The Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial will today see defence witness Dr Brian McDonald cross-examined by the prosecution, which is assisted by chemist Dr Seah Lay Hong.Seah and another chemist, Nor Aidora Saedon, received flak following McDonald's contention yesterday that they did not fulfill or follow established standards and standards in examining DNA samples submitted to them by the police.
2.40pm: Court resumes.
2.45pm: McDonald says that it is not surprising, but odd that sperm in this case was found after 56 hours.
Yusof now refers to another article - containing the name of Dr David Wells - that said sperm can be recovered after 72 hours. Wells is the Australian forensic pathologist hired by Anwar. He had testified that semen or sperm retrieved after 36 hours would not be pretty.
2.48pm: Yusof: You said it would be difficult to find sperm after 56 hours?
McDonald: It is unusual. One in 3,000 is unusual.
Yusof: After 56 hours and another 48 hours handed to the chemist, the method of preservation in room temperature and the swab should be frozen?
McDonald: I would agree and that the slide to be air dried and frozen. The samples should also be air-dried or frozen. I would place it in the freezer.
2.52pm: Yusof shows DNA a practical guide book to McDonald, and points to page 56.
Yusof: Based on this literature, and what Dr Siew Sheue Feng said, is to place it in air tight containers ... It is kept air-tight and put it in room temperature.
Can Saiful's rectum be the crime scene?
McDonald: It would be where the crime took place.
3.02pm: Yusof: When Dr Mohd Razali Ibrahim examined the rectum, there was no fluid and there was moisture in the peri-anal area.
McDonald: The literature says exactly what I had said.
3.05pm: Yusof asks how long it takes for swabs to dry.
McDonald: It depends on one swab than the other. It depends on the moisture. I cannot say how long it takes to air-dry a swab. You do not put it directly in the container as it (would) have to be air dried.
Yusof: If it is wet?
McDonald: What do you mean?
McDonald says he agrees: "You can retrieve it."
3.23pm: Yusof says if one goes by the literature, you can maintain samples at room temperature.
McDonald disagrees, sayd it would depend on the temperature and whether it is kept in a bacterial environment.
3.26pm: McDonald says freezing will stop bacterial growth, which will affect the DNA.
3.27pm: Yusof says McDonald asserts that slides (on a plastic receptacle) should have been done.McDonald this is based on the international literature.
Yusof: Is it the medical doctor or forensic scientist?
McDonald: It should be the doctor. But the important thing is that you have the slide to look at. What you get is to look at when the sample was taken.
3.40pm: Yusof asks how many sperm cell you need to develop a profile.
McDonald says you need 50 out of 100 million (following ejaculation).
3.42pm: Yusof says that in this particular case, Seah conducted the AP test, and McDonald says it is not consistent with the literature?
McDonald: Yes, it is not consistent as there must be semen in abundance.
Yusof: I read the notes of proceeding page 868. For swabs of B1 to B9, two tests were used: the PSA and immuno acid test to test the presence of semen.
Seah said she only conducted the AP test on the clothing. How could you tell (the court) that Seah said should not (have conducted the) AP test. Where is your honesty?
McDonald: I am not sure. Honesty is not an issue.
(Laughter by prosecution).
McDonald says he was making the comment as to how much semen (was there).
3.52pm: Yusof asks for the trial to continue tomorrow.
3.55pm: Court is adjourned and will resume tomorrow at 9am.
source:malaysiakini
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