Fingerprint of murder suspect discovered in victim's flat (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Fingerprint of murder suspect discovered in victim's Middlesbrough flat

3:41pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Graeme Hetherington

THE fingerprint of a man charged with murder was discovered in the alleged victim’s flat, a court heard.

Robert Baker is accused of battering John Coates to death before dumping his naked body in a half full bath in September last year.

The 24-year-old, of Fleet House, Cargo Fleet Lane, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, denies the charge.

Today, Teesside Crown Court heard that forensic evidence showed that the defendant had also registered to play an Xbox games console online that was owned by Mr Coates and stolen following his murder.

Jurors sitting on the three-week long trial were taken through a number of pieces of evidence the defence team were not contesting.

Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said games and associated controllers belonging to Mr Coates couls also be traced back to Mr Baker’s account at a second hand games shop.

The Xbox console was discovered following a search of Mr Baker’s bedroom carried out by detectives after his arrest several days after Mr Coates’ decomposing body was discovered in the block of flats he shared with the defendant.

Toothbrushes and a bottle of bleach, which the prosecution claim was used to clean the console and games in a flat belonging to one of Mr Baker’s friends, was also recovered from the bedroom.

“A fingerprint from the defendant was discovered during the investigation,” Mr Perks said. “The fingerprint was found on the back of a piece of plastic that was discovered on the floor of Mr Coates’ flat – it was a thumb print.”

The trial continues.