Senior forensic scientist Nicola Taylor on Tuesday gave evidence to the Teesside Crown Court in the Jessica Patel murder case where her husband Mitesh Patel is alleged to have suffocated her using a Tesco bag.
Ms Taylor said she found blood on the inner surface of the bag, in a "concealed area", matching the DNA of Jessica, and traces of her saliva. However, she was unable to determine who had held the bag.
Although, a mixed DNA profile was found on a damaged area of the bag near the opening which indicates Mitesh Patel as a “potential pre-dominant contributor while the damage to the bag could be explained as someone trying to get access to air. Another potential explanation Mrs. Taylor said was that the bag was used as a ligature.
Mitesh Patel, 37, ran the Roman Road Pharmacy in Linthorpe with his wife. He denies murder.
