The DNA of a man accused of murdering Portadown teenagers Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine was found on the heavily bloodstained jacket of one of the young victims, a court heard yesterday.

Steven Leslie Brown, who is also known as Steven Revels, is currently standing trial at Belfast Crown Court for the murders of Andrew and David. The 28-year old from Castle Place in Castlecaulfield denies the charges.

The pair were lured from a house in Tandragee and taken to a country road on the outskirts of the town where they were stabbed to death in the early hours of February 19, 2000.

Forensic experts gave evidence at yesterday’s hearing when it emerged DNA matching that of Brown was found in two bloodstains on David’s jacket. Andrew’s blood was also found on David’s jeans, prompting a forensic expert to conclude Andrew (19) was bleeding before David (18) was attacked and the blood was transferred from one victim to the other “from the weapon or the attacker.”

Colette Quinn, a senior scientific officer with the Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory, re-examined items linked to the murder in 2005 which were initially examined in 2000.

Among them were a jacket David was wearing and a red Peugeot 205 which at the time was owned by Brown.

Ms Quinn said several of the bloodstains on the jacket were tested, adding “DNA from two spots of projected blood found on the left front of the jacket” matched that of Brown.

She also told the court that a search of the Peugeot, including numerous swabs, was conducted. Ms Quinn revealed: “No DNA, blood, fibres or hairs linked Mr Robb or Mr McIlwaine to the Peugeot 205.”

At hearing.