The Five Demands

DNA ‘matched soldier death accused’ (Belfast Telegraph)
A complete DNA profile matching one of the alleged killers of two British soldiers was found on a latex glove tip inside the getaway car used in the terrorist gun attack, a court has been told.
A forensic expert also told Antrim Crown Court that a partial DNA profile obtained from matchsticks recovered from the partially burnt-out vehicle matched the other man accused of shooting dead Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar in Northern Ireland two years ago.
Sappers Quinsey, 23, and Azimkar, 21, were murdered by the Real IRA as they collected pizzas with comrades outside Massereene Army base in Antrim town in March 2009.
High-profile republican Colin Duffy, 44, from Forest Glade in Lurgan, Co Armagh, and Brian Shivers, 46, from Sperrin Mews in Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, deny two charges of murder and the attempted murder of six others – three soldiers, two pizza delivery drivers and a security guard.
On the ninth day of the trial, Dr Emma Watson, from Cellmark Forensic Services, said DNA from the glove tip found in the car could have been Duffy’s. “It matched the corresponding DNA components of Colin Duffy’s reference DNA profile,” she said.
With Duffy and Shivers watching from the dock, the scientist explained that it met the statistical ceiling for matching profiles. “I found that the complete DNA profile obtained for this sample could have originated from Colin Duffy,” she said.
“If this DNA originated from his then the result is as anticipated or, alternatively, if DNA didn’t originate from him the result must match by chance, and I estimate the chance of obtaining a matching DNA profile if DNA originated from someone other and unrelated to Colin Duffy to be less than one in a billion.”
Dr Watson also outlined her findings from analysis of DNA obtained from two matchsticks found inside the car. She said a partial profile had been detected and that it matched Shiver’s.
“The initial partial profile has 15 confirmed components which matched corresponding DNA components of Mr Shiver’s reference profile,” she said. The scientist said other unconfirmed DNA components on the matchsticks also matched Shiver’s profile.
Dr Watson told judge Mr Justice Anthony Hart, who is sitting without a jury, that a process was then carried out to enhance the partial DNA profile. She explained: “The enhanced result, that complete DNA profile, matched that of Mr Shivers and therefore I concluded that DNA recovered from the matchsticks could have originated from him.”