Christine Morton's brother takes stand

SAN ANGELO, Texas (KXAN) - Michael Morton briefly spoke to reporters after court recessed Wednesday at the Mark Norwood trial.

The judge's gag order prevents Morton from talking about specific testimony in the trial, but he did talk about being in the same room with the man suspected of killing his wife Christine, a crime Michael served 25 years for after a wrongful conviction.

"He does not make eye contact so it is not personal yet," said Morton. "But it is not as intense as I suspected it might be."

His son Eric has been in the courtroom for the entire trial, going through the same emotions Michael experienced in 1986.

"No one wants a loved one to suffer pain or discomfort, but because of our situation, I know he has to do this," said Morton about his son. "I'm confident he will come out a better man."

Morton said that Norwood is entitled to a fair trial just like anyone else and hopes it will yield the just result.

"I truly hope justice is served here and that things are proved or not proved beyond a reasonable doubt," said Morton. "I hope that people take a measure of satisfaction that the right thing has been done no matter how long it took."

Earlier in the day, the jury heard from Christine Morton's brother who made a crucial discovery in 1986.

• Photos: Day 3 of Mark Norwood's murder trial
• Timeline: Michael Morton case

John Kirkpatrick, a marine biologist, talked about being the one to find the bloody blue bandana -- crucial in Michael Morton's exoneration and release from prison after 25 years following its DNA testing.

He said he got a phone call from his father, who told him, "You're about to hear the worst news you'll ever hear in your life," before telling him about his younger sister's murder.

Kirkpatrick testified about going to his sister's home and feeling frustrated by what he felt was a lack of an investigation from law enforcement.

"I didn’t see any police or detectives or anybody," said Kirkpatrick. "For something that had just happened, there were so many things that should’ve been going on but were not."

That's when he decided to do his own investigation, putting himself in shoes of an intruder. He said that's what led him to the wooded area behind the Morton home, a place he said would've been perfect for casing the family home in order to decide when to attack.

Kirkpatrick said that was also when he found the bloody blue bandana in street behind the brushy area near the Morton home. The bandana was brushed up against the curb.

"I just knew it was important," said Kirkpatrick. "It shouldn’t have been there. It was out of place."

He testified to calling the deputies investigating, who then collected it and took it into evidence. But it would be 25 years before it was tested for DNA.

Kirkpatrick got emotional at times when talking about his sister on the stand.

When the prosecutor asked him if it was difficult to talk about her, he replied, "No, it's not. It is time."

Christine was his younger sister by two years, and Kirkpatrick added fondly, "She was a pest, but I loved her."

During his testimony, Kirkpatrick told a story about her wedding -- when she and Michael Morton got married. She threw the flower bouquet directly at him, though he said he intentionally didn't catch it.

Ever persistent, she ran over and forced it into his hand. Three months later, Kirkpatrick met his future wife.

The rest of Wednesday's witnesses included mostly deputies and DNA analysts who testified about how the bandana was handled at the scene and in the 25 years before it was tested.

Norwood's attorneys will try to show possible contamination may have skewed testing results.

Jurors got the chance to hear from Michael Morton himself on Tuesday, the first witness in the trial.

• Photos: Day 2 of Mark Norwood's trial

The trial, moved to West Texas because of the publicity the case has generated in the Austin area, officially got under way on Monday when a jury of seven women and five men was seated.

The 58-year-old Norwood had a long criminal history when he was linked to the death of Christine, who was found beaten in the Williamson County home where she and her husband and son were living.

Norwood's criminal record includes burglary, assault, and arson among others. DNA evidence has also led to him being a suspect in the 1988 murder of Debra Baker in Austin.

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.