BLEACHED FEET ARTICLE

Bleached feet used in murder investigation
AMELIA BENTLEY April 30, 2010

Police officers dipped their feet in bleach solutions and walked on carpet samples while investigating the murders of the Singh siblings at their north Brisbane home seven years ago, a court has been told.

Former flight attendant Neelma, 24, student Kunal, 18 and 12-year-old Sidhi Singh were found slain in their Bridgeman Downs home in April 2003, while their parents were away in Fiji.

Neelma's on-and-off boyfriend, former neighbour Max Sica, now 40, was charged with their murders in late 2008 following a five year investigation into the grisly killings.
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Sica 'forced into small socks'
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Yesterday during Mr Sica's committal hearing, the Brisbane Magistrates Court was told the police experiment was done in order to mimic the Singhs' killer, who police allege left bleach-stained foot prints on carpet at the murder scene.

Police have alleged Mr Sica used bleach to clean part of the Singhs' home after he strangled Neelma, bashed and then drowned Kunal and bludgeoned Sidhi to death.

Yesterday afternoon, defence barrister Sam Di Carlo questioned scientist Richard Mattner, who discovered bleach traces on several items taken from the Singhs home following the discovery of the siblings' bodies.

Mr Mattner said he remembered police officers involved in the investigation soaked their feet in buckets of bleach solutions and walked up and down carpets in order to re-create footprints found at the murder scene.

"Initially, it was hoped to simulate footprints on carpet. It was bare feet ... I believe it was quite unsuccessful," he said.

Mr Mattner said he remembered police were "disappointed with the results" because they had been unable to make a path of footprints like the ones discovered at the Grass Tree Close home.

"I suggested a way to produce more footprints was to put a pair of socks on," he said.

Mr Mattner denied police pressured him to make particular findings about footprints in bleach on carpet.

But he said it was true he emailed a colleague in July 2003 regarding the Singh murders investigation, which said: "The detectives say the evidence is critical since they don't have much to hang their hats on".

Mr Mattner said he had been referring to "confirmatory tests" to double-check his work.

"This was an important case, clearly," he said.

Carpet from vehicles used by Mr Sica around the time of the killings was also tested for bleach traces, Mr Mattner said.

There were areas which, to the naked eye, appeared as though bleach had come in contact.

But back at his laboratory, Mr Mattner said he found no evidence of bleach product.

The committal hearing, which began in August last year and was adjourned several times before resuming earlier this month, continues today.


YES AND THIS PROVES WHAT? JUST MORE ASSUMPTIONS, ALLEGATIONS AND INUENDO`S