IT was a microscopic spot of blood and it proved, almost eight years after her death, that Julie Smailes had been killed by John Thompson.
Detectives had examined a pillowcase stained with her blood in 1996, but DNA technology then was unable to lead them to the killer. Another splash of blood from patio doors at her home revealed the same DNA profile. Using new techniques in DNA, scientists found her killer's blood was among the blood found on the pillowcase.
Scientists are able to compare DNA profiles taken from a crime scene with information stored on a DNA computer database that holds profiles of convicted offenders. In Miss Smailes' case, scientists may have been able to match the DNA profile from the murder scene to a profile on the database. Thompson was a convicted offender and had served time for violence.
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