Royal Park murder case:

Blood stain was that of Yvonne's - DNA specialist

Sandasen MARASINGHE

COLOMBO: DNA Specialist Dr Maya Gunasekara of the Genetech Institute said in her DNA report that the blood stained mark which carried a fingerprint impression found at the Royal Park murder scene belonged to Yvonne Jonsson, the victim.

The Department of Fingerprint earlier stated that the fingerprint was identified as that of the accused Sharman Jude Antony.

Witness said this giving evidence before High Court Judge I. M. Abeyratne hearing the Royal Park murder case when she was cross-examined by the Defence.

The Defence submitted that they accepted the DNA reports by Dr Gunasekara without argument.

Examined by Deputy Solicitor General Jayantha Jayasuriya witness said she visited the murder scene on July 05, 2005 with her assistants and obtained a sample of the blood. She tallied it with the blood samples taken from the victim's spleen that was sent by Dr Abeysinghe.

She said after the DNA tests she decided that the blood taken from the crime scene was that of Yvonne Jonsson. The reports were sent to the Colombo Magistrate on August 9, 2005.

The witness said another report forwarded on September 24 included DNA reports of saliva samples and blood samples found at the murder scene.

Cross examined by Counsel for the Defence, the witness said the blood stain which bore the fingerprint impression said to be of the accused was in fact that of the victim. But the saliva samples taken from the murder scene were not of the victim or the accused.

Assistant Government Analyst Padmini Perera, examined by Jayasuriya said she was sent a part of the stomach contents of Yvonne Jonsson by Dr. Abeysinghe after the post-mortem. After her tests, she reported to the Magistrate that there was no Ethyl Alcohol, heroin, cocaine or morphine in her blood.

D. H. L. W. Jayamanne, Senior Assistant Government Analyst examined by Jayasuriya said he visited the Royal Park Housing Complex on July 8, 2005 with his assistant.

The Witness said there were 20 steps between the 19th and 20th floor of the housing complex. On the 20th step starting from the 19th floor there was a blood impression. In the same manner there were such blood stains on the 8th and the 7th steps.

There were strands of hair near such places. There were blood marks on the steps of 20, 19, 18, 16, 14, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 level of the 19th floor near the staircase. On the wall near the 8th, 6th, and 4th steps blood stains could be seen.

The Witness said he was of the opinion that the victim's head might have been dashed on the 20th, 8th and 7th steps from the 19th leading to the 20th floor and as a result the blood had splattered in such a pattern.

Sharman Jude Anthony is charged with the murder of Yvonne Jonsson on July 1, 2005 at the Royal Park premises.

Deputy Solicitor General Jayantha Jayasuriya, Senior State Counsel Haripriya Jayasundara and State Counsel Lakmali Karunanayake appeared for the prosecution.

Hearing will resume today.