Jul 04, 2007 - 04:13:20 CDT
MINOT (AP) - A DNA analyst and director of the state crime lab says DNA found under Mindy Morgenstern's fingernails likely was not from touching a doorknob in her apartment building.Crime lab director Hope Olson returned to the witness stand Tuesday in the murder trial of Moe Gibbs, a former Barnes County jailer who is accused of strangling and stabbing Morgenstern, a Valley City State University student, in her off-campus apartment last fall.
Gibbs' attorneys have said the DNA found under Morgenstern's fingernails, which was matched to Gibbs, could have come from touching the doorknob of the apartment building where Morgenstern and Gibbs both lived.
"It's extremely unlikely that it's 'touch DNA,'" Olson said Tuesday.
Defense attorney Jeff Bredahl questioned Olson about her knowledge of touch DNA and objected to her testimony.
Judge John Paulson overruled his objections.
Olson testified for almost seven hours over two days.
Two doctors who examined Gibbs - Tanya Diegel and Paul Diegel - also testified Tuesday about injuries on his hands.
They estimated the injuries likely happened during a span of time that included Sept. 13, the day authorities say Morgenstern was killed.
Both doctors said the injuries could have been inflicted by fingernails, or by the process of moving boxes.
Gibbs told authorities he cut his hands packing or moving boxes out of his apartment.
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