DNA analyses 'point to accused'

DNA analyses provided extra strong support to the views that the cellular material found on one of four cigarette filters lifted from the apartment of an elderly couple, murdered during a burglary four years ago, matched Brian Vella's DNA profile, a forensic scientist told jurors yesterday.

Matthew James Greenhalgh also explained that further tests for frequency of occurrence of the DNA profile showed that the probability that the DNA found on the filter belonged to anyone other than Vella was of less than one in a billion.

He was testifying before Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono in the trial by jury of Vella, 34, of Hamrun who is pleading not guilty to the murder of 79-year-old Gerald Grima and his 63-year-old wife Josephine in their Sta Lucija apartment on February 10, 2000.

Vella is also pleading not guilty to stealing over Lm1,000 worth of valuables from the Grimas' apartment.

The prosecution is claiming that on February 10, 2000, Vella met up with Dominic Bonnici and Robert Borg at the Nationalist Party club in Sta Lucija. There, Vella suggested that that they burgle the Grimas' house and that evening the three made their way into the couple's home, bound them, gagged them and stole their valuables.

The couple were found lying dead in their apartment, bound and gagged, on February 17, 2000.

Greenhalgh yesterday explained he had been appointed to carry out DNA analyses on four cigarette filters and a boot and to compare them with the DNA profiles of the victims, Vella and Bonnici.

Conclusions provided extra strong support to the views that the cellular material on a cigarette filter found near Josephine Grima's body matched Bonnici's DNA profile. The cellular material on a cigarette filter found in front of the spare bedroom matched Vella's DNA profile and the analysis on a filter found near a dehumidifier had two traces of saliva that matched Vella and Bonnici's profiles.

This, the forensic scientist explained, could be the result of a shared cigarette. However, he could not exclude that the combination of the DNA profile of another two people who shared a cigarette would give a similar result, although it would be very unusual to pick two people at random and get the same combination. Therefore, it was "highly probable" that the cigarette had been smoked by Vella and Bonnici.

The analysis of the fourth filter, found in front of the living room, did not match any of the samples but belonged to a male.

He also explained that he had tested the results for frequency of occurrence of the DNA profiles. The probability that the DNA found on the two filters belonged to anyone other than Vella or Bonnici was of less than one in a billion.

Results showed limited support to the view that the cellular material found on the boot came from Vella. The probability that the bloodstain on the boot was of someone other than Vella was of one in 50, he said.

Earlier, Police Commissioner John Rizzo explained that on February 17, 2000, someone approached him and gave him important, confidential information that shed light on the case.

On the basis of this information the police started investigating the people who had been at the Sta Lucija Nationalist Party club on February 10, 2000. Investigations revealed that Vella had been there with Bonnici and Borg, among others.

Vella, Bonnici and Borg were then arrested for questioning and they all denied their involvement in the murder. Vella even denied knowing Bonnici or being at the PN club on that day.

But the next day Bonnici burst into tears and admitted that he was involved in the murder of the Grimas. Bonnici said that Vella too was involved and gave a detailed account of what happened on the day of the murder. He also confirmed his version on oath.

However, Vella, who gave the police about six versions of what he did that day, insisted he was not involved. So the police confronted Vella and Bonnici and Bonnici urged Vella to assume his responsibility for the crime they had committed as he had done. Vella, again, denied his involvement.

Vella was also confronted with Borg who said he was present when Vella had suggested they burgle the Grimas at the club but then decided not to go.

The trial continues this morning.

Senior Counsel to the Republic Dr Mark Said is prosecuting.

Dr Anglu Farrugia and Dr Kris Busietta are appearing for Vella.