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Manila: The blood sample from a US Marine accused of raping a Filipina in the Subic freeport last year has matched with the DNA profile taken from the woman's undergarment, a prosecution witness said.
Testifying at the resumption of the rape trial at the Makati City regional trial court, Senior Inspector Edmar de la Torre from the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, said the test results were at least "99.999 per cent accurate".
"The male DNA profile from the underwear [of the complainant] is that of Daniel Smith," de la Torre said during direct examination by prosecution lawyer Hazel Valdez.
The blood samples were taken from Lance Corporal Daniel Smith during a hearing last July 25.
The samples from the panties of "Nicole" were taken several days after the alleged rape in the evening of November 1.
The DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid test results were dated August 15. During cross-examination, defence counsel Ricardo Diaz tried to shoot down the forensic results saying the quality of the samples taken from Nicole's panties could have degenerated since these were taken several days after the alleged rape.
But de la Torre maintained that the sample "is not contaminated, it appears in our results. So as long as it is preserved, it will not affect the results".
Dela Torre is the prosecution's 23rd and last witness. The prosecution panel will rest its case once it submits a formal offer of evidence to the court.
The trial court has set the presentation of the first defenses witness on September 11. "This [DNA test result] strengthens our case," prosecution lawyer Evalyn Ursua told reporters.
Ursua noted that earlier DNA tests showed that the female DNA samples taken from Nicole's panties and the condom found tucked in it when she was found lying by the roadside were hers.
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