By Justin Schneider
May 16, 2008 12:52 pm
—
A DNA analyst took the stand Friday in the murder trial of Jesse Lee Pitts, accused of killing 14-year-old Amanda Brinker in September 2007.
Julie Ellis of Orchid Cellmark in Nashville, Tenn., analyzed evidence believed to contain DNA evidence submitted by the Indiana State Police. Ellis compared evidence against "standards" for both Pitts and Brinker.
From the evidence submitted, Ellis testified that a pair of pants and shoes both contained matter consistent with Brinker's standard. The jack handle police believe to be the murder weapon contained material consistent with Brinker, Pitts and a possible third contributor.
"A third contributor means there is a minor possibility of a person there and that there is not enough there to compare with," Ellis said.
A cigarette butt found at the scene contained DNA material from at least two people, including one male.
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