Lynda Spence trial: Murder accused pair DNA found

The DNA of two men accused of murder was found on a floorboard at a flat where a businesswoman was allegedly tortured and killed, a court heard today.

• Court hears skin cells found on floor matched two of accused.

• Four men deny torturing and murdering financial adviser.

Forensic scientist Nighean Stevenson said a sample taken from flooring at the West Kilbride home of David Parker, 38, contained DNA matching his profile and that of fellow accused Paul Smith, 47.

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The pair, along with Colin Coats, 42, and Philip Wade, also 42, deny abducting Lynda Spence and holding her hostage for up to a fortnight before murdering her.

The financial adviser, 27, was last seen in Glasgow in April 2011 when she visited her mother on her birthday.

Match found

Ms Stevenson, from the Scottish Police Services Authority, examined the flat on Meadowfoot Road and took samples from floorboards in the loft conversion space where Ms Spence was allegedly bound to a chair, gagged and tortured.

The witness told the High Court in Glasgow that several samples taken using sticky tape to pick up skin cells showed a mixture of DNA from two or three individuals.

A match was found for Smith and Parker.

Reading from her report, she said: “DNA from David Parker, Paul Smith and others had been deposited on floorboard B.”