DNA on sword handles matches Denecho King's, RCMP scientist testifies

A scientist from the RCMP's forensic laboratory in Edmonton testified Tuesday that Denecho King's DNA was found on the handles of two decorative swords used in a fatal attack.

It's the first evidence the judge has heard connecting King to the apartment unit where the attack occurred more than three years ago.

King, 25, is on trial in N.W.T.Supreme Court for murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault in relation to the incident, which left John Wifladtdead and Colin Dignessseriously injured.The trial began April 9 in Yellowknife.

The scientist, Kenneth Hunter, said DNA from at least three people was found on the handles of the swords. He said the chances of it being someone other than King's DNA was 1 in 53 billion in the case of one of the swords and 1 in 4.3 trillion in the case of the other.

• Denecho King's lawyer targets handling of crime scene
• Survivor says he has no memory of alleged attack as Denecho King trial continues

The revelation came near the end of a long day of questioning by Crown prosecutor Alex Godfrey, who spent the first three hours qualifying Hunter as an expert witness and then questioning him about DNA analysis.

The prosecutor has already shown video of King at the front desk of a motel later that morning waving his arms in a chopping motion as he spoke to an acquaintance working there.

The friend testified that he wasn't listening closely, but saidKing was talking about being in a fight with two men.

Another witness who lives in the unit below the apartment where the attack took place testified earlier that King knocked on her door early that morning.

She said she later heard loud banging and her partner went up to ask that blaring heavy metal music be turned down. He ended up being thefirst to see the bloody murder scene.

Digness and Wifladt were on the ground, barely conscious. Wifladt later died in hospital. Digness was medevaced to Edmonton and recovered after several surgeries. Hesuffers permanent eye damage.

Hunter testified their blood was also found on the swords.

Defence still to question Hunter

Today King's lawyer, Jay Bran, gets a chance to question Hunter.

Thequestions will likely focus onhow DNA could have been transferred to the handles of the swords by someone other than King.

That's something Bran has been questioning witnesses about, including police forensic investigators,throughout the trial.

Hunter said there was an unusually large amount of King's DNA on the handles of the swords. He said it likely could only have been deposited there through direct contact from the source of the DNA.

• Follow the CBC's coverage of the Denecho King trial here