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| Alleged killer's DNA 'on victims' | Alleged killer's DNA 'on victims' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The DNA of a man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk was found on the naked bodies of three of the victims, Ipswich Crown Court has heard. | The DNA of a man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk was found on the naked bodies of three of the victims, Ipswich Crown Court has heard. |
| Steve Wright, 49, of Ipswich, denies murdering the women, who all worked as prostitutes to fund drug habits. | Steve Wright, 49, of Ipswich, denies murdering the women, who all worked as prostitutes to fund drug habits. |
| The court heard evidence showed he had been in "close contact" with three of the women shortly before their deaths. | The court heard evidence showed he had been in "close contact" with three of the women shortly before their deaths. |
| Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said the chances that the DNA did not match the defendant's was "one in a billion". | Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said the chances that the DNA did not match the defendant's was "one in a billion". |
| He said links between the defendant and the women's bodies painted a "compelling picture of his guilt". | He said links between the defendant and the women's bodies painted a "compelling picture of his guilt". |
| Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, Annette Nicholls, 29, Tania Nicol, 19, and 25-year-old Gemma Adams went missing during six weeks in 2006. | Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, Annette Nicholls, 29, Tania Nicol, 19, and 25-year-old Gemma Adams went missing during six weeks in 2006. |
| The significant aspect of the DNA is that the defendant's DNA is common to each of the victims Peter Wright QC, prosecuting | The significant aspect of the DNA is that the defendant's DNA is common to each of the victims Peter Wright QC, prosecuting |
| Their bodies were all found naked and dumped in remote areas between 2 and 12 December. Two of them were placed in a "crucifix pose", the court heard. | Their bodies were all found naked and dumped in remote areas between 2 and 12 December. Two of them were placed in a "crucifix pose", the court heard. |
| DNA matching the defendant was found on the bodies of Miss Alderton, Miss Clennell and Miss Nicholls. | DNA matching the defendant was found on the bodies of Miss Alderton, Miss Clennell and Miss Nicholls. |
| Mr Wright said it was not surprising that no DNA was found on Miss Nicol or Miss Adams because their bodies had been immersed in water. | |
| DNA of at least one other person was found on Miss Alderton's body but the jury was told this was likely to be linked to her work as a prostitute. | DNA of at least one other person was found on Miss Alderton's body but the jury was told this was likely to be linked to her work as a prostitute. |
| Mr Wright said: "The significant aspect of the DNA is that the defendant's DNA is common to each of the victims." | Mr Wright said: "The significant aspect of the DNA is that the defendant's DNA is common to each of the victims." |
| The court was told the DNA would have been washed off the women after the contact had they been alive. | The court was told the DNA would have been washed off the women after the contact had they been alive. |
| The women were all found dead on the outskirts of Ipswich | |
| Two semen-stained gloves were also found in Mr Wright's car, with DNA samples that could have come from Miss Nicholls and Miss Alderton, the jury was told. | |
| Forensic results showed it was possible Mr Wright was wearing the gloves when he was in contact with the two women, the court heard. | |
| The prosecutor said it would be "highly unusual" for the defendant to wear the gloves if he was only engaging in consensual sexual activity. | |
| Forensic experts also found fibres linking the bodies of all five women to the suspect's car, sofa or clothes, the court heard. | |
| Mr Wright told the jury the DNA and forensic findings did not point to an "unfortunate coincidence" but rather that the defendant was "engaged in an active campaign of murder". | |
| "A campaign in which he had deliberately targeted working prostitutes in the Ipswich area as his victims and succeeded in murdering no fewer than five in a very short space of time," he added. | "A campaign in which he had deliberately targeted working prostitutes in the Ipswich area as his victims and succeeded in murdering no fewer than five in a very short space of time," he added. |
| The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, continues. | The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, continues. |