No DNA linking Bonnell to Hilary, forensic expert testifies

A forensic specialist told the jury at the Curtis Bonnell murder trial she found no useful DNA linking the accused killer to the victim.

Curtis Bonnell, 32, of the Esgenoopetitj First Nation, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Hilary Bonnell, his first cousin.

The Crown alleges Bonnell picked upthe 16-year-oldon Sept. 5, 2009, as she was walking along Micmac Road in the province's northeastern community after a party.

He is accused of holding Hilary against her will, sexually assaulting her and killing her.

The RCMP crime lab in Halifax received 30 samples in the case, biologist Kathryn-Anne McEachern told the Miramichi courtroom on Friday.

Of the samples taken from Hilary's body, technicians looked for traces of semen, or other DNA that might link Bonnell to the crime, she said.

But the lab found nothing that would do that, said McEachern.

Justice Fred Ferguson, of the Court of Queen's Bench, made her repeat that statement.

The judge had McEachern confirm that no male DNA or semen was found in any samples taken from Hilary's body.

The lab also analyzeda blood sample found on a leaf, said McEachern.

Police had asked that it be checked against Bonnell's DNA, a national databank of DNA taken from offenders, as well as cold case crime scenes, she said.

But again, the results produced nothing, McEachern said.

The trial, which started on Sept. 17, is expected to last up to eight weeks.