Murder trial hears no DNA from missing woman found on belongings

A forensic scientist told a murder trial no DNA attributed to missing Margaret Fleming was found on clothing said to be hers.

James Hawkins was giving evidence at the trial of Edward Cairney, 77, and Avril Jones, 59. who deny murdering Margaret Fleming at Seacroft, Main Road, Inverkip, between December 18, 1999 and January 5, 2000.

Yesterday at the high Court in Glasgow Mr Hawkins told prosecutor Iain McSporran QC that he was handed a tartan jumper, six black socks, a penguin toy and a blue t-shirt by police investigating Margaret's disappearance.

In his report Mr Hawkins stated “The items were handed over by Edward Cairney and Avril Jones as belongings of or worn by Margaret Fleming.”

The jury heard that no DNA attributed to Margaret, Jones or Cairney was found on the toy, Cairney's DNA was found on the socks and Jones and Cairney's DNA was on the jumper.

Mr McSporran asked Mr Hawkins: “Did you find any DNA on these items that could be that of Margaret,” and he replied: “No DNA which could be attributed to Margaret Fleming could be detected.”

The scientist was asked what his conclusion was and replied: “In my opinion these findings are not what we would have expected if Margaret Fleming had worn these items or handled the penguin toy regularly.”

Defence QC Thomas Ross, representing Cairney, said: “You found DNA which was not suitable for analysis could that have been from Margaret,” and Mr Hawkins replied: “Yes.”

The court heard that none of Margaret's blood was found in Seacroft. The interior was tested with luminol which shows up blood not visible to the naked eye and nothing was discovered.

Margaret's DNA was obtained from blood taken from her at birth and stored in the hospital.

A major police investigation was sparked in October 2016 after a benefits claim submitted by Jones on Margaret's behalf raised concerns about her well-being.

Margaret, who would now be 38, has allegedly not been seen for more than 19 years.

After Margaret's father died in October 1995, her mother could not cope and Cairney and Jones became her carers.

Earlier in evidence Margaret's GP Dr James Farrell said he last saw her in October 1999 accompanied by Cairney and referred her to a psychologist at the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Community Learning Disability team as he felt she was 'socially and educationally” isolated.

Dr Farrell told the jury that Dr Alan Smith from the team visited Margaret at Seacroft before Christmas 1999, but all attempts to contact her and arrange another appointment came to nothing.

The GP described Margaret as having 'quite significant learning difficulties' and said that she may have had Soto's syndrome from birth – although a definitive diagnosis was never made.

Cairney and Jones are accused of defrauding £182,000 in benefits and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by claiming Margaret was alive.

They deny all the charges against them.

The trial before judge Lord Matthews continues.