A FORENSIC scientist told a retrial over the 1995 killing of Vikki Thompson it was “quite possible” new blood stain evidence was missed for the first case.

Rosalind Hammond told jurors that the stains, alleged to be on murder accused Mark Weston’s boots, could have been missed as they have a “complex” shape and examinations had “moved on”.

Weston, 35, is accused of killing the 30-year-old mother-of-two on August 1995 at Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Prosecutors say blood stains on Mr Weston’s boots and not presented to the 1996 trial belong to Mrs Thompson. Mr Weston was acquitted in 1996. Both lived in the village.

She said: “The examinations carried out later were carried out more thoroughly and using better equipment and were therefore more likely to find the blood stains present.”

Yet Sally O’Neill defending, alleged the scientist “cannot rule out” there being no blood on the boots.

Ms Hammond said it was unsurprising no blood was found at the first trial, which Ms O’Neill said was “nonsense”.

Ms Hammond told jurors: “It is quite possible the blood was there in 1995 and was missed by scientists at that time.”

Weston denies murder. The trial continues.