Forensic witness found female DNA at crime scene, court hears
DNA collected from the back porch of 96 Sumac St. belongs to a woman with the initials M.S.
A forensic DNA expert testified at Marissa Shephard's murder trial Thursday that a blood stain found on the rear porch of 96 Sumac St. in Moncton belongs to a woman with the initials M.S.
Michelle Scott-Mascioli, forensic DNA specialist with the RCMP, was testifying via video conference from Ottawa as the third week of the trial neared an end.
Shephard is on trial in the death of Baylee Wylie, 18, whose body was found in a burned-out townhouse at 96 Sumac more than two years ago.
She is charged with first-degree murder and arson with disregard for human life.
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Scott-Mascioli told the court the RCMP label DNA samples with initials only, so she did not give the court the full name of the DNA match.
She said Wylie's DNA was found on the blade of a knife, at least four gloves and the basement staircase, railing and walls. DNA belonging to two men, with initials T.N. and D.M., were found on one of the gloves.
Speaking to the witness, defence attorney Gilles Lemieux said two men were convicted of Wylie's murder and their names "correspond with your control samples, T.N. and D.M."
She also said Wylie's DNA was found on a can of Axe body spray that was found in a car. Claude Leblanc, a Crown witness, testified earlier to finding a can of body spray in his trunk after driving Devin Morningstar, another young man and a young woman he said was "possibly" Shephard from the Sumac address.
Another voir dire
Scott-Mascioli was the only witness called Thursday morning
Justice Zoël Dionne of the Court of Queen's Bench told the jurors they would be excused for the afternoon and the next two weeks so the court can go into a voir dire.
There is a ban against publishing what happens during a voir dire, which Dionne described as a trial and takes place without the jury present.
Dionne told the jury to expect to be back April 16 but not to be surprised if the voir dire is extended.
Defence attorney Gilles Lemieux said the court needs enough voir dire time to view more than 12 hours of video evidence and deliberate on "the issue," which Dionne described as "complex legal issues."
"You don't have to worry about being called sooner," Dionne told the jury.
The court has had at least four voir dire days since the trial began.
Three months have been set aside for Shephard's trial.