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| Alleged killer's DNA 'on victims' | Alleged killer's DNA 'on victims' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Forensic evidence linking a man with five women he is accused of murdering is "beyond coincidence", a jury heard. | Forensic evidence linking a man with five women he is accused of murdering is "beyond coincidence", a jury 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 was told the chance that the DNA found on three women did not match the defendant's was "one in a billion". | |
| Timothy Langdale QC, defending, said Mr Wright admitted having sex with four of the five women, but would challenge the significance of the DNA evidence. | Timothy Langdale QC, defending, said Mr Wright admitted having sex with four of the five women, but would challenge the significance of the DNA evidence. |
| But Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said links between the defendant and the women's bodies painted a "compelling picture of his guilt". | But Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, 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 |
| Jurors at Ipswich Crown Court were told a jacket recovered by police had blood stains most likely to have come from two of the women. | Jurors at Ipswich Crown Court were told a jacket recovered by police had blood stains most likely to have come from two of the women. |
| Mr Wright said there was evidence the defendant was wearing the reflective clothing when he disposed of two of the bodies. | Mr Wright said there was evidence the defendant was wearing the reflective clothing when he disposed of two of the bodies. |
| All five bodies were found naked and dumped in remote areas between 2 and 12 December. Two of them were placed in a "crucifix pose", the court heard. | All five bodies were 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. | 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. |
| The women were all found dead on the outskirts of Ipswich | The women were all found dead on the outskirts of Ipswich |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | The prosecutor said it would be "highly unusual" for the defendant to wear the gloves if he was only engaging in consensual sexual activity. |
| 'Murder campaign' | 'Murder campaign' |
| Forensic experts also found fibres linking the bodies of all five women to the suspect's car, sofa or clothes, the court heard. | 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". | 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. |