The teenager accused of murdering Kelly Hyde claimed he must have walked through a pool of her blood as he made his way home after walking his dog on the morning of the 24-year-old's death.
During interviews with the police, the 17-year-old initially could offer no explanation as to how the murdered hairdresser's blood was on his shoes, Swansea Crown Court has heard.
He asked interviewers whether they had investigated the possibility there had been blood on the bridlepath near Pantyfynnon close to where Ms Hyde's body was found.
Told more than 40 officers had conducted a fingertip search and had been unable to find a single drop of blood in the area, he said he had no further explanation.
Officers also said a specialist sniffer dog had searched a large area where Ms Hyde's body was found, but had also failed to detect any trace of her blood
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