The jury in the Aaron Easton murder trial was told that DNA tests showed that blood on a piece of concrete block found at the murder scene matched blood samples of Stanford Archibald.

Archibald, 39, denies the charge of killing Mr. Easton 18 years ago.

Mr. Easton's body was found in a pool of blood in the early hours of May 4, 1985. He had suffered 49 stab wounds, several of which had punctured his lungs and other organs. A concrete block which had been thrown was found broken into pieces near his head.

Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser maintains that the case is based on circumstantial and DNA evidence.

Former Government analyst Kevin Leask confirmed that samples of the concrete block, along with Archibald's blood sample, were sent to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Forensic Laboratories in Canada for analysis.

RCMP forensic biologist Paul Roussy told the six-woman, six-man jury that the DNA tests showed that blood taken from a handprint on the piece of block matched that of the accused.

"The blood on the block showed a mixed profile," said Mr. Roussy.

"The major component matched the profile of sample CON 23, which was the blood sample of Stanford Archibald."

Mr. Ratneser asked: "What are the chances of two unrelated individuals having matched profiles?"

Mr. Roussy said: "It is extremely remote."

But Mr. Roussy also said blood on several other items that were sent did not match either Archibald's or the deceased.

He said blood found near the light switch in Mr. Easton's apartment was inconclusive.

And blood found on several swabs taken from the toilet and other areas of the crime scene did not match either the dead man or Archibald.

Dr. Leask said that after the blocks were examined in 1996 they were repackaged in plastic bags, rather than the original brown bags that they had been delivered in.

He said the pieces of block weighed around 15.75 kilograms, which he said is about 35 pounds.

He also refitted the pieces of block together and photographs were taken.

Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill asked what the stains were surrounding the pieces of block in the pictures.

Dr. Leask said: "It is debris from the block."

Mr. Pettingill suggested that the stains were wet blood rather than debris, but Dr. Leask insisted they were not.

Mr. Pettingill also said that the blood vials of Archibald and another murder suspect and neighbour of the deceased - the late Albert (Poochy) Smith - were not delivered in sealed plastic bags, but were in pathologist Dr. Keith Cunningham's pockets.

Dr. Leask said he knew that Dr. Cunningham had delivered them, but could not say whether they were in his pockets or not.

Mr. Pettingill asked whether Dr. Leask had a predisposition as to who was the main suspect.

Dr. Leask said: "Various indications had been made to me by Police officers dealing with the case."

Mr. Pettingill said: "I was wondering why you wrote at the top of your report 'case against Stanford Archibald'.

"At the time of your dealing with this matter, someone was indicating a case against Stanford Archibald, before the results of the DNA tests were in."

The case continues today before Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller.