Ryan Lane's DNA found in both vehicles allegedly used in his kidnapping and murder, trial hears - Action News
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Ryan Lane's DNA found in both vehicles allegedly used in his kidnapping and murder, trial hears

A forensic DNA analyst testified today that Ryan Lane's DNA was found in two vehicles at the centre of a Calgary murder trial a one in 480 billion match.

Forensic DNA analyst testified Lane's DNA was 1 in 480 billion match

The DNA expert said the samples tested could have been blood but wasn't able to say conclusively. (Submitted by Ryan Lane's family)

Ryan Lane's DNA was found in both vehiclesbelieved to have been used in his kidnapping and murder, a Calgaryjury heard Monday.

Forensic DNA expertDr. Gregory Litzenberger, who works with the RCMP in Edmonton, testified at thefirst-degree murdertrial underway for Sheena Cuthilland brothers Tim and Wilhelm Rempel.

The trio is accused of killing Lane after he began to seek visitation with the daughter he shared with Cuthill.

Though it wasn't confirmed the substance tested was blood, Litzenberger found deposits of Lane's DNA on the floor of the driver's side of a Jeep owned by Tim Rempeland Cuthill.

Wilhelm Rempel, Sheena Cuthill and Tim Rempel are all accused of murdering Ryan Lane because he wanted visitation rights with the daughter he shared with Cuthill. (CBC/Global)

The victim's DNA was also found on the ceiling of the red pickup truck sold to a scrapyard by Wilhelm Rempel the day after Lane's disappearance for far less than had been offered for it.

Rempel wasseen pressure washing the inside and outside of that truck at a carwash in the hours after Lane was last seen getting into a vehicle that matched the description of the pickup.

Under cross-examination, Litzenberger told defence lawyers representing the Rempel brothers that the stains could have been transferred by stepping in a substance and then getting into a vehicle.

He also said there was no way to tell the age of a stain.

Court was shown video of a man washing a red pickup truck on Feb. 3 and again on Feb. 7. (Court evidence)

What arebelieved to be Lane's burnedremains were found in a barrel in a remote location near Beiseker, Alta., several months after his disappearance.

DNA could not be found on bone and cartilage fragments that were tested by Litzenberger, but he did tell the jury that burning would greatly compromise any DNAcausing it to break down.

It's alleged theRempelbrothers called Lane before midnight on Feb. 6, 2012, and lured him to a parking lot. The prosecution says he got in Wilhelm'struck and was drivenaway with Tim following in his red Jeep.

'I've never met the guy'

Though DNA from Lane was found in both vehicles, Tim Rempel denied ever having met Lanein hisfirst interviewwith police.

Here's an excerpt of the conversation between Calgary police and Tim Rempel. He is just one of three people facing first-degree murder in the death of the Calgary father.

A recorded conversation between homicide detectivesKen CarriereandNadine WagnerandTim Rempel, who was Cuthill'shusband,was played in court on Monday afternoon.

"I've never met the guy," said Rempel to Carriere about Lane."I don't know a single thing about him."

The day of Lane's disappearance, Rempel says he met his brother, Wilhelm, at a Tim Hortons after work and then went home to his wife.

"Everything I said to you is 100 per cent accurate," said Rempel.

Wilhelm Rempel's interview with police will be played in court onTuesday.