Accused DNA 'found on Vicky body'

Vicky Hamilton's remains were found in Margate, Kent, in November 2007

Traces of DNA belonging to the man accused of killing Vicky Hamilton were found on the schoolgirl's body, a murder trial has heard.

Forensic scientist Nicola Clayson told the High Court in Dundee that partial DNA traces taken during a post-mortem revealed a connection to Peter Tobin.

Ms Clayson also said that a knife discovered in Mr Tobin's former home in Bathgate had traces of Vicky's DNA.

Peter Tobin, 62, denies murdering the Falkirk schoolgirl in February 1991.

He has lodged a special defence of alibi, claiming he was in Portsmouth when she disappeared.

Giving evidence on the 17th day of the murder trial, the forensic expert said that partial DNA profiles were gathered from two intimate swabs during examinations of Vicky's remains.

In the first instance, a profile was obtained from four out of 20 DNA sites, and on the second swab the profile was taken from seven sites, the witness said.

DNA estimates

The chance of the DNA on the first swab coming from someone other than and unrelated to Mr Tobin was estimated at one in 114, the court was told.

Ms Clayson added that the chance of the DNA on the second swab coming from someone else was put at one in 34,000.

Asked about the possible source of the DNA, Ms Clayson told the court: "In my opinion it's most likely to have originated from semen."

Ms Clayson had earlier told the court that tissue found on a knife discovered at 11 Robertson Avenue, where Mr Tobin once lived, was most likely Vicky Hamilton's skin.

She said the chances of the tissue on the knife coming from a female other than a relation of Vicky Hamilton were one in more than one billion.

Vicky was last seen in the West Lothian town on 10 February 1991.

Her remains were discovered after being wrapped in bin bags and buried in the garden of a house in Margate, Kent, in November last year.

Defence QC Donald Findlay challenged the statistics applied to DNA tests as "gobbledygook".

He pointed out that, according to his calculator, a probability of one in 114 could mean that the profile could be obtained from 428,571 people in Scotland.

The trial was told that in the months before her body was found, police had questioned Peter Tobin about her disappearance.

The court heard that officers showed him a photo of Vicky, in a pink dressing gown, opening her Christmas presents.

Charges denied

After remaining silent for a time, the accused said: "I don't know her."

The court heard he was asked by an officer if he had anything he wished to say about her disappearance, to which he replied: "Nothing at all."

He added: "She doesn't even remind me of anyone, you know."

The detective pressed him: "Go on, tell me what was your involvement in her disappearance 16 years ago."

Mr Tobin replied: "None at all."

Mr Tobin is accused of abducting Vicky and taking her to Robertson Avenue in Bathgate on 10 February 1991, which the Crown alleges was then occupied by him.

Peter Tobin lived for a period at 11 Robertson Avenue

The charge also alleges that there or elsewhere he drugged her, struggled with her, compressed her neck, indecently assaulted her and murdered her.

He is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

It is alleged that he concealed Vicky's body and removed and disposed of a number of items of her clothing and footwear.

He is also accused of cutting her body in two and wrapping it in coverings and bin bags.

Then, allegedly aware that police were conducting a missing person's inquiry, Mr Tobin is said to have put Vicky's purse under a portable cabin to mislead police into believing she had run away from home.

Mr Tobin denies all the charges against him and has lodged a special defence of alibi, saying that between 1700 GMT and midnight on 10 February, 1991, he was in the Portsmouth area and was thereafter travelling to Scotland, arriving in Edinburgh at 0630 GMT the following day.

The trial, before Lord Emslie, continues.