A HOME-MADE baton alleged to be the weapon used to kill a 10-month-old baby was found carrying DNA matching the man accused of the murder, the Supreme Court has heard.
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Victoria Police forensic officer Kate Outteridge told the court several sections of the baton were tested for DNA matches.
Ms Outteridge said tests of one section of the baton found "extremely strong support for the hypothesis that Zayden Veal-Whitting is a contributor to the DNA detected'', with it being 14 billion times more likely to come from Zayden Veal-Whitting and two unknown people than if it originated from three unknown people selected from the Australian Caucasian population.
The same section showed "very strong support for the hypothesis that Harley Hicks is a contributor to the DNA detected''.
Further mixed partial DNA profiles were obtained, with the end of the baton featuring exposed copper wires showing "it is at least 2.1 trillion times more likely to obtain this DNA profile if it originated from Zayden Veal-Whitting'' and providing extremely strong support for the hypothesis that Zayden Veal-Whitting was a contributor to the DNA detected. It also showed "strong support for the hypothesis that Harley Hicks is a contributor to the DNA".
Further tests on separated sections of the baton found it was "at least 2.1 trillion times more likely to obtain this DNA profile if it originates from Zayden Veal-Whitting" and "at least 48,000 times more likely to obtain this DNA profile it originates from Harley Hicks''.
The court also heard DNA matching Hicks was found on a pair of sunglasses and Zayden's DNA was found on a set top box. Ms Outteridge said identical twins carried identical DNA reference samples. Harley Hicks has a twin brother.