Crime scene fingerprint matched Sudbury murder suspect, court hears
A fingerprint found on a detergent bottle at the crime scene matched Felicity Altiman, a Sudbury court heard Thursday.
Altiman, 43, is on trial for second-degree murder in the December 2020 stabbing death of 75-year-old Robert Keskinen.
Keskinen's remains were found in his Kathleen Street apartment on Boxing Day by his cousin, Richard Keller. The Crown said in opening statements that he had been stabbed about 103 times and his genitals were mutilated.
The Crown also said witnesses will testify that Altiman frequently stayed with a friend in another apartment in the same building and had told others she would "steal from the old man across the hall."
Altiman was charged with Keskinen's death on Jan. 7, 2021.
Testifying on Thursday, forensic specialist Det. Const. Gregory Smuland of the Greater Sudbury Police said more than 100 photos were taken at the crime scene.
Those included inside the apartment where the homicide occurred, and the stairwell where the building's property manager found a pair of bloody jeans on Dec. 26.
Several items in the photos were covered in what appeared to be blood.
Smuland said viable fingerprints were found on two Sunlight dish detergent bottles and a plastic grocery bag found in the apartment.
The body of Robert Keskinen was found in his Kathleen Street apartment on Boxing Day 2020. He had been stabbed to death. (Obituary photo)
He said a bloody fingerprint found on one of the detergent bottles matched the fingerprint on Altiman’s right index finger.
Smuland said the prints showed a hand was clutching the bottle.
He also testified that in February 2023, a Cuisinart steak knife was found in the drain of Keskinen's apartment, Unit 221 at 517 Kathleen St. The knife was sent to the Centre for Forensic Sciences for processing.
When Altiman was arrested in January 2021, police seized a multi-tool pocketknife. Police also seized other items, including a screwdriver and brown winter boots, which are believed to have belonged to Keskinen.
Also testifying on Thursday was Stephen Mackie, an advanced care paramedic who arrived at the crime scene with his partner on Boxing Day 2020.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
Mackie told court the victim had "blood on his face" and "there appeared to be trauma." He also noted that "the body was cold to the touch and covered in dried blood."
Mackie said he deemed the patient "obviously dead," explaining there are specific criteria for deeming a patient "obviously dead."
The trial resumes next week. It’s expected to take four weeks. The Crown has said it has more than a dozen witnesses it expects to call during that time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
NDP house leader laments 'agents of chaos' in precarious Parliament
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Here's what the jury didn't hear in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal early Friday morning, sources told Noovo Info.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Jury begins deliberations in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
The jury tasked with determining if Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard sexually assaulted a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago began deliberating Friday after nearly two weeks of testimony that saw the singer and his accuser give starkly different accounts of what happened.