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Murder trial hears strong DNA evidence linking the accused and victim

KELOWNA, B.C. – A Kelowna, B.C., murder trial has heard there’s a overwhelming probability that a DNA sample found on the victim was from the accused.

Neil Snelson is accused of killing 19-year-old Jennifer Cusworth after the two attended a house party in 1993.

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Dr. Norma Szakacs (zah-cash), an expert in forensic biology, told Snelson’s B.C. Supreme Court trial she was responsible for creating DNA profiles in the murder and tested vaginal and rectal swabs from Cusworth that both provided semen.

The DNA was run through the national database of over 200,000 people, but there were no matches.

Szakacs says a later DNA sample from Snelson did match, and the probability the DNA taken from the vaginal swab belonged to someone other than the accused is one in 36 trillion.

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She says the chance the DNA from the rectal swab belonged to someone other than the accused is one in 75 billion. (CKFR)

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