Lucy McHugh murder trial: Suspect 'dumped clothes with DNA links to schoolgirl', court hears
Stephen Nicholson, of no fixed address, is accused of repeatedly stabbing the teenager to the neck and upper body at Southampton Sports Centre before leaving her to die in July last year.
Forensic scientist Jessica Adby, of Key Forensic Services, told Winchester Crown Court that DNA samples were taken from clothing which is alleged to have been dumped by the defendant in nearby woodland at Tanner's Brook.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe said the blood-stained Russell Athletic royal blue hoodie contained DNA profiles from both Lucy and the defendant.
Mrs Adby said the likelihood of a mixed DNA sample from the hoodie being from Lucy was ‘310 million times more likely’ to be from her and another person than from two other unknown people.
She added that the likelihood of the DNA in the samples from the hoodie coming from Nicholson and another person was ‘93 times’ more likely than two other unknown people.
Mrs Adby explained that the hoodie was wet and mouldy when it was found and the water could have ‘diluted’ the DNA samples.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe said a pair of blue surgical gloves found at Tanner's Brook were ‘one billion times more likely’ to come from Nicholson than another person.
Mrs Adby said no DNA profile was found on a burnt pair of red underpants.
She said tests were also carried out on ‘extensively blood-stained’ clothing found on Lucy's body at the sports centre which matched her DNA.
Mrs Adby said that no matches to the defendant were found on Lucy's jacket or vest top but she added that he "could be a minor contributor" to a sample from her leggings which was made up of the DNA from five people.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe said there were no ‘downward drips’ of blood on her clothing which would have occurred if she had been standing when she suffered her injuries.
Mrs Adby added that no semen was found on any of the clothing.
The 25-year-old defendant is charged with Lucy's murder as well as three counts of rape against her when she was aged 12.
He also faces two charges of sexual activity with a child against Lucy on multiple occasions when she was aged 13.
Nicholson is also charged with sexual activity with a child in relation to another girl aged 14, dated June 29 2012.
The defendant denies the charges and the trial continues.