Complainant’s DNA found on couch and bedspread in Tony Humby’s trailer
CBC
WARNING: This article contains details of alleged sexual abuse.
Forensic evidence revealed in court Thursday provided a link between a complainant in the Tony Humby case and the trailer where the young man alleges he was sexually assaulted.
Florence Célestin, a DNA expert at the RCMP crime lab in Ottawa, took the stand at Humby’s sexual violence trial.
Célestin testified that DNA found on a couch in Humby’s trailer was 35 quadrillion times more likely to have come from that complainant than from someone selected at random in the Canadian caucasian population.
A quadrillion is the number one followed by 15 zeroes.
Earlier in the trial, that complainant testified that he was a youth living in a group home when he was assaulted by Humby in the trailer.
Célestin said another DNA sample found on a bedspread was consistent with originating from two individuals — that same teen and Humby himself.
Humby was noted as a possible contributor, at 110,000 times more likely; the youth, also a possible contributor, at 45 million times more likely.
Célestin simplified the science.
“In English, I would say it’s way more likely that [the complainant’s] profile is included in this mixture,” Celestin said.
“But [Humby’s] profile is also very much likely included in that mixture.”
On cross-examination, defence lawyer Mark Gruchy raised the issue of DNA being transferred.
“You can’t say as a matter of science how DNA gets somewhere, only that it is there, within whatever statistical analysis of strength you ultimately derive from it,” Gruchy said to Célestin.
“Correct,” Célestin replied. “I cannot say when and how the DNA got there. I can only say it is there.”
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