Samples from the car could have come into contact and been contaminated

Prosecution witness, Dr Emma Watson, from Cellmark Forensic Services, told the court that the glove tip, found in the abandoned car alledgedly used in the attack at Massereene, was tested against Colin's DNA. 

Dr Watson was asked whether she thought the DNA was a direct transfer from Colin.  She said she concluded that if he hadn't been wearing the glove, DNA from other people would have been present.  She added that samples from a seatbelt buckle in the car gave a partial DNA sample and this also matched Colin.

She said other DNA material was found on the belt buckle and as she did not have the technology to perform a statistical analysis on this mixed sample she sent it to an American specialist, Dr Mark Perlin.

Dr Watson also outlined her findings from analysis of DNA obtained from two matchsticks found inside the car.  She said a partial profile had been detected and that it matched Brian Shivers' DNA.

Dr Watson told judge Mr Justice Anthony Hart, who is sitting without a jury, that a process was then carried out to enhance the partial DNA profile.  She accepted that such enhanced results had to be assessed with some degree of added caution.

Dr Watson also explained that she had carried out tests on swabs taken from a mobile phone found in the alledged getaway car.  She said that samples from inside the back of the mobile phone - around the battery and sim card area - contained DNA from at least three individuals.

Mr Mooney, representing the prosecution, told Dr Watson that a number of criticisms of her findings had been made in a subsequent report compiled for trhe trial by fellow expert Dr Dan Krane.  One of the possibilities Dr Krane suggested was that samples from the car could have come into contact and been contaminated with profile samples taken from Colin and Brian.

Dr Krane has yet to be called as an expert witness for the Defense.