Usifo Ataga's Murder: Expert Discloses Forensic Result of Blood on Chidinma's Cloth
- The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, who was accused of killing Michael Ataga, has been marked by new revelations brought forth by a forensic expert
- Richard Somiari, the forensic expert, said a DNA on the blood found on Chidinma's blouse matched that of Usifo Ataga
- The forensic expert testified before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court in Lagos
Dr Richard Somiari, the eleventh prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, who was accused of killing Michael Ataga, has said the DNA done on blood found on the student's blouse matched that of the Super TV CEO.
Somiari testified before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court, which is sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, on Tuesday, April 16.
Source: Twitter
How UNILAG student killed Ataga
Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is charged with the murder of Ataga alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri, Channels Television reported.
Dr. Richard Somiari is the centre director/consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensics Centre.
Led in evidence by the Lagos State deputy director of public prosecutions, Adenike Oluwafemi, Dr Somiari stated that he has the highest level of oversight and produces administrative and technical reviews of reports.
Chidinma's trial: Expert shares more details
The forensic analyst also disclosed before the court that his office received 21 items from the staff members of their DNA centre on different days concerning Chidinma's case.
Somiari maintained that he received the items for evidence, including a stained red dress, an army green T-shirt, and a DNA sample from Chidinma.
The analyst stated that other items received were gastric content, urine, bile and blood, which were retained for a toxicology report.
He mentioned that the objective was to create a triangle of evidence linking the suspect to the victim and the crime scene.
Cross-examination of Dr Somiari
During cross examination Dr Somiari was queried about his statement by the defendant's lawyer, Onwuka Egwu about his claims that the DNA results was 99% accurate and only one in a quadrillion would match.
However, the response from Dr Somiari over the veracity of STR process used to identify the blood on the red blouse used for the test didn't match the DNA of the defendant. This left rooms for queries noting that Chidinma's DNA wasn't identify on the dress that was found in the crime scene.
Below is the exchange that took place between Barr Onwuka and Dr Somiari:
Lawyer: "DNA samples. The B2 questioned DNA samples is the same as the one found on the red blouse?"
Dr Somiari: "Yes"
Lawyer: "You said that the STR profile obatained from this blouse didn't match that of the suspects?"
Dr Somiari: "Yes"
Lawyer: "On page 9, you said that the DNA sample is 7,000,000,000,000,000 (7 quadrillion) that of Micheal Ataga?"
Dr Somiari: "Yes"
Lawyer: "The short Tandem Report is SRT was used in analyzing it?"
Forensic expert: "Yes"
Lawyer: "While testing with STR, it is afact that for every DNA sample e.g yours, Milord's and mine will 99.9% match?
Dr Somiari: "Yes sir"
This line of conclusion throws Dr Somiari's earlier statements open for discussion and near invalid.
How Chidinma transferred money from Ataga's account
Legit.ng earlier reported that DSP Olusegun Bamidele, the 9th prosecution witness against the embattled Chidinma, said the UNILAG student withdrew N5m from Usifo Ataga's account to another.
The undergraduate has also been charged with stealing and forgery with her sister, Egbuchu, and Quadri.
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Source: Legit.ng
