THE DNA on clothing found in a car after Brendon Lawrence was shot could have come from a man accused of his murder, a jury heard.

After Brendon was shot four times in Watkin Street, St Ann's, on February 19, 2002, two men are alleged to have driven off in a red Ford Fiesta XR2i, which belonged to his cousin.

They visited a prostitute's flat, which they allegedly used to store drugs, and left the gun used in the shooting under her bed, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

The car was abandoned in Westville Gardens, St Ann's, and set on fire. Firefighters put out a small blaze caused by a burning tracksuit.

A hooded top, two pairs of tracksuit bottoms and a pair of trainers from the car were tested for DNA. Components of DNA found on the clothes belonged to Rene Sarpong, 29, of Lamartine Street, St Ann's, who denies Brendon's murder

Forensic scientist Kerry Way said there was a mixed profile on the clothing. A "major contribution" of Sarpong's DNA was on the hooded top, the waistband of a pair of tracksuit bottoms and the underside of the tongue of the left trainer.

DNA found on the tracksuit bottoms had only a one-in-2.2 million chance of coming from someone else. And DNA on trainer had a one-in-82 million probability of being from another person.

Ms Way said: "The widespread DNA and the nature of the profiles obtained and the strength was exactly what I would expect if Rene Sarpong was the habitual wearer of these clothes."

But she could not discount other people having worn or come into contact with the clothing and could not say who the last wearer was.

Co-accused Gary Brown, 45, of Hunloke Road, Chesterfield, denies assisting an offender by getting rid of the hidden gun.

Proceeding