Defendant "stored report of stabbing on his phone"

A TEENAGER accused of slashing a boy's throat used his mobile phone to read a report of the incident in the Post the day after the attack.

Mobile phone forensic investigator Matthew Haile told Bristol Crown Court he was tasked with examining the Blackberry phone, found on Dean Buddington when he was arrested on December 2 last year.

It is claimed Buddington stabbed a 16-year-old boy near St James Barton roundabout on November 1 last year, and the phone had photographed and retained the Post's report of the attack published the day after.

Buddington is alleged to have cut his victim after they rowed over a stolen cycle, and police compiled CCTV evidence which they say track his departure from the scene via the roundabout towards Dighton Street.

The 19-year-old, of Hillfields Avenue in Fishponds, denies wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Mr Haile said Buddington was arrested in possession of two mobile phones, a basic Samsung containing little data and the Blackberry.

He told the jury the Blackberry had various images stored on it, including the Post headline and report on the stabbing published on November 2.

He said: "The original, full image was not recoverable. It had been deleted and was in a hidden folder. It had been on the phone at one stage. It would have been stored in the same location as live images."

Mr Haile took the jury through a catalogue of SMS messages sent from and received by the Blackberry.

He confirmed that on November 15 last year one message sent read: "This is my new number. Dean."

Jacqueline Butterwick, a senior investigator for LGC Forensics, said she scrutinised CCTV footage of the alleged knifeman recovered from cameras operated by Debenhams, Bristol City Council and the Pizza Go Go food outlet.

She said a figure captured in five stills had a consistent, medium build and was wearing a dark peaked cap, dark jacket, white-toned top and dark trousers of a denim type.

The jury heard police found a dark cap, dark jacket and white hoodie at Buddington's home, and there were pictures of him wearing matching clothes on his Blackberry.

The case continues.

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