Warning: Article contains graphic testimony

A forensic investigator provided graphic testimony about the day Amber Kirwan’s body was found as she took the stand in the first-degree murder trial of Christopher Alexander Falconer.

Falconer, 31, is charged with first-degree murder in Kirwan’s stabbing death. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Pictou County teen vanished in October 2011 after a night out with friends at a pool hall in New Glasgow, N.S.

Sgt. Darlene MacEachern, an RCMP officer in the Bible Hill forensic unit, was the only witness called to the stand in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Pictou on Friday. She spent most of the day going over evidence in the case.

MacEachern has been working on the Kirwan case since Oct. 15, 2011 when she was asked to assist in the investigation.

She testified that her team conducted a ground search near a logging road in the Heathbell, N.S. area on Nov. 5.

She told the packed courtroom that they started to smell a foul odour while digging and found a body in a shallow grave, about 16 to 24 inches deep.

MacEachern said some clothing and a towel was found with the victim and that a tattoo was visible on her foot. She said the body was taken out of the grave and then photographed.

The court heard there were stab marks on Kirwan’s upper body and that her wrists had been bound with a black sweater, as MacEachern described photos taken at the medical examiner’s office in Halifax.

Some of the 13 jurors were visibly upset and dabbed at their eyes with tissues as disturbing photos of the evidence were shown in court. The jury is made up of seven women and six men.

After describing details about the scene where Kirwan’s remains were found, MacEachern told the court about a search at a nearby mobile home where more evidence related to the case was collected.

The property belongs to Falconer’s stepsister and is located roughly 3.2 km from where Kirwan’s body was found.

MacEachern testified a forensic team scoured the property for six days, from Nov. 8 to 13, and seized multiple items including a piece of silver duct tape, an earring, blankets, a mattress and towels, from the mobile home.

She told the court the towels found inside the mobile home were similar in colour and texture to the towels found near Kirwan’s body. She also said they contained the same “Made in India” tag, had the same bar code and $2.97 price tag.

MacEachern testified a blue ink substance was found on the piece of duct tape and that closer inspection revealed a reverse imprint of the word “Dooly’s” on the tape.

Kirwan was last seen at the New Glasgow pool hall the night she disappeared. She and her friends had each received a blue Dooly’s stamp on their hands when they paid admission.

MacEachern also explained that she and another officer went through the contents of a 2001 grey Chevy Impala, driven by Falconer, seized nearly a month after Kirwan disappeared.

Items seized from the Impala included a garbage bag, duct tape, scissors, black tank top and green pill bottle containing a white, powdery substance.

The court heard there was blood on the shirt, as well as leaves and dirt stains.

Defence lawyer Mike Taylor questioned MacEachern about her examination of a vehicle belonging to Mason Campbell, Kirwan’s boyfriend, after it was seized by police.

MacEachern said there was dirt and mud on Campbell’s vehicle and a number of items were found inside the vehicle, including an empty box of fireworks, portable shovel, duct tape, and bags of clothing.

She also testified that Campbell’s vehicle was seized and searched before Kirwan’s body was found and that no dirt or blood were found inside the vehicle.

MacEachern was also pressed about the handling of evidence and whether or not some of the items could have been contaminated.

She could not remember how often she changed her gloves while handling evidence but said forensic investigators could go through 100 pairs in one afternoon.

MacEachern was the only witness to take the stand on Friday. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Matthew Bowes will testify on Monday.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl