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Fibres 'found on victims' bodies' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Fibres linked to a man accused of murdering five women were transferred to two victims about the time their bodies were dumped, a court has heard. | |
An expert in examining microscopic material said fragments found on Anneli Alderton and Annette Nicholls matched those extracted from Steve Wright. | |
Ray Palmer said matches were made to fabrics from Mr Wright's clothing, car and home in Ipswich. | |
Mr Wright denies killing the women, whose bodies were found in 2006. | |
He is accused of murdering Miss Alderton and Miss Nicholls as well as Paula Clennell, Tania Nicol and Gemma Adams. | |
Ipswich Crown Court earlier heard how blood likely to belong to Miss Clennell was found in Mr Wright's car. | |
The bodies of the five women, who all worked as prostitutes, were found over 10 days in December 2006 around Ipswich. | |
'Placed when dumped' | |
Mr Palmer, a consultant forensic scientist, from the Forensic Science Service, told the court how fibres matching Mr Wright's were like those found on Miss Alderton's body. | |
These were likely to have been placed on the 24-year-old's body around the time she was dumped, the court heard. | |
"The findings indicate these fibres were transferred to the naked body around the time she was deposited at the location she was found," Mr Palmer said. | |
Blood samples were found in Steve Wright's car | |
"My understanding was that Miss Alderton had showered or bathed the day she went missing. | |
"If that's the case, I wouldn't expect any fibres on her skin to be present in any significant quantity." | |
The court heard eight blue polyester fibres "corresponded to the constituent fibres" of the clothing worn by Mr Wright. | |
"This garment would not normally be expected to shed its fibres well. However, there were a number of damaged areas and a lot of pilling," he said. | |
"The damaged area and the pilled area would mean this particular part of the garment would be expected to shed fibres." | |
Blood flecks | |
Considerable rainfall and wind hit Miss Alderton's body before it was found on 10 December, jurors heard. | |
"It would mean that what we are actually seeing here in terms of fibres is a remnant of the number transferred initially," Mr Palmer said. | |
The court earlier heard how DNA which most likely came from the blood of one of his alleged victims was found in Mr Wright's car. | |
Forensic scientist Dr Peter Hau said the flecks of blood matched the DNA of one of the women, Paula Clennell. | Forensic scientist Dr Peter Hau said the flecks of blood matched the DNA of one of the women, Paula Clennell. |
Jurors heard how Mr Hau had initially not been able to determine from what the DNA sample had originated. | |
But he was satisfied the DNA sample had come from the blood of Miss Clennell, 24. | But he was satisfied the DNA sample had come from the blood of Miss Clennell, 24. |
Mr Hau said: "In my opinion it's more likely that the result obtained has come from the blood tests rather than the background DNA, if there was any." | Mr Hau said: "In my opinion it's more likely that the result obtained has come from the blood tests rather than the background DNA, if there was any." |
The trial continues. |