DNA trace on burned body 'matched accused man'

TRACES of DNA found on the charred remains of student Zoe Nelson matched samples taken from the man accused of murdering her, a trial heard yesterday.

The two could have swigged from the same bottle of tequila, the High Court in Edinburgh was told. Forensic scientists described how they examined the crime scene on the outskirts of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, known as Monkey Hill.

Laura Wilcock, an expert in suspicious fires, said that Zoe's corpse could have been burning for up to seven hours and little of the body remained untouched. But colleague Marie Campbell said it had been possible to swab the student's right hand and analyse material from the palm and between the fingers in a police lab.

Robert Bayne, 21, denies murdering 17-year-old Zoe, of Newmains. The trial, before Lady Dorrian, continues.