Murderer left 'autograph' on body of Naomi Smith

Naomi Smith, the schoolgirl found murdered in a children's park, had a crucial "DNA autograph" on her mutilated body, a jury heard yesterday. Tests showed that saliva found in a bite on 15-year-old Naomi's body fitted the DNA profile of Edwin Hopkins, 20, Birmingham Crown Court was told. Mr Hopkins had an "incredibly rare" DNA profile found only in one in every 250 million people, said Colman Treacy QC, for the prosecution.

His teeth were also a perfect match for the bite mark - and his sister, Julie, gave police vital evidence about his whereabouts on the night of Naomi's death, said Mr Treacy as he outlined the prosecution case to the jury of six men and six women. Mr Hopkins, of Ansley Common, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, denies murder. Naomi vanished after popping out to post a letter in her home village of Ansley Common in September 1995. Her throat had been cut and she had been sexually assaulted.

"It was probably better than if the killer had left his autograph," Mr Treacy said. "Because what was found in the area around the breast provides some of the most valuable evidence for the prosecution in this case." The trial continues.