WHY TWO STATEMENTS
Let me explain what I think happened. At the start and before trial the defence would have looked at the crime scene photos. The blood stained socks feature prominently in several photos taken in the main bedroom.
The defence would need to know who found them and what other forensic activity had been undertaken. They would need to see a witness statement by the finder/collector. The police could not show the other finds in the DB1 – DB7 range so they redacted all but the blue socks.
The other exhibits especially the SM (DB1) would open a very large can of worms and the fire debris (DB2) would have ignited a bonfire of huge proportions.
Five years later following JB’s accusations the COLP were tasked in examining his claims. They would look into all DB’s finds and the other paperwork like CID6’s and Holab documentation.
So they created another statement which cross checked with the other paper work as above but now all the finds were found externally in outbuildings and the fire pit. In order to get round the SM it was swapped for a soil sample.
The COLP could also check with the FSS to see if they matched. DB2 – DB6 were sent to the lab (20/09/85). Please see JH’s hand written notes on red.
The first statement which is also now demonstrably false was used at trial. The second full copy was given to the COLP along with other documents requested by the investigators.
CC has also shown that it was impossible to find a pair of blue socks, with or without blood stains in the main bedroom on the date stated.
If the socks DB6 had no blood evidence why were they sent to the lab.