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By Brian Lazenby
Staff Writer
At least three of four bloodstains found on a slaying suspect's shirt likely belonged to the woman whose nearly naked body was found in an illegal dump covered with wood and debris, according to testimony Wednesday in Hamilton County Criminal Court.
Sarah Shields, a DNA analyst with Bode Technology in Lorton, Va., testified the stains contained DNA belonging to Timothy Sorrells and contained "data consistent with" that of victim Virginia Knight.
However, Ms. Shields also testified that another stain appeared to have come from a man, but it did not belong to Mr. Sorrells.
Mr. Sorrells, 41, is charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the May 21, 2006, strangulation death of 53-year-old Ms. Knight.
Executive Assistant District Attorney Neal Pinkston said Ms. Knight's almost naked body was discovered May 23, 2006, along Asbury Park Drive and was hidden by trash and debris. Her pelvis was broken in at least six places, he said.
"She had been covered with pallets and boards, and she was badly decomposed," Mr. Pinkston said. "She had been there about two days."
Defense attorney Dan Ripper said the presence of someone else's DNA is reason to believe that Mr. Sorrells is not responsible for Ms. Knight's death.
Prosecutors played a video recording of an interview of police questioning Mr. Sorrells on May 22, 2006, a day before Ms. Knight's body was found. At the time, police were investigating a missing person.
During the interview, Mr. Sorrells denied having a sexual relationship with Ms. Knight, but Ms. Shields testified that DNA recovered from Ms. Knight proves that Mr. Sorrells and Ms. Knight had sex.
Mr. Sorrells claimed he was driving Ms. Knight's car when they stopped at Fast Food and Fuel on Rossville Boulevard. He said Ms. Knight approached a truck driver and never returned. He said he believed she got into the truck, but he never actually saw her.
Criminal Court Judge Don Poole said he expects the trial will wrap up today.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
