Kevin murder trial: Foreign DNA found in case exhibit, forensic chemist tells court

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KUALA LUMPUR: A forensic chemist, who is also a witness in the murder trial of deputy public prosecutor Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais, told the High Court that a foreign DNA was found in a bloodstain on a wire.

Nor Aidora Saedon, 43, of DNA Forensic Section of the Chemistry Department, said it was mixed in the DNA profiles from two individuals.

“The second individual’s DNA profile is different from the samples obtained from Kevin Morais’ younger siblings David Ramesh and Richard Dilaan.

“I identified the DNA profile contributor as ‘Male 1’,” Nor Aidora said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin in the trial before Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah yesterday.

She also said that the specimen tissue and bone labelled ‘unknown’ matched with the DNA profiles of David and Richard.

Nor Aidora is the ninth prosecution witness and has served with the department since 1998.

She is mainly assigned to analyse DNA on biological evidence for murder and rape cases and identification of corpses.

She said in Kevin’s murder, the analysis report dated Sept 22, 2015, was prepared based on the case exhibits she received from investigating officer ASP Wan Abdullah Wan Said at 11.40 am on Sept 17, 2015, and at 1.46 pm on Sept 18, 2015.

During the proceedings, Nor Aidora showed 59 exhibits, including a pair of rubber gloves, a gunny sack, ring, chain and pendant, belt, pants and shirts, all of which had bloodstains.

Meanwhile, when the courtroom began to stink with odour believed to be emanating from tissues, bones and other exhibits with biological fluid, members of the prosecution, defence, media, and the public had to cover their noses, with some seen leaving the courtroom.

Following that, Judge Azman allowed the application by Wan Shaharuddin to allow Nor Aidora to open the gunny sack purportedly used to hold the remains of Kevin Morais, outside the courtroom.

Before the trial was adjourned, lawyer V Rajehgopal, representing the accused S.Ravi Chandaran, 45, told the court that Ravi allegedly received a death threat from a witness during lunchtime yesterday, and requested the court to allow his client to be taken to the police station to lodge a report.

When questioned by Judge Azman, the accused replied “Yes, I was threatened. I need to make a police report”.

For this the judge replied, “I’m not sure whether the accused can be taken out to the police station or make a report in court, it is up to the DPP”.

On Wednesday, eight witnesses testified, including Richard and a police photographer.

On Jan 27, six men – G Gunasekaran, 48, R Dinishwaran, 24, AK Thinesh Kumar, 23, M Vishwanath, 26, S.Nimalan, 23, and Ravi Chandaran, were charged with the murder of Kevin Morais between 7 am and 8 pm, on Sept 4, 2015, between Jalan Dutamas Raya Sentul and No 1 Jalan USJ1/6D, Subang Jaya.

They face the mandatory death sentence if convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Col Dr R.Kunaseegaran, 53, who is the first accused, pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring with the six men in the murder of Kevin Morais at the same place, date and time under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 302 of the same Act.

Gunasekaran, Vishwanath, Nimalan and Ravi Chandaran were represented by counsel Rajehgopal, while Dinishwaran and Thinesh Kumar were represented by counsel M.Manoharan and lawyer Datuk N.Sivananthan represented Dr Kunaseegaran. The trial continues today. — Bernama