DNA evidence on sleeve ‘discounted’ by witness

A forensic scientist has told a murder trial he has discounted the fact that DNA profiles from two women killed nearly 20 years ago were found on the sleeve of a jacket belonging to the murder accused.

Mark Nash has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan between March 6-7, 1997.

The court had previously heard that a profile taken from the button threads of the right sleeve of the black velvet jacket matched Ms Shields’ DNA profile and a DNA profile obtained from a “particle” found inside the seam of the right sleeve of the jacket also matched Ms Callanan.