THE DNA profile of a woman alleged to have battered her pensioner neighbour to death was uncovered on the victim’s chin, a jury heard yesterday.
The Belfast Crown Court jury also heard that a DNA profile which “could have come” from Karen Walsh was also found on Maire Rankin’s breasts and on a crucifix.
Giving evidence to the court, forensic biologist Susan Woodroffe said that in relation to the profile found on Ms Rankin’s chin, the probability of someone other than Ms Walsh depositing it there was “less than one in one billion”.
She told Liam McCollum QC, prosecuting, that she could not give a similar statistical analysis for the samples from Ms Rankin’s breasts or from the crucifix because there was not enough DNA obtained.
However, Ms Woodroffe said that of a possible 11 components from Ms Walsh, there were nine on the sample from the left breast, 10 on the right breast and also 10 from the crucifix.
The jury has already heard that the naked and battered body of mother of eight Ms Rankin (81) was found on the bedroom floor of her Dublin Road home in Newry by her brother-in-law on Christmas morning in 2008.
She had been beaten about the head, had suffered 15 fractured ribs and there is also evidence that she had been sexually assaulted.
Galway pharmacist Ms Walsh (45), who lived next door to her, is accused of the murder.
It is the prosecution’s case that she is linked to the scene by reason of the DNA evidence and also that a circular pattern of bruises to Ms Rankin’s chin was inflicted by the crown of thorns on the crucifix.
Under cross-examination from defending lawyer Peter Irvine, Ms Woodroffe agreed with the suggestion that in relation to the DNA on Ms Rankin’s chin, direct transfer was the most likely method of how it got there and further agreed that it could have been transferred through a kiss.
Moving on to the DNA on the crucifix, Mr Irvine put to her that as she was not able to quantify a match probability, “the conclusions are meaningless”, but she refuted that, telling Mr Irvine, “No they’re not.”
Similarly, when asked about the DNA on Ms Rankin’s breast area, it was suggested to her that Ms Walsh’s DNA could have been put there through secondary transfer such as Ms Rankin touching the defendant, then touching herself.
Ms Woodroffe said if that were the case, account would have to be taken of the time that elapsed between touching Ms Walsh and then herself, as if she had touched anything in between, such as a door handle, her own clothing or bedding, there would be less DNA to transfer.
She added, however: “I cannot rule out that possibility.”
Earlier yesterday, the jury heard evidence from senior forensic scientist William Armstrong who had examined the crown of thorns and the pattern of bruising.
Having measured both, he said “they matched exactly”, adding that he had not been shown any other item which “could account for the mark on the chin”.
Under cross-examination from Mr Irvine, it was suggested to Mr Armstrong that the marks could have been caused by a nebuliser mask Ms Rankin used to alleviate her chronic asthma, but Mr Armstrong told him: “I completely disagree.”
The trial continues.