DNA on gun matches Thompson’s, expert testifies at trial

DNA found on the gun allegedly used to murder a Dartmouth taxi driver matches that of Chaze Lamar Thompson, a Halifax jury was told Tuesday.

Michelle Fisher, an expert in forensic DNA analysis, testified that theres a one-in-79-million chance that DNA swabbed from the grip of the gun belongs to a black Canadian other than Thompson.

The 22-year-old Thompson is on trial in Nova Scotia Supreme Court for first-degree murder in the death of Sergei Kostin, a driver for Bobs Taxi.

Thompson, of Dartmouth, is accused of shooting Kostin in the head from the back seat of his cab on Johnson Road in Cherry Brook on the afternoon of Jan. 17, 2009.

Kostins burned-out cab was discovered three days later, parked in woods at the end of Downey Road in North Preston.

His body was found that April 1 under the roots of a fallen tree along Upper Governor Street in North Preston.

Wayne McAvoy, Thompsons first cousin, led police to the body and was given immunity from prosecution after agreeing to testify for the Crown.

McAvoy said a gun found by police at Thompsons sisters apartment in Dartmouth in February 2009 was the murder weapon.

Part of the gun was in a couch and part was by a refrigerator.

Fisher testified Tuesday that of five swabs taken from the gun, only one was suitable for a meaningful comparison. The swab was from both sides of the guns grip.

Read more:
DNA on gun matches Thompson’s, expert testifies at trial