Blood samples found on a rucksack in the boot of murder suspect Julian Felisi's car produced an identical DNA profile to that of Gary Bennett, a court was told this afternoon.

The court heard the chances of the samples being from someone else with the same DNA profile were about one in one billion.

The swabs were taken from three stains found on the Billabong rucksack in the boot of the defendant's Skoda Octavia.

These were analysed by forensic scientist Joanne Coogan, who gave evidence at St Albans Crown Court today.

She told the court the blood stains were consistent with that of wet blood, for example on someone's hands, coming into contact with the rucksack.

Smaller blood samples were found on a plastic bag also in the boot of Mr Felisi's Skoda Octavia.

This, the court heard, produced an incomplete DNA profile but one that matched Mr Bennett's to an accuracy of about one in ten thousand.

Ms Coogan also told the court that damage to Mr Bennett's clothing was analysed to attempt to determine what kind of weapon was used to assault him.

She told the court the variety of tears suggested it was “either one implement with edges of differing sharpness or several implements”.

The jury was taken through blood spatter analysis, carried out by Ms Coogan at the scene, and shown pictures of a blood spattered wall and pillar next to where Mr Bennett was found.

This, the court was told, provided evidence to suggest the way in which the attack was carried out.

One particular blood stain came from what, Ms Coogan said, was “most likely the outer edge of a hand, wet with blood, coming into contact with the wall”.

The court heard that blood spatters found on the adjacent wall were consistent with someone leaning against the pillar as they struck Mr Bennett, who “would have been low to the ground”.

Ms Coogan told the court she would expect there to be some blood spattered on the assailant's clothing, particularly on the lower parts of their body.

Swabs taken from several items of clothing, two mobile phones and various points on the interior of Mr Felisi's car failed to produce any trace of Mr Bennett's DNA.

Prosecution barrister Michael Speak asked Ms Coogan how easy it would be for the offender to wipe the blood from their hands after the attack.

She said she considered that “most, if not all” of it could be washed off on wet grass, in a puddle or in the rain.