FORENSIC samples found on the body Hampshire grandmother Georgina Edmonds were not tested because the chances of them providing 'useful evidence' wasn't thought to be high enough, a court heard.

The samples that were later tested in fact did yield a DNA profile that allegedly provided a match to defendant Matthew Hamlen who is accused of murdering Mrs Edmonds.

Giving evidence at Winchester Crown Court, forensic expert Michael Appleby explained how a number of samples retrieved by using lengths of sticky tape to capture forensic material left on the surface of Mrs Edmonds clothes were taken at the scene in January 2008.

Although examined shortly afterwards, no attempt to retrieve DNA from it was undertaken, he said, due to the sample being from the upper part of her clothing where there was much more forensic material identified that could have been from a number of sources.

When asked why no attempt was made to retrieve any DNA in the early stages of the investigation from that particular sticky tape sample, Mr Appleby said it was thought the chance of finding anything "wasn't high enough to provide useful or informative evidence."

Jurors have heard from prosecutor Michael Bowes QC that when it was later examined for DNA, a profile was found which allegedly is 26 million times more likely to be that of Hamlen than someone not related to him.

As reported, the jury has been told that it was on that basis that Hamlen, who had already been tried and cleared of the murder, was re-arrested for the killing.

Mr Appleby was also asked about the chances of the sample being contaminated in some way in the six years between when it was taken in 2008 and when it was tested in 2014 and whether any of Mr Hamlen's DNA could have been inadvertently picked up by the sample.

He said: "I can't conceive of how that could have occurred."

Mr Appleby also gave evidence in connection with the rolling pin which the prosecution say was used to hit Mrs Edmonds.

He said given the forensic evidence retrieved from it, in his opinion it was used to strike Mrs Edmonds.

He said: "It supported my inference that the rolling pin was used to strike at least one blow on Georgina Edmonds."

The jury has heard that Mrs Edmonds was found in a pool of blood at her home in Fig Tree Cottage in Brambridge in January 2008. The prosecution allege that she had been tortured for her cash card PIN before being beaten to death.

Hamlen, 36, denies murder.

Proceeding