Murder trial hears of semen tests

Elizabeth McCabe was from Lochee in Dundee

The Templeton Woods murder trial has heard about attempts by experts to find out who had sex with a nursery nurse on the night she disappeared.

Elizabeth McCabe vanished after a night out at a Dundee disco with friends in February 1980.

The 20-year-old's naked body was found in woodland on the outskirts of the city just over two weeks later.

A post-mortem examination showed she had recently had sex. Vincent Simpson, 61, from Surrey, denies murder.

The jury heard that there was no DNA testing when Ms McCabe's body was found as the technique had not been developed at that time.

Forensic scientist James Dunlop told the court that samples taken from the nursery nurse's body were subjected to a profiling test which relied on a system of blood grouping known as PGM.

Whoever had intercourse with Elizabeth McCabe within 12 hours of her death, it was not Vincent Simpson Mark Stewart QC Defence lawyer

The result which came back showed a grouping shared by only 1.6|% of the population - but one which included Ms McCabe herself.

Mr Dunlop, whose 30 years experience includes working with US military investigators in Germany, was responsible for setting up DNA testing for Tayside Police in the 1990s.

He went on to describe an attempt to obtain a DNA profile from the same swab in 1996, using a now outdated technique known as STR.

Only a partial result was obtained, he said, and one which would apply to as many as one in 170 of white Scots.

Mr Simpson's QC, Mark Stewart, showed Mr Dunlop a report prepared by an eminent scientist for the defence.

Dr Denise Syndercombe Court, an expert in human identification based at St Bart's hospital in London, had also carried out a PGM test. This used a more modern method and it was carried out on a mouth swab provided by Mr Simpson.

'Incorrect statement'

Mr Simpson's PGM grouping differed from the result obtained from the sperm testing in 1980.

"Whoever had intercourse with Elizabeth McCabe within 12 hours of her death, it was not Vincent Simpson," said Mr Stewart.

"No, that is an incorrect statement," Mr Dunlop said.

Mr Stewart agreed that he was assuming the 1980 test had been carried out properly and that the test had "picked up" the sperm and not just traces from Ms McCabe herself.

"The donor of the seminal fluid, if picked up in that test, was not Vincent Simpson," said Mr Stewart.

"I don't know," answered Mr Dunlop.

Mr Simpson has said he has an alibi for the night Ms McCabe disappeared and has also produced a list of 13 people he claims are more likely suspects.

The trial at the High Court in Edinburgh continues.