Jury in murder trial hears forensic evidence
Fibres found on the clothing of a woman who was raped and killed in a park in Co Cork in 2000 matched fibres from the clothing of the accused, a forensic scientist told a murder trial jury today.
Dr Maureen Smith of the Forensic Science Laboratory at the Department of Justice was giving evidence at the eleventh day of the trial of an 18 year-old Cork man, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The man has pleaded not guilty to the murder and rape of Ms Rachel Kiely (22) at the Regional Park, Ballincollig on October 26, 2000.
In her evidence, Dr Smith explained that she forensically examined samples of fibres taken from the fleece jacket of the deceased and compared these fibres to the clothing gardai recovered from the home of the accused.
"Four green acrylic fibres, two blue acrylic fibres and two brown fibres on the fleece matched fibres in the (accused's) jumper," Dr Smith told Mr Patrick J McCarthy SC for the prosecution.
Dr Smith also examined a red woolen hat with the 'Arsenal' football logo on it that was found near the accused's motorbike in another part of the Regional Park following the young woman's death.
"On Rachel Kiely's fleece, four red acrylic fibres matched those on the cap," she said.
Red fibres matching the hat were also found on the collar and pockets of the accused's jacket.
Fibres from the accused's jumper were also matched to a number found on the red woolen hat.
The doctor said that she wasn't surprised not to detect any fibres from Rachel Kiely's jacket on the clothing of the accused.
"A time gap of two weeks had passed before I received the (accused's) clothing and I wouldn't expect fibres to survive that long," she explained.
The doctor also gave evidence that semen was recovered from the clothing, undergarments and person of the deceased.
Legal argument has commenced in the absence of the jury.
The trial is expected to resume again before the jury on May 27.
