It's a match: DNA of Brandon Phillips found on hat, sneakers, jury told

DNA matching Brandon Phillips, accused of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Larry Wellman, was found on a hat and sneakers, a St. John's court heard Tuesday.

Florence Clestin, an expert in DNA analysis from theRCMP'scrimelabin Ottawa, did not complete the testing but did review the reports completed by her retired colleague.

The lab tested a number of pieces of evidence,Clestinsaid, including a pair of Nike Jordans, a navy hat, a shotgun shell, and a piece of wood.

1 in 18 quintillion

One out of the pair of sneakers, which police discovered at30AQuidiVidiRoad, was found to haveWellman'sDNA on the tread of the heel.

Phillips's DNA was found on the upper tongue of the right sneaker, she said. The chance the DNA belongsto someone else is one in 18 quintillion.

Crown attorney Mark Heerema told the jury earlier in the trial that Phillips had been watched by police entering and exiting the home on Quidi Vidi Road.

That's also where, according to Heerema, the alleged murder weapon was found.

Clestinalso testified to the DNA found on a navy hat that was found on Forest Avenue, which runs behind the Captain's Quarters Hotel.

Phillips's DNA was discovered on the inside of the hat and near the two slits that were made to the front.

Phillips's DNA was also found to be on a red shotgun shell, while Wellman'sDNA was on a piece of wood that was seized from the hotel.

Crown rests case this week

Jurors, who have entered the third week of the trial, heard from a firearms expert Monday who travelled from Ottawa to take the stand.

Laura Knowles testified that tests on the alleged murder weapon determined the gun discharged upon impact on the receiver and barrel.

Crime scene analysts are expected to be on the witness stand Wednesday.

Janet Hutchings, the bartender who was held up the night Wellmanintervened and was killed, is expected to take the stand on Thursday closing out the Crown's case.

Follow the latest from the trial on ourlive blog. Can't see on mobile? Click here.

So far in the trial, the jury has:

• Seensecurity footagefrom the barduring the 2015 robbery
• Heard fromWellman'swidowabout the night her husband was killed
• Listened totestimony fromConst. Barry Reynolds, the police officer who stayed withWellmanduring his final moments
• Heard from ShawnDeeley,a former patron at the Captain's Quarters
• Receivedan update from Dr. Simon Avis, chief medical examiner for Newfoundland and Labrador, testifiedWellmanwaskilled by a single gunshot to the groin
• Been shown evidencesuch as amask and shotgunthat were collected after the shooting
• Learned that a single particle ofgunshot residue was found on a hatdiscovered near the hotel
• Heard evidence that the alleged murder weapon discharged in testing without touching the trigger