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