Forensic evidence of glass shards and blood puts former surgeon Dr Peter Brooks, of Southwell, at scene of stabbing of former colleague Graeme Perks, attempted murder trial hears

Evidence that could place a man accused of attempted murder at the scene of the crime was presented in court.

Glass shards on a jacket worn by Dr Peter Brooks suggest he was present when glass conservatory doors were smashed at his former colleague’s home before he was stabbed — according to evidence from forensic scientists and a forensic pathologist today (March 24) presented in court in Loughborough.

The plastic surgeon, formerly of Landseer Road, Southwell, is accused of two counts of attempted murder — by stabbing and arson — against his former Nottingham University Hospitals colleague, consultant Graeme Perks, following an incident at Mr Perks’ Halam Hill home in the early hours of January 14, 2021.

He also faces charges of arson with intent to endanger life and possession of a bladed article. He is not present at his trial and has chosen not to have legal representation.

Statements from the forensic experts were read to the jury by prosecution counsel Mr Smith.

The court heard that a flammable substance indistinguishable from a mixture of petrol and medium petroleum distillate was found on nitrile gloves at Dr Brooks’ Landseer Road home, on items of his clothing recovered from Kings Mill Hospital, and in the two fuel cannisters at Mr Perks’ home.

The forensic scientist concluded the presence of the flammable liquid on the gloves and Dr Brooks’ clothing was “as would be expected” if they had been involved in the preparation and use of the substance — which is not a commercially available mixture.

Glass shards found on Dr Brooks’ clothing was also examined and compared to sample shards from Mr Perks’ conservatory doors which were shattered during the incident.

More than 500 shards of glass with a “freshly broken appearance” were found on Dr Brooks’ jacket. When tested, many of these were “indistinguishable” from the glass in the Perks’ conservatory doors.

This same glass was also found on nitrile gloves at Dr Brooks’ home, and on a balaclava found abandoned on Halam Road — which also had glass from ten other sources.

This evidence gave “extremely strong support” to the suggestion the defendant was present when the glass was smashed, the forensic scientist’s statement concluded.

Further forensic evidence revealed a bloodied crowbar left at the scene of the incident had DNA from both Dr Brooks and Mr Perks — with the blood being Mr Perks — as well as one other contributor.

A blood-stained fingerprint mark left on the crowbar was unable to be matched due to insufficient detail, but was said it could have come directly from Mr Perks as it was his blood, or from another person who had his wet blood on their hand.

Dr Brooks’ blood was discovered on gloves in his jacket pockets.

The trial continues.