Murder hunt DNA tests 'cost £1m'

Dr Jonathan Whitaker is an acknowledged expert on DNA

Tayside Police may have spent about £1m on DNA tests during its bid to capture the Templeton Woods murderer, the High Court has heard.

Defence lawyer Mark Stewart QC suggested the figure to leading DNA scientist Dr Jonathan Whitaker.

He said he did not know the total cost, but agreed that analysing a DNA sample from a skirt could cost £70,000.

Mr Simpson, 61, of Camberley, Surrey, denies murdering Elizabeth McCabe in February 1980.

Dr Whitaker, who is giving evidence for a third day, was also questioned about the reliability of DNA analysis.

The High Court in Edinburgh has heard that the naked body of trainee nursery nurse Elizabeth McCabe, 20, was found in frozen woodland in February 1980.

DNA profiles

More than 25 years later, a blue jumper found on the body and clothes identified as Elizabeth's were sent to Forensic Science Services in Wetherby, Yorkshire.

The facility specialises in obtaining DNA profiles from microscopic traces.

Dr Jonathan Whitaker who was responsible for the tests, said that he found DNA which matches a sample from murder accused Vincent Simpson, 61.

Police used DNA tests to try to track Ms McCabe's killer

His findings were challenged by Mark Stewart QC, defending Mr Simpson. The lawyer suggested that the techniques used at the Wetherby lab left too much room for "interpretation" by the tester.

Mr Stewart also claimed it was almost impossible to check the findings of Forensic Science Services because there were probably only three labs in the world using exactly the same Low Copy Number test.

He also raised doubts based on the possibility that productions had been contaminated by long storage in Tayside Police's HQ in Dundee.

Mr Stewart asked if they had charged £70,000 to examine a skirt submitted by Tayside Police.

Dr Whitaker said if it had been cut up and each piece treated as a separate item that was possible.

He also accepted Mr Stewart's suggestion that a total of 49 items had been sent to Wetherby by Tayside Police.

'Missing band'

When Mr Stewart suggested that it could have costed £1m, the scientist repeated: "No idea."

The court also heard that the DNA profiles said to match Simpson were incomplete with not all of the 22 DNA bands, or alleles, showing a result.

Mr Stewart pointed out that a match in one band alone was of "miniscule" significance in identifying someone.

Dr Whitaker agreed it was possible that a "missing band" might hold the key to excluding a suspect.

Mr Stewart also asked Dr Whitaker if his high-tech lab would allow items of evidence to lie about together in open bags.

Dr Whitaker said: "I would hope to avoid that but there have been cases where it has happened."

There was the possibility of contamination, transfer of DNA from one item to another, he agreed.

Mr Simpson, now of Camberley, Surrey, denies murdering Ms McCabe of Lochee, Dundee.

At the time Mr Simpson was living in Newtyle near Dundee and operating a private hire taxi firm from his home in the village.

He claims he has an alibi and has pointed to 13 other suspects.

The trial before Lord Kinclaven at the High Court in Edinburgh continues.