A FORENSIC scientist told a court that a knife found in a back garden in Colne had DNA on it matching both a stab victim and the man accused of his murder.

Hasan Mumtaz, 18, of North Street, Colne, denies murdering Sean Whyte, wounding Sean's aunt Agnes Rennie and violent disorder. His brother Wasim Mumtaz, 21, also of North Street, denies violent disorder.

Forensic scientist Andrew Davidson told the jury at Preston Crown Court he had examined a knife found in a back garden in North Street on September 30 as well as a pair of scissors and a sweatshirt taken from Hasan Mumtaz.

He said blood on the blade of the knife had matched Sean Whyte's DNA profile with a billion to one chance it could be from someone else.

He added that he had found DNA on the handle from more than one person but that when Sean Whyte's profile was removed the remaining components matched Hasan Mumtaz's profile with a 4,000-1 chance of being from someone else.

Mr Davidson said that on the scissors he found DNA matching the profiles of Hasan Mumtaz, Agnes Rennie and Sean Whyte.

He told the jury he had examined blood spots on the back of the right sleeve of the hooded sweatshirt and found DNA matching the profiles of both Sean Whyte and Hasan Mumtaz.

Mr Davidson later added that "the pattern of blood is consistent with the wearer being present when Sean Whyte was injured."

(Proceeding)