Manning's DNA found on knife

John Kirk-Anderson/Fairfax NZ John Kirk-Anderson/Fairfax NZ John Kirk-Anderson/Fairfax NZ John Kirk-Anderson/Fairfax NZ

DEFENDING HIMSELF: Mauha Huatahi Fawcett, 26, conducts his own defence in the Christchurch High Court.

ACCUSED: Mauha Huatahi Fawcett appears in the Christchurch High Court. He denies murdering Ngatai 'Mellory' Manning.

IN SESSION: The murder trial of Mauha Huatahi Fawcett will be presided over by Justice Gendall.

AMICUS CURIAE: Mahua Huatahi Fawcett at the start of his trial for murdering Mellory Manning, with his assisting counsel Craig Ruane, right.

DNA that was likely from murder victim Ngatai "Mellory" Manning was found on a knife retrieved from the Avon River after her body was found, the trial of the man accused of her killing was told in the High Court at Christchurch today.

Environmental Science and Research forensic scientist Jayshree Patel told the court she carried out a DNA profile on a sample taken from the "inside handle" of the knife.

She said a "combined partial DNA profile" was found on the knife which could have originated from the 27-year-old sex worker.

Her testing showed there was strong scientific support for the DNA having come from Manning.

The knife was recovered from the Avon River near where her body was found on the morning of December 19, 2008.

Link:
Manning's DNA found on knife