KEY POINTS:
A fingerprint from the man accused of murdering German backpacker Birgit Brauer was found on the dead woman's address book, a court was told today.
Michael Scott Wallace, 46, is on trial in the High Court at New Plymouth for the murder of the 28-year-old tourist, whose beaten and stabbed body was found at Lucy's Gully, near Oakura, southwest of New Plymouth on September 20, 2005.
The Crown says Wallace was drifting around the country, often taking drugs, when he picked up Ms Brauer as she hitchhiked between Wanganui and New Plymouth, drove her to Lucy's Gully and killer her.
Items belonging to Ms Brauer were later recovered in other locations in Taranaki, the Crown says.
Police fingerprint officer Jayne Barlow told the court today a fingerprint from Wallace's right forefinger was found inside the back cover of an address book found at Lake Rotokare with Ms Brauer's backpack, sleeping bag and other items.
She said the fingerprint was faint but was of sufficient quality for her to match it with fingerprints taken from Wallace by police.
"I have no doubt that they were made by the same person, namely Wallace," she told the court.
Under cross-examination by defence co-counsel Patrick Mooney, Ms Barlow confirmed she had tested the Toyota Hilux the Crown says Wallace picked up Ms Brauer in and later dumped in the Ohau River, and the only prints able to be identified belonged to Wallace.
The trial before Justice Mark Cooper and a jury of eight women and four men entered its third week today and is continuing.
- NZPA
