THE DNA of the man accused of murdering west Belfast mother-of-three Jennifer Dornan was not found to be present in her home, a court has heard.
Raymond O'Neill (43) has been charged with murdering the 30-year-old, whose remains were discovered by the fire and rescue service in the bedroom of her Hazel View home.
O'Neill - who was 37 at the time and from the Amcomri Street area of the city - is accused of stabbing Ms Dornan then starting a fire in her home in the early hours of August 2 2015.
He has denied the charges of arson and murder and is currently standing trial at Belfast Crown Court.
A forensic expert who specialises in DNA was called to give evidence and confirmed that in the aftermath of Ms Dornan's death, he received items and swabs taken from various properties which he tested in a lab.
There were 51 separate items and swabs taken from Ms Dornan's home - including swabs taken from door handles, bathroom taps, light switches, an outside gate latch and keys.
The forensic expert said all items and swabs linked to Ms Dornan's home were tested for DNA, and O'Neill's DNA was not present on any of them.
The expert also confirmed he was given 26 other items to test which came from four properties and a car were O'Neill spent time in the hours after Ms Dornan's death.
When asked if it was the case that Ms Dornan's DNA was not found on any of these items, the forensic expert replied: "That's correct".
The witness was also asked about the presence of blood on a pink dressing gown located in the Woodside View home of a friend of O'Neill's.
The jury of six men and six women have already heard that O'Neill arrived at this property with his friend in the early hours of August 2 2015.
This friend - who gave evidence earlier this week - said O'Neill put on his mother's pink dressing gown before falling asleep on the sofa.
The forensic expert was asked if the blood stains on this dressing gown was analysed. He confirmed this was the case, and that O'Neill's DNA was present in the blood stains.
The trial continues.
