By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A DNA analyst testified yesterday that samples taken from a gun matched an accused man who allegedly pulled the weapon on two police officers on Mutton Fish Drive in 2020.
Ms Melina, a DNA analyst for DNA Labs International, testified virtually before Justice Loren Klein in the trial of Laseheno Cox, who faces two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Cox is accused of exiting a vehicle and pointing a gun at Inspector Jermaine Flowers and Police Constable 4856 Travis Davis on November 5, 2020.
Ms Melina said the firearm’s grip and trigger were swabbed for DNA evidence.
While no blood was found on the gun, the DNA analyst said Cox could not be ruled out as one of two possible contributors to samples taken from the weapon.
She said the sample was a DNA mixture from two sources.
Ms Melina said there was strong support for the proposition that Cox contributed to the DNA found on the gun.
During cross-examination by defence attorney Ian Jupp, Ms Melina said she could not speak to how the DNA samples were collected or stored while in The Bahamas.
Mr Jupp suggested that someone placed prints on the gun, citing the high levels of DNA on it.
Ms Melina responded that the DNA found was on the lower end of the spectrum of tests they conduct.
She could not say how the DNA got on the gun or what actions deposited the DNA on the weapon. Her analysis could not determine when the DNA got on the weapon.
Former Corporal Rudolph Sweeting testified that on November 5, 2020, he went to the scene on Mutton Fish Drive.
There, he observed a white two-door Honda Accord. He said the licence plate read AM5556 while the registration disc read AV0555. He said there was damage to the front end of the vehicle.
Mr Sweeting said a blue and black Samsung phone was in the centre console, and a mask was on the light handle.
He also went to a green-and-brown single-storey structure, house #68.
There, a bullet was recovered from the northern exterior front wall.
Mr Sweeting also saw a black and chrome Austria Glock pistol, serial number CFG758US, with a magazine containing 15 rounds.
Mr Sweeting said he photographed the scene, while Detective Constable Bell collected evidence.
Later, at CSI, he downloaded the images onto a CD.
The images were shown in court.
Basil Cumberbatch is prosecuting the case.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.