Shirt tissue proves Lundy killed family - Crown

The Crown prosecution in the Lundy double murder trial say that central nervous system tissue found on Mark Lundy's polo shirt proves he killed his wife and daughter.

The trial, in its seventh week, has heard from more than 130 witnesses, and today the Crown has started to deliver its closing address at the High Court in Wellington.

Crown prosecutor Philip Morgan began his closing address to the jury of seven men and five women this afternoon.

The crown alleges that in "the wee small hours" of August 30, 2000, Mark Lundy, 56, drove to Palmerston North from Wellington, where he killed his wife Christine, and daughter Amber, using one of his tools, before returning to Wellington.

Lundy has denied the charges.

Mr Hislop said evidence presented to the jury throughout the trial proved Lundy was guilty of killing his wife and daughter.

"His car tells us how far he travelled.

"His shirt tells us where he went and who he did what he did to.

"The scene tells us what he did, the post mortem tells us what he did it with.

"Witness X tells us why he did what he did to Amber, and the evidence about the finances, why he did it," Mr Hislop said.

Mr Morgan said it was central nervous system tissue found on a polo shirt worn by Lundy on the night of the murder, and this "demonstrates clearly and unequivocally that he was the killer".

"Mark Lundy, has his wife Christine Lundy's brain on his shirt," Mr Hislop said. "No husband should have his wife's brain on his shirt, not after she's been murdered.

"You can say what you like about impossibility. What the crown says is nothing is impossible if you end up with your wife's brian on your shirt."

Samples from the polo shirt were tested several times, and there was also evidence of Christine's DNA on the shirt, he said.

Mr Morgan said Lundy would have to be the "unluckiest" man in the world, to end up with central nervous system tissue and his wife's DNA on his polo shirt had he not committed the murders.

Mr Morgan also told jurors the use of Lundy's car demonstrated he was guilty of killing his wife and daughter.

Earlier today, the defence called its final witness, Tim McKinnel, a private investigator and former police officer.

Mr McKinnel was instructed by the defence to carry out a review of the work police did questioning residents near the Lundys' house.

Mr McKinnel told the court he focused on noises heard, people seen, and other general activity in the area surrounding the Lundys' home on the night of August 29 between 8.30pm and midnight.

He also looked at physical evidence or objects located around the Lundys' home that may have had some significance.

The trail continues.

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Key pieces of evidence

- Crown prosecutor Philip Morgan started to give his closing statements this afternoon.

- The crown says in the "the wee small hours" of August 30, 2000, Mark Lundy, 56, drove to Palmerston North from Wellington, where he killed his wife Christine, and daughter Amber, using one of his tools, before returning to Wellington.

- Central nervous system tissue found on Mark Lundy's polo shirt "demonstrates clearly and unequivocally that he was the killer".

- Lundy would have to be the "unluckiest" man in the world to end up with central nervous system tissue and Christine's DNA on his shirt had he not committed the murders.

- Earlier today, the defence called their final witness, Tim McKinell, a private investigator who carried out a review of the work police did questioning residents near the Lundys' house.

By Nikki Papatsoumas of NZME. News Service