitchen at the University of Sunderland and saw Nikki outside the Boar’s Head pub and asked what she was doing. Ms Graham said: “She said she was waiting for her mam. I offered to take her over home but she said she would just wait where she was.” She said later that night she heard Nikki had gone missing.

15:09KALI LINDSAY

Case adjourned​

The case has been adjourned until tomorrow.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[JerseyGirl]

Sketch of suspect in killing of Nikki Allan, 7, in 1992 bears 'striking resemblance' to murder accused, trial told

The court was also shown grainy footage which prosecutors claim shows David Boyd walking with the girl to the scene where she was attacked in 1992.

news.sky.com

 

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10:17KRISTY DAWSON

Day three of the trial gets underway​

The jury has entered the courtroom for day three of the trial.
The case has resumed.

10:33KRISTY DAWSON

Witness describes seeing man walking with very small girl​

A statement is read from Margaret Hodgson, who on Wednesday October 7 1992 drove to the Macfish factory, on High Street, Sunderland, to pick her mother up from work, with her 13-year-old niece in the car.
She said at exactly 9.51pm she looked at her watch when her niece asked what time her mother finished work.
Mrs Hodgson added:

At this same time my attention was drawn to a man walking with a very small girl. These two approached from my right hand side from the direction of the dock gates.

10:34KRISTY DAWSON

Little girl skipped to keep up with man​

Mrs Hodgson said:

They were walking along the road together. When I first saw them they were about 30 feet away. The lighting was good, illuminated by the big beam in the yard and street lighting.

They were walking together but not hand in hand. At intervals the little girl would drop behind then skip to catch the man up.

10:36KRISTY DAWSON

Witness believed they were father and daughter​

She continued:

They appeared to be father and daughter. The girl appeared to be walking freely. Every so often the man would turn around to see if the girl was there. Nothing appeared untoward.
I did comment to my niece that it was late for a girl so young to be out. They walked past my car and disappeared to my left side.

10:39KRISTY DAWSON

Man described as being slim build with dark coloured hair in a skinhead​

Mrs Hodgson gave a description of the man, saying he was 27 to 28 years old, 5ft 7 to 8, of slim build, with dark coloured hair in a skinhead which had started to grow in and he was clean shaven and wearing a white shirt and denim jeans.
She added:

He gave the impression, the way he was dressed, that he had been out for the evening. I may recognise this man again if I saw him.

10:40KRISTY DAWSON

Witness said girl came up to man's waist​

Mrs Hodgson said the girl came up to the man's waist and was aged between six and seven.
She said she appeared to have dark hair which came to her shoulders and was wearing a dark coat to below her knees. She said the coat was open and flapping about and had a hood at the back.

10:44KRISTY DAWSON

Girl 'seemed to hang back' before she 'skipped towards him'​

In a further statement, she said of the man and girl:

At first they were together then she seemed to hang back a little bit. He turned and looked back and she hurried and skipped towards him.
By their demeanour they gave the impression of being a father and daughter or at the least relations.

10:49KRISTY DAWSON

Witness helped police artist produce sketches of the man​

Mrs Hodgson says she went to the police station in Sunderland on October 11 1992 to help police artist Norman Kirtlan produce two sketches of the man she saw.

10:51KRISTY DAWSON

Jury shown full length sketch alongside photograph of Boyd​

A statement is read from Norman Kirtlan, who was then a detective sergeant, confirming how he did the sketches.
The full length sketch is shown on big screens alongside a photograph of Boyd from around the same time.

11:01KRISTY DAWSON

'Look at that little bairn out at this time of night'​

The next evidence in the case is a statement from Claire MacBeth, Mrs Hodgson’s then-13-year-old niece who was in the car with her that night.
She said:

I asked what time my nana finished work and she replied 10 o’clock. At that point she looked at her watch and said it was just after ten to ten.
Margaret then said 'look at that little bairn out at this time of night'. I saw a man with a very young small girl.

11:04KRISTY DAWSON

'Man kept turning his head' and girl appeared 'happy to be there', says witness​

She continued:

She appeared to drop behind the man then skipped to catch him up. As they walked the man kept turning his head, which gave the impression he was looking at her and they were together.
I got the impression they were father and daughter. The girl certainly appeared quite happy to be there. They were in view for about ten seconds.

11:13KRISTY DAWSON

Witness says man was 'well turned out and quite smart'​

Claire described the girl as being around six years old and said she came up to the waist of the man. She said she had dark, straight brown hair which hung to her shoulders.
She said the man was 27 to 28 years old, 5ft 7 to 8, and of slim build. She said she didn’t see his face but that he had light blue jeans which "looked quite fashionable" and was wearing a white shirt with the top button open which also looked quite fashionable.
She added that he was "well turned out and quite smart".

11:19KRISTY DAWSON

CCTV footage is being played to the jury​

Jurors are played the grainy CCTV footage from the Rose Line company on High Street East, which shows a figure followed by a smaller figure following behind.


11:23KRISTY DAWSON

PC timed how long it would take to walk from area where Nikki was last seen to murder scene​

A statement is read from PC Andrew Richardson, who timed how long it would take to walk from the area where Nikki was last seen to the murder scene at the Old Exchange building.
It took four minutes and 36 seconds, including 56 seconds from where the CCTV camera is to the rear of the Old Exchange Building.

11:24KRISTY DAWSON

Break in court proceedings​

The court is now taking a break.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[abovethestorm]

Man described as being slim build with dark coloured hair in a skinhead​

Mrs Hodgson gave a description of the man, saying he was 27 to 28 years old, 5ft 7 to 8, of slim build, with dark coloured hair in a skinhead which had started to grow in and he was clean shaven and wearing a white shirt and denim jeans.

I'm confused as to why the suspect's hair is described by this witness differently in her statement (BBM, above) than shown in the sketch created to fit her description of him. In no way does the sketch reflect him sporting "a skinhead which had started to grow in..." (IMO).

 

[ColourPurple]

I'm confused as to why the suspect's hair is described by this witness differently in her statement (BBM, above) than shown in the sketch created to fit her description of him. In no way does the sketch reflect him sporting "a skinhead which had started to grow in..." (IMO).

I think she means rather than being cut in a style it looked like hair looks when you let a skin head grow out. ie it just grows in the shape of the hairline, with fringe following the hair line rather than there being a straight defined fringe or styled side or middle parting etc.

ETA I would have used "grow out" rather than "grow in"

 

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11:55KRISTY DAWSON

The trial has now resumed​

The trial has now resumed.
A statement is being read out by another witness.

11:56KRISTY DAWSON

Factory worker heard the sound of 'breaking wood'​

Patricia Irwin had been working at the MacFish factory that night and left with colleagues at 9.53pm.
She said in a statement she was walking to get the bus with others and they went past a derelict white building which used to be a billiard hall.
She said as they approached the building:

I heard the sound of breaking wood. There were two distinctive sounds a second or so apart. I immediately associated it with breaking wood because in the past I’ve broken wood when working in a garden. The breaking sound was more that of a large piece of wood, for example a plank rather than twigs.

12:09KRISTY DAWSON

Followed by the sound of either a 'cat wailing' or 'howling wind'​

Mrs Irwin added:

I walked a few more feet. I was just outside the main front door when I heard the sound of either a cat wailing or a howling wind coming from inside the building itself. This unnerved me and my suspicions were aroused as we continued walking.

12:11KRISTY DAWSON

Witness said she told others 'listen to that'​

She continued:

I began turning my head, looking back towards the derelict building. I remember saying to the others 'listen to that'.
They said it had just been a cat. I wasn’t sure it was a cat. I thought it was a different sound but couldn’t place it.
That’s why I thought it was the whooshing or howling of the wind but it was a still night and very quiet so I don’t think that was it either.

12:31KRISTY DAWSON

Witness said she heard sound with her 'good' ear​

Mrs Irwin said she has a problem with her hearing in her left ear but said her right ear is very good, to the point she had to lie on it at night to block out sounds to get to sleep. She said it was her right ear which was closest to the building that night.

12:35KRISTY DAWSON

Worker 'heard some noises' and was 'looking back' at derelict building​

Denise Cromack was with her that night as they left work. She said as they passed the derelict building, which was once a prawn factory and the Old Exchange building.
She said:

Trish mentioned to me she had heard some noises. I told her she was imagining it and we continued to walk.
As we got to the front door Trish stopped again and said she had definitely heard something. She was adamant of that.
I didn’t take any notice of her but I can remember her looking backwards to the derelict building.
I didn’t hear anything but Trish was nearest the building when we passed it. I would describe her as very observant. She takes in a lot of things and remembers them well.

12:44KRISTY DAWSON

'What was that'​

Another worker, Judith Philliskirk, said as they passed the Old Exchange building, Patricia said "what was that" and stopped and looked back.
She said she didn’t hear anything but that she was talking with some colleagues.

12:46KRISTY DAWSON

Factory workers discussed Nikki Allan death and police visited​

Judith added:

When we got back to work the following evening it was obviously a topic of conversation that Nikki Allan had been found dead in the Old Exchange building earlier that day and had been missing from home since the night before, however none of us put any great emphasis on the noise Trish said she heard.
The police visited our factory during their investigation and interviewed all the workers. It was was then Trish remembered hearing the noise.

12:47KRISTY DAWSON

Another colleague remembered factory worker hearing noise​

Another colleague, Judith Vickerson, said in her statement she also remembered Mrs Irwin saying she heard a noise and stopping and looking back after the passed the building.
She added that Mrs Irwin had a good memory for detail and was not prone to exaggeration.

12:49KRISTY DAWSON

Woman who lived opposite Old Exchange building said she heard 'piercing scream'​

A statement is read from Carol Osborne, who lived opposite the Old Exchange building at the time.
Referring to the night Nikki was murdered, she said:

I was reading a book that night until about 10pm when I heard a piercing scream which I took to have been made by a girl.
The scream sounded as though it had come from the other side of the High Street East.
However as the local kids are always playing in that area and because it only lasted a couple of seconds, with no words being said, I didn’t take any notice. I didn’t even look out of my window.

12:53KRISTY DAWSON

Resident said she heard another scream just minutes later​

Carol said:

I carried on reading my book until a couple of minutes later the same happened again.
A single scream coming from the same direction. It sounded as though the scream was made by the same person, a girl.

12:54KRISTY DAWSON

Screams came from direction of Old Exchange building, says woman​

She continued:

I’ve since read the local publicity in the local Press about the murder of Nikki Allan and the fact her body was found in the Old Exchange building opposite my flat.
I can say now the screams came from the direction of that building.

12:59KRISTY DAWSON

A statement from Nikki's auntie is read to the court​

A statement is read from Sandra Prest, Nikki’s auntie.
Sandra, known as Dolly Clark, lived with partner, Terry Clark and their three-year-old son.
She said on the way out on the night of October 7, she called at David Smith’s (Boyd’s then name) home around 8.30pm and told him Terry wanted him. She said Terry wanted him to go the fish and chip shop.

13:01KRISTY DAWSON

Step-mother of Nikki's auntie 'looked really worried'​

She returned home around 10.30pm and said Terry was watching the Billy Hardy boxing match on TV.
Then at 11.05, her stepmother turned up and asked if she had seen Nikki and "looked really worried".

13:04KRISTY DAWSON

Nikki reported missing as people searched for her​

Sandra said she then noticed quite a few people were outside looking for Nikki.
She said she could see Nikki’s mum, adding:

I could see Sharon sitting on her step and it looked like she was crying.

She went to see Sharon then returned home to phone the police and report Nikki as missing, saying by this point "just about everyone appeared to be out" looking for her.

13:09KRISTY DAWSON

Nikki's auntie says she would not go off with stranger​

Sandra said of Nikki:

I would describe Nikki as shy and clingy to her mam. Naughty at times, like any child. In my opinion she would not go off with a stranger at all.

13:11KRISTY DAWSON

Prosecutor refers jury to account given by Boyd​

Prosecutor Richard Wright now refers jurors to an account given by Boyd during house-to-house inquiries by police.
In it he said he left his home at 9.30pm to visit Terry Clark then went to the fish and chip shop for him, saying he arrived home at 10pm, where he said he remained until 11.15pm when Terry asked him to babysit his three-year-old son so he could join the search for Nikki.

13:12KRISTY DAWSON

Boyd told police he saw Nikki playing outside with two other girls​

Boyd went on to tell police he had become friends with the Prest family as his girlfriend had babysat for Sharon Prest, Nikki’s mum. He said he new Nikki and her older sister.
He said when he left his flat to go to Terry Clark’s that night around 9.30, he saw Nikki playing outside with two other girls. He said on his way back from the fish and chip shop he didn’t see Nikki or her friends. He said the following morning he became aware Nikki was still missing.

13:13KRISTY DAWSON

Boyd told officers he knew the Old Exchange building and has been in it many times​

Boyd said during the day on October 8 he found out Nikki’s body had been found in the Old Exchange building. He said he knew the building and had been in it many times trying to catch pigeons.
He had told police during the house-to-house inquiries he had been in the building a few days before the murder and described gaining access via a missing window at the rear of the building.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

14:16KRISTY DAWSON

Jurors are shown pictures where blood is visible​

Jurors are shown pictures of some wasteland at the back of the Old Exchange building and the outside of the building, which has blood on the window sill and brickwork.

14:45KRISTY DAWSON

Man said he found a child's coat and shoes during search for Nikki​

In a statement made in 1992, John Pennock said he joined in the search for Nikki on the morning of October 8.
He went to the back of the Old Exchange building with his wife and said he saw a purple child’s coat with a hood with a red child’s kicker shoe next to it then after he climbed over a wall he found a second red kicker shoe.

14:57KRISTY DAWSON

Teenager helped with the search for Nikki​

Andrew Maven, who was 16 at the time, also helped with the search. He said he also found the shoes, which he was told were Nikki’s.
He said the person he was with had a torch but it was weak so he went on to suggest to his stepdad that they return with a better torch to search the cellar.
He said he went down the stairs first with the torch and said it was "pitch black". He said they searched cupboards under the stairs and found nothing.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

15:00KRISTY DAWSON

Court hears how teen followed "drag marks" and saw "two bare feet sticking out"​

Having given his dad the torch, Andrew said:

I saw a doorway which led to another square room. My father went in first. It was a 12 foot square room.
I saw what looked like two drag marks in the dirt on the floor leading towards a corner of the room. My father was shining the torch about the room.
I then saw what looked like a heap of rags in the corner of the room. Then I saw two bare feet sticking out from what I thought was a pile of rags and I realised it was Nikki.

15:03KRISTY DAWSON

'I was deeply shocked and ran and was crying hysterically'​

Andrew said at the time he bent down and touched Nikki’s foot and that it was freezing cold but in a later statement in more recent times he said he doesn’t think he did touch her and ran out when his dad told him she was dead..
He said his dad said "here’s the bairn" and added:

I started screaming and shouting and ran out of the door. I kicked and punched the door and ran.
I was deeply shocked and ran and was crying hysterically.

15:11KRISTY DAWSON

'I saw what I first appeared to be a bundle of rags'​

George Newsome, Andrew’s stepfather, said in his statement about the recovery of the body:

I saw what I first appeared to be a bundle of rags. I could make out a pair of light-coloured socks and legs leading to a torso lying on its right side, bent over.
I bent over and got closer and it appeared to be the body of a little girl.
I looked at the face and saw it was covered with either blood or dirt.
He said he didn’t recognise her but realised it was the body of a young girl.

He said he didn’t recognise her but realised it was the body of a young girl.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

15:20KRISTY DAWSON

Stepdad said he touched Nikki's leg and realised she was dead​

In a later statement, he added:

I touched her leg which was cold and I realised she was dead.
I told Andrew and he became hysterical and ran out.

15:50KRISTY DAWSON

Jurors are played video of building while Nikki's body was there​

Jurors are being played a video taken of the building while Nikki’s body was still there.
Blood can be seen on brickwork at the window where access was gained.
There are also drag marks on the floor leading to Nikki’s body in a corner, which has been pixelated in the video.

15:55KRISTY DAWSON

Trial adjourned​

The trial has now finished for the day.
The case has been adjourned until tomorrow.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

10:30AARON MORRIS

Jurors are read a statement​

Jurors are read a statement made by PC Nigel Beattie, who was the first officer who attended the scene of the murder.

10:31AARON MORRIS

PC saw a female who appeared to be in a 'distressed condition'​

He said around 10.35am on October 8 1992 he was taking part in the search for Nikki. He said:

“I saw a female who appeared in a distressed condition holding a headband in her hand walking east towards the fish quay.
“On approaching her she said ‘oh God it’s the bairn. Go along there, they have found the bairn’.”

10:34AARON MORRIS

PC Beattie says body was found in cellar​

PC Beattie and his colleagues ran towards the Old Exchange building and saw 10-15 men at the rear of it.
George Newsome told them:

“I’ve found her, she’s in the corner of the room in the cellar”.

10:35AARON MORRIS

Officers had to climb a tree to gain access to the abandoned building​

The officer and colleagues climbed a tree to gain access through an insecure window which had previously been boarded up and which had a gap around six foot from the ground. He said:

“I noticed reddish brown marks on the window sill which appeared to be blood.
“We walked inside the building and I noticed marks on the floor coming from another room and down a flight of stairs leading off the hallway. These appeared to have been caused by something having been dragged on the floor.
“I saw in the far east end of the room there appeared to be blood on the wall and floor.”

10:39AARON MORRIS

Officer said he noticed 'drag marks' in abandoned building​

The officer said he and colleagues went down some stairs using a search lamp. He added:

“As I descended I again noticed drag marks and what appeared to be blood on each of the treads.
“At the bottom the drag marks continued left into a dark room. At the end of the room was a doorway leading to a further room. The drag marks continued up one step into a room.

10:41AARON MORRIS

Drag marks led to position of child​

PC Beattie added:

“On entering the room I saw the body of a child against the northern wall. The drag marks on the floor led to the position in which the child was located.
“The head and face of the child was covered in blood. I could see on the chest of the child what appeared to be a hole with blood around it.”

10:42AARON MORRIS

Case paused while distressed woman leaves court​

A woman in the public gallery has become distressed and is crying. The judge asks for the case to be paused to give her the opportunity to leave the court.

10:43AARON MORRIS

Body was 'lifeless' says statement​

Prosecutor Richard Wright KC continues to read PC Beattie’s statement. The officer said:

“The body was lifeless.”

10:50AARON MORRIS

Officer says body was removed from building at 3.25pm​

The officer says he was present at 3.25 when Nikki’s body was removed from the building. He said she was put in a cask before being put in a police van and taken to the mortuary for a post mortem to be carried out and said he remained with her throughout that process.

10:51AARON MORRIS

Forensic scientist is called upon for evidence​

Forensic scientist Hilary Parkinson, who attended the scene on October 8 1992, is called to give evidence.

10:52AARON MORRIS

Forensic says she noticed drips of blood on wall of abandoned building​

Hilary confirms the lowest point of entrance to the building through the previously boarded up window was six foot two inches from the ground. Ms Parkinson says she noticed drips of blood on the wall underneath the window.
The scientist confirms DNA was in its infancy at that time.

10:55AARON MORRIS

Scientist also confirms further blood and staining​

She adds that there was blood staining on the window sill and on the floor below the window.
Ms Parkinson confirms there was a brick on the floor in one of the rooms which appeared to be bloodstained and was close to other bloodstaining.

11:02NICOLE GOODWIN

Scientist said she went down to the basement where 'there were drag marks visible in the dust and debris'​

The scientist adds that she went downstairs into the basement. She said there were drag marks visible in the dust and debris on the floor. The drag marks eventually led to Nikki's body.

11:08NICOLE GOODWIN

Scientist said body was found 'against the north wall of the room'​

Asked about the position of the body, Ms Parkinson said:

The body was lying on the left side on the back against the north wall of the room. The arms were outstretched, the hands being above the head. The head was against the right arm and was turned so the face was uppermost.
“The hair, which was long, was not beneath her head but flowed out and lay between the hands. Her left hand was bent over her hip and her knee was lying over her arm and her left arm was lying over her left calf."

11:12NICOLE GOODWIN

'Nikki was wearing black shorts, a green T-shirt and a pair of white socks'​

Ms Parkinson said Nikki was wearing black shorts, a green T-shirt and a pair of white socks. She said the T-shirt had been rucked up under her armpits and the upper part of her torso was exposed.
The scientist is asked to demonstrate this on a child-sized headless mannequin which is in court and has been dressed in the same type of clothes Nikki was wearing, although it still has shoes on, which had been found outside by this point.

11:17NICOLE GOODWIN

Scientist continues her description​

Ms Parkinson adds that Nikki's socks were coming off her feet and the soles of the socks were dirty.

11:22NICOLE GOODWIN

'There appeared to be a wound with heavy blood staining associated with it on the left chest region'​

Ms Parkinson also describes a what appeared to be a wound with heavy blood staining on the chest, which was not covered by a T-shirt.
She adds:

Her face, hair and T-shirt were heavily bloodstained. There were blood stains on the right wrist and spots of blood on the left wrist and on the body.
“There appeared to be a wound with heavy blood staining associated with it on the left chest region. The T-shirt didn’t cover the wound.
“Smears of blood were visible on both legs below the knees. There were faint dust marks visible on exposed skin on the right side of the body.”

11:25NICOLE GOODWIN

Scientist is asked for her opinion on how the body got there​

Ms Parkinson said:

I formed the opinion the body had been dragged at least for some distance by holding the legs or ankles. By pulling the body by the feet, the clothing on the upper body would ruck up. If he had pulled the body by the arms instead, the trousers would come down.
“There were a series of creases in the T-shirt formed in the rucking-up process which were heavily stained in dust and dirt and debris.”

11:47NICOLE GOODWIN

Ms Parkinson describes chips in plaster within the heavy blood staining on the wall​

Ms Parkinson said chips in plaster within the heavy blood staining on the wall had been caused after the blood had been deposited. She said it could have been from the brick or something else.

11:49NICOLE GOODWIN

Ms Parkinson tells the court her conclusions about what happened​

Asked for her conclusions about what happened in this room, Ms Parkinson said:

“It is consistent with the main assault on Nikki Allan, who is injured and bleeding heavily, having taken place in that room.
“At some stage while she is heavily bleeding she has been attacked on the floor with the upper part of her body against the wall and it appeared she had slid sideways down the wall and because of the presence of projected splashes of blood to the right she may have been assaulted while lying against the wall. She would have been on the floor with her head or shoulders against the wall.”

Ms Parkinson said Nikki was then lying with her head on a plank of wood on the floor when she was struck at least once and there was then a further assault side on the floor.

11:53NICOLE GOODWIN

Court takes a break​

The court is now taking a break.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

12:16AARON MORRIS

Jurors shown images of area leading to basement​

Jurors are shown images of a landing area leading to the basement, which have smears of blood and drag marks on them.

12:17AARON MORRIS

Scientist says steps had small smears of blood on each step​

Ms Parkinson says the steps to the basement had smears of blood on the edge of each step and some of the risers and in some of the debris on the steps and on the two small landings between the ground floor and basement.
Jurors are now being shown pictures of the steps with blood on them.

12:18AARON MORRIS

Blood stains 'consistent' with Nikki being dragged to basement​

Ms Parkinson said:

“This is consistent with Nikki Allan having been dragged from the top of the stairs down to the basement.”

Mr Wright asks:

“Her head of part of her body came into contact with each step as she was dragged?”

Ms Parkinson replied:

“Yes.”

12:28AARON MORRIS

Court shown drag marks on the floor leading into room Nikki was found​

The court is shown continuous drag marks on the floor leading to two steps up into the room where Nikki was found. There was blood on the step and a hair was caught on the edge of the top step.
The drag marks extended to where Nikki’s body was found and there was heavy blood staining under her body, the court hears.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

12:30AARON MORRIS

All blood at the scene matched Nikki's blood group​

Ms Parkinson said that all of the blood at the scene which they got positive tests from was of Nikki Allan’s blood group.

12:58AARON MORRIS

Nikki's clothes were heavily stained says forensic scientist​

Ms Parkinson is asked about her examination of Nikki’s clothes. She says both socks were blood stained.
Her T-shirt was heavily blood stained on the front and back but the stab wounds had not gone through it, meaning she was stabbed to her exposed torso.
Her shorts were extensively blood stained and there was blood staining to her underwear.

13:00AARON MORRIS

Forensics found no evidence of sexual activity by attacker​

The forensic scientist took swabs from Nikki and tested her clothes for evidence of sexual activity by her attacker but found none.

13:04AARON MORRIS

Jurors shown wrapped up brick​

Jurors are shown a brick, which is wrapped up. It is passed around to demonstrate its weight, which is 5.75 pounds.
It had blood stains on all six faces, the court hears.

13:08AARON MORRIS

Forensic scientist gives her conclusions​

Asked for her conclusions, Ms Parkinson said:

“Nikki Allan entered the Old Exchange Building by the north west window and at this time she appears to have already been injured and bleeding.
“The main assault on Nikki Allan has taken place in room three. At some stage when she was already injured and bleeding the upper part of her body was leaning against the east wall of that room."

13:08AARON MORRIS

Conclusions continued​

The forensic scientist, added:

“In my opinion Nikki had been hit with the brick and it appears she has been hit more than once with that brick. The heavy blood staining and blood spatter on the floor is consistent with her having been struck when already injured and bleeding while lying on the floor.
“Nikki Allan has been dragged from room 3 to room 1 in the basement and she has been dragged for most if not all of that distance by holding her legs or ankles.”

13:09AARON MORRIS

Case adjourns​

The case has adjourned for lunch.

Nikki Allan murder trial LIVE: Jury shown footage of Boyd's arrest

Stockton man David Boyd has denied the murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan, whose body was found in an abandoned building in October 1992

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Honeybirdette]

Man, this is heartbreaking.
The level of violence that child suffered. What sort of person can smash a 7 year olds skull in repeatedly with a brick, stab her 37 times and then drag her by her ankles down the stairs (her head hitting every step) and then dump her body in a dingy room covered in filth and dirt. Just how? Why???? And then how can that person get away with it and carry on living and walking around society for 31 years after it?
Absolutely chilling.
I hope Nikki finally gets her justice, I can’t bare to look at her little face knowing what happened to her

 

[JerseyGirl]

Nikki Allan trial: Girl's bloodstained body found in basement

David Boyd denies murdering Nikki Allan, seven, who was found dead in a derelict building in 1992.

www.bbc.com