DNA 'from accused' found on Betty's body (From Worcester News)

DNA 'from accused' found on Betty's body

3:05pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman, @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

DNA representing a one-in-a-billion match to the man accused of murdering Betty Yates was found on the back of her hand, a court has heard.

A "full DNA profile" of drifter Stephen Farrow, 48, was found on a swab taken from Mrs Yates's left hand following the discovery of her body.

The 77-year-old was found stabbed to death in her cottage in Bewdley on January 4, having been killed two days earlier.

Farrow, of no fixed address, claims he saw Mrs Yates on December 30 but Bristol Crown Court heard the location where the DNA sample was found would make it "extremely rare" to get such a strong profile days later.

Forensic Scientist Christopher McKenzie told the jury: "The DNA profile obtained showed a mixture of DNA from two people which matched the corresponding DNA profiles of Mrs Yates and Stephen Farrow.

"We found that it is a billion times more likely to have come from Betty Yates and Stephen Farrow than from Betty Yates and someone other than Stephen Farrow."

Farrow, who was not present to hear the evidence having declined to come to court, denies the murder of Mrs Yates.

He is also standing trial for the murder of Rev John Suddards, found stabbed to death at his home in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, on February 14.

Farrow admits the manslaughter of Mr Suddards on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denies murder.

He has pleaded guilty to burgling another property, Vine Cottage, also in Thornbury, over the Christmas and New Year period, where a note was found threatening to kill "Christian scum".