DNA from a murder victim was detected on a fuel can found at the home of the accused man, a Supreme Court jury in Launceston has heard. <\/p>\n
Marco Daniel Rusterholz pleaded not guilty to the 2012 murders of Angela Hallam and Joshua Newman in a Ravenswood unit. <\/p>\n
The crown alleged he stabbed the pair to death and then set fire to their bodies using petrol, motivated by a drug debt and a desire to please his new girlfriend. <\/p>\n
Forensic scientist Dr Cory Griffiths conducted DNA profiles on samples found at the crime scene as well as items seized by police from Rusterholz's home. <\/p>\n
He told the court Newman was the major contributor to DNA found on parts of a fuel can that were recovered by police from a shed at Rusterholz's home. <\/p>\n
Dr Griffiths said there was a \"one-in-one-billion\" chance of the DNA matching a random person who was not Newman. <\/p>\n
Earlier the trial heard human blood was detected on the fuel can. <\/p>\n
Dr Griffiths said samples from a later examination of the back of the fuel can contained DNA from Rusterholz. <\/p>\n
The trial also heard one of the victims was stealing drugs from the accused. <\/p>\n
Matthew James Coventry told the jury he and Angela Hallam had sold boxes of morphine around the state, which the accused had supplied. <\/p>\n
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Read the original: DNA from a murder victim was detected on a fuel can found at the home of the accused man, a Supreme Court jury in Launceston has heard. Marco Daniel Rusterholz pleaded not guilty to the 2012 murders of Angela Hallam and Joshua Newman in a Ravenswood unit. Continue reading
\nRavenswood murder victim's DNA found at home of accused man Marco Rusterholz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"