NIKITTA TRIAL DAY 7: Follow our live blog (From South Wales Argus)

FOLLOW our live blog of the Nikitta Grender trial with our reporters sending updates from 10am today.

Pregnant teenager Nikitta Grender was found dead at her Lliswerry home after a fire in February last year.

Carl Whant, 27, of no fixed address, stands accused of the rape and murder of Miss Grender on February 5 last year. He is also accused of arson and child destruction. He denies all the charges.

Miss Banks has finished giving her evidence. Only a half day today - the trial resumes on Tuesday morning #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:52:07 2012

Miss Banks: Checked the whole footwell for bloodstains. Only the three were found #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:46:11 2012

Miss Banks: Blood on car mat led me to believe there would be blood on the footwell #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:44:55 2012

Mr Kinch's cross examination has finished #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:41:37 2012

Bloodstains on towel were not indicative of a serious injury #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:32:54 2012

Mr Mayes DNA also found on non-bloodstained part of towel #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:32:16 2012

Bloodstained towel found in bathroom, 15 on one side, four on the other. Tested one stain and it was a full match for #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:31:33 2012

Dilute stains on shirt suggest there were not large stains wiped out by washing #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:26:08 2012

Mr Kinch: There is some DNA on Whant's shirt belonging to another woman which isn't blood #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:23:35 2012

Miss Banks: Can't say when blood in the car was deposited #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:17:37 2012

Miss Banks: Thought best to do examination of car mat at the lab so instructed scene of crime officer to bag it up #nikkita Fri Jan 27 12:11:23 2012

Blood only found in footwell of the car, nowhere else #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:08:02 2012

Mr Kinch: handshake would not leave DNA under the nails, more prolonged or intimate contact needed #nikitta Fri Jan 27 12:04:34 2012

Nail bed of #nikitta's right ring finger had minor DNA components, some similarities with other nails, possibly from same person Fri Jan 27 12:03:16 2012

Under #nikitta's right middle fingernail there were small, unconfirmed DNA contributions from a man. Not Mr Mayes or Whant Fri Jan 27 12:01:29 2012

Miss Banks: Clothing worn by CSIs make it highly unlikely they will deposit DNA at the scene Fri Jan 27 11:56:41 2012

Miss Banks: I believe the more fire damage there is to a surface, the less likely it is DNA will survive #nikitta Fri Jan 27 11:54:44 2012

Mr Kinch: If someone scratched their attacker, you've got the best chance of recovering DNA but movement and washing can remove it Fri Jan 27 11:53:43 2012

Miss Banks: Semen found "within range" of time of death but could have been earlier Fri Jan 27 11:42:43 2012

Fabric remants found round #nikitta's face and head were all bloodstained Fri Jan 27 11:41:16 2012

Miss Banks given a pair of knickers and pyjamas from #nikitta's flat last October Fri Jan 27 11:36:03 2012

Miss Banks: Telling a person's gender from a full DNA profile almost 100% accurate Fri Jan 27 11:30:13 2012

Miss Banks about to be cross examined by defence counsel Christopher Kinch #nikitta Fri Jan 27 11:01:16 2012

Jury see the mat from Whant's car #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:52:03 2012

Miss Banks: DNA matching #nikitta on Whant's jacket gives "extremely strong support" it came from blood Fri Jan 27 10:49:07 2012

Blood found on inside upper front of Whant's jacket #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:46:10 2012

Miss Banks: Saliva or touch DNA less likely to remain after shirt was washed #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:45:30 2012

Miss Banks: DNA on shirt matching #nikitta came from blood or other bodily fluid. Evidence gives moderately strong support it was from blood Fri Jan 27 10:44:42 2012

Dilute bloodstains found on Whant's shirt, matching #nikitta. Consistent with shirt being washed after blood coming into contact with shirt Fri Jan 27 10:42:30 2012

No blood found on Whant's nail swabs #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:40:41 2012

Miss Banks: Either #nikitta did not scratch Whant or DNA was lost in the fire, unable to say which Fri Jan 27 10:39:34 2012

Whant's DNA not found under nails of #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:38:38 2012

Miss Banks: Unable to date Whant's semen, could have been up to five days before #nikitta's death Fri Jan 27 10:36:47 2012

Miss Banks: In my opinion, blood was wet when it came into contact with the floor #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:34:28 2012

Bloodstains approx 34cm from driver's seat approx 27.5cm from door #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:29:47 2012

Floor of driver's footwell examined. Three bloodstains found #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:28:41 2012

Three small bloodstains found. One examined and was match for #nikitta's DNA profile Fri Jan 27 10:26:47 2012

Car mat examined, blood found on underside #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:25:02 2012

Jury see pic of footwell carpet on driver's side of the Focus #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:22:38 2012

Car examined over three hours #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:21:26 2012

No blood found on the car key for the Focus #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:20:08 2012

Miss Banks examined Whant's Ford Focus on 8/2/11 #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:19:26 2012

Miss Banks: More DNA for Whant than #nikitta on jacket Fri Jan 27 10:17:58 2012

Three DNA profiles on inside of neck, Whant was one, unable to determine if #nikitta was another Fri Jan 27 10:16:55 2012

Minor profile matched that of Whant #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:15:42 2012

Police marked jacket to show two areas of blood staining #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:12:50 2012

Blood staining on top of right sleeve #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:11:44 2012

Jury shown Whant's jacket #nikitta Fri Jan 27 10:06:46 2012

Melanie Banks is first up, finishing giving her evidence #nikitta Fri Jan 27 09:56:27 2012

Back in the #nikitta trial today. I'll be tweeting from 10am Fri Jan 27 09:22:17 2012