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An ESR scientist said today that a pubic hair found inside Emma Agnew's car was likely to have come from the man accused of her murder, Liam James Reid.
Forensic scientist Rosalyn Marie Rough gave her evidence to the High Court at Christchurch, where 36-year-old Reid is on trial for the rape and murder of Miss Agnew and a later sex attack on a woman in Dunedin.
He denies his involvement in both attacks.
Ms Rough said she examined the scene near Spencer Park, north of Christchurch, where Miss Agnew's body was found 12 days after her disappearance.
Hairs from Miss Agnew were found on a tree branch indicating she had been upright or carried, but further marks showed she was then dragged.
No significant test samples were found on the body. The time delay of 12 days meant any biological evidence was likely to be lost.
She gave evidence of hair samples that were found in Miss Agnew's car, which had been left in Christchurch's Bromley Park on the night of her disappearance, and set alight.
She said a pubic hair had been found on a cushion on the back seat. There was "extremely strong support" that it's DNA corresponded with Reid's.
There was no DNA found on a black ankle sock that was found near the body, but she thought it was the pair of one found stuffed into Miss Agnew's throat.
A pathologist's evidence last week was that the sock completely blocked Miss Agnew's airway.
Justice Lester Chisholm and the jury will tomorrow hear evidence from the complainant in the Dunedin sex attack.
- NZPA
