Police constable Chong Yam-hoi was led through the prosecution photographs of the Kissel residence by the defense counsel in the sequence that they were taken in an attempt to reconstruct what led him to seize certain exhibits or take photographs of specific areas.

Nancy Kissel is accused of bludgeoning her husband to death with a heavy metal ornament on November 2, 2003, after serving him a pink milkshake laced with sedatives which left him unconscious at the foot of their bed.

She has denied the charge and is out on bail. She told police and doctors at the time that her drunken husband had assaulted her and then disappeared.

The Merrill Lynch banker's decomposing body was discovered in the early hours of November 7, wrapped in a carpet in a storeroom at the Parkview residential complex in Tai Tam.

Police recovered bloodstained items from the Kissel apartment that afternoon and the next day.

According to Chong's witness statement made on November 27, Chief Inspector Yuen Shing-kit and Superintendent Nat Nichols went to the Kissel apartment on November 7.

Senior counsel Alexander King asked Chong if he recalled seeing either Yuen or Nichols in the apartment while he was carrying out

his duties.

"I remember they came to the place, but I can't remember whether they entered the premises,'' Chong said.

On November 8, the Kissels' domestic helper told police of two more black plastic bags containing blood-stained items in the daughters' room.

Senior Inspector See Kwong-tak was also present on November 8 but, according to Chong, he was not directly involved in seizing the bloodstained items.

King established Thursday that Chong acted on November 7 and 8

on the instructions of a scientific officer, who decided which items were to be seized.

Asked about photographs of bloodstains around the master bedroom, Chong confirmed he had directed that the photographs be taken. He could not remember whether the scientific officer was nearby at the time.

Referring to a picture of a wall, King asked, "Is there a spot there on the wall that you discovered and believed to be blood?'' Chong acknowledged he asked for the photograph to be taken.

Referring to a photograph of a photo frame, King asked what he thought the two spots on the frame were.

"Bloodstains,'' Chong said.

Referring to a picture of a pair of brown knee-length boots, King asked: "Do you see two bloodstains on these boots?'' Chong replied: "They could be bloodstains.''

Chong confirmed he was not instructed to seize the boots.

King also attempted to point out "staining'' in different parts of the apartment.

Chong confirmed he only cut out carpet pieces by the foot of the bed, which he believed to be stained with blood. He also confirmed that he did not search the daughters' room on November 7.

Scientific officer Mak Chung-hung testified he found no signs that the door to the storeroom had been forced open. His first impression of the "large roll'' when he opened the storeroom was of a very strong odor and that the roll seemed to have been securely wrapped with adhesive tape and rope.

The trial continues Monday before Justice Michael Lunn.

albert.wong@singtaonewscorp.com