THE boyfriend of murdered British backpacker Caroline Stuttle yesterday told of their last telephone conversation shortly before she was allegedly hurled 30ft to her death from a bridge in Australia.

Ian Douglas Previte, 32, denies the murder and robbery of the 19-year-old in Bundaberg, 220 miles north of Brisbane, on April 10, 2002.

The student, from York, was walking across Burnett River traffic bridge about 9pm when she was attacked.

The prosecution claims drifter Mr Previte, a known addict, was trying snatch her handbag for money to buy drugs

Her boyfriend, Ian Nelson, told the Queensland Supreme Court of the last conversation he had with Miss Stuttle.

Mr Nelson, 23, an Edinburgh bank worker, said she had sounded happy when she called him in York from a pay- phone at Bundaberg Post Office.

''We talked about what she had been doing ... her mood was fine,'' he said.

Mr Nelson said Miss Stuttle travelling companion Sarah Holiday had rung on her mobile phone to check on her.

Miss Stuttle arranged to ring Miss Holiday twice on Miss Holiday's mobile, to signal she was returning home to their caravan park cabin.

Mr Nelson said he had known Miss Stuttle for two years and that she had worked at Pizza Hut to save for the trip.

The jury was also told that no identifiable DNA from the scene could be found to match that of the accused killer.

Forensic scientist Christine Bentley said the only identifiable DNA was on the strap of Miss Stuttle's bag and that belonged to her.

Dr Bentley said there was DNA from two other people on the strap which belonged to a man, but there was not enough for a positive identification. Other personal items were also tested, but again, the DNA was insufficient to come up with a profile.

The trial continues.