CRIME scene investigators carried out extensive searches when Saints steward Paula Poolton’s body was discovered, yet no forensic evidence was found to link her to the man accused of her murder, a court heard.

Carrie-Ann Oliver told Winchester Crown Court how she was one of the first on the scene when Paula’s car was found in Duncan Road, Park Gate, 11 days after she went missing.

Miss Oliver discovered the 40-year-old’s body in the boot. She explained how she and a team of experts spent several days examining the scene, just yards from Swanwick Railway station in October 2008, as well as the car, Paula’s clothing and the house and car of her secret lover Roger Kearney.

Under cross-examination, Nigel Pascoe QC asked Miss Oliver: “The fact is, after detailed examination of blood and DNA, no forensic links were found between Paula Poolton and Roger Kearney were there?”

Miss Oliver replied: “No.”

The jury was also shown for the first time the bloodstained clothes Paula was wearing when she was found dumped in the boot of her black Peugeot 206.

Earlier in the day the court heard how a policeman described Kearney’s behaviour as “tense” and “cagey” just days after Paula, of Course Park Crescent, Titchfield, had disappeared.

PC Anthony Godfrey told jurors that he found twice-divorced Kearney, who has two grown-up children and two grandchildren, to be “nervous” and “vacant” when he asked him about Paula going missing. Kearney, 57, denies murder.

Proceeding.