Rayney trial: London expert's DNA tests proved nothing

HAPPIER TIMES: Lloyd and Corryn Rayney on a family holiday in Canada in late 2003-early 2004. Source: PerthNow

A DNA expert based in London was called in to investigate whether Lloyd Rayney or another, unidentified "person of interest" were involved in the 2007 death of Mr Rayney's estranged wife, Supreme Court registrar Corryn Rayney.

But tests by forensic scientist Rosalyn Treliving did not shed any light on who may have been responsible for Mrs Rayney's death.

Ms Treliving, who specialises in the analysis of body fluids and the interpretation of DNA profiles, was asked by Major Crime Squad officers to examine hairs, DNA extracts and a handkerchief collected from crime scenes related to the case.

In a written statement tendered to the Supreme Court in Perth, she said her DNA tests were to "assist in addressing the issue" of whether Mr Rayney or a second person - whose name has been withheld - were involved in Mrs Rayney's death on August 7, 2007.

She said she understood Mr Rayney and the second individual were both "persons of interest" in the investigation.

The prominent Perth barrister has been on trial for three months charged with wilfully murdering his wife at the family home in Como on the night of August 7, 2007.

Prosecutors have alleged that Mr Rayney killed Mrs Rayney at their home before placing her body in the back of her State-issued car and driving to Kings Park where he buried her in a clandestine bush grave.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Ms Treliving said she examined hair and DNA extracts from Mrs Rayney's car; hair samples from outside the Rayneys' Como home; a handkerchief found in Mrs Rayney's grave; DNA from a tree branch near the gravesite and DNA extracts from hairs found at the grave, on Mrs Rayney's clothing and in the body bag in which she was placed after being removed from the grave.

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Rayney trial: London expert's DNA tests proved nothing