'DNA link' to murdered woman's clothes

Published on Friday 3 April 2009 21:31

DNA evidence suggests a man accused of raping and murdering a woman "forcibly damaged" her clothing, a court heard yesterday.

The body of sales consultant Moira Jones, 40, was found in Glasgow lying face down with her clothes torn by a ranger in Queens Park on May 29 last year. Marek Harcar, 33, a Slovakian, denies forcing her into the park, raping and murdering her.

Police forensic scientist Carol Weston told the High Court in Glasgow DNA matching Harcar's profile was found on Ms Jones's ripped trousers and coat.

The "extensive damage" to Ms Jones's clothing "would support an assertion that this clothing has been forcibly damaged by Marek Harcar", Ms Weston told the court. In addition,

a cigarette butt and the back cover of a mobile phone found in Queens Park after the murder contained DNA which matched Harcar's.

Harcar also denies attempting to defeat the ends of justice between June 1 and 18 last year by fleeing to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The trial continues.