Connor Chapman was forensically linked to a bullet casing recovered from the Lighthouse pub after Elle Edwards was shot dead, a jury has been told.
The beautician was killed aged 26 when she was struck by two of 12 bullets fired outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey, Wirral, on Christmas Eve. Chapman, 23, is currently standing trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of her murder.
Jurors today heard evidence from several forensic scientists. One, John Cullen, described how a mixed DNA profile containing contributions from at least two individuals was found on one cartridge in the Lighthouse's car park by crime scene investigators.
READ MORE: Live court updates as Connor Chapman stands trial for Elle Edwards' murder
It was subsequently found that it would be "approximately 15,000 times more likely if the DNA had originated from Connor Chapman and one unknown individual, rather than two unknown individuals". The jury heard there was a possibility that a third profile was present in the DNA mix, in which case it was "14,000 times more likely that the DNA detected originated from Mr Chapman and two unknowns, rather than from three unknowns".
Mr Cullen told the court: "Regardless of whether it was considered to be a two or three person mixture, the strength of support is the same. There was very strong support that some of the DNA in that mixture had originated from Mr Chapman rather than none of the DNA had originated from him."
However, it could not be established how this DNA had been transferred to the casing. Mr Cullen stated that the "potential for an indirect transfer of DNA was a possibility".
Another expert witness, Dr Mandy Wood, gave evidence concerning a red glove which was discovered when police searched the home of Chapman's co-defendant, 20-year-old Thomas Waring, 34 days after the incident. The trial has previously heard that the gunman had been wearing a red glove at the time of the shooting.
Addressing the jury via video link, Dr Wood said one particle of type one gunshot residue (GSR) - said to be among the most common forms of GSR - was found on the back of the item. However, this did not "help to establish" whether the glove had been worn by the Lighthouse pub shooter.
Dr Wood described her findings as being "neutral", adding: "Because of the time delay to when the glove was recovered, I’m not able to determine whether or not it had been worn by the firer. Because a single particle can be acquired indirectly, we generally regard a single particle as having little significance."
Mr Cullen too was asked about the glove. A "mixed DNA profile" was found on the garment, with contributions "from at least four individuals".
It was concluded that there was “extremely strong support" that DNA from both Chapman and Waring was present. Mr Cullen agreed that the findings were as "to be expected if those individuals had worn the glove at some time".
Chapman, of Houghton Road in Woodchurch, denies Elle's murder. He has also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, wounding with intent against Liam Carr, Harry Loughran and Nicholas Speed and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Waring, of Private Drive in Barnston, denies possession of a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender. The trial continues.
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