A MAN was trapped by science more than four years after a Wigan schoolgirl was found battered and strangled to death, a murder trial jury was told.

Detectives hunting the murderer of Louise Sellars, aged 15, had quizzed Darren Ashurst at the time her body was discovered near hospital grounds.

Prosecutor Anthony Russell, QC, told a jury at Manchester Crown Court, it was only thanks to developments in DNA techniques that resulted in Ashurst, aged 26, of Appley Bridge, Wigan, being rearrested.

A cigarette butt found just four yards from Louise's body had initially been examined but a test had revealed insufficient DNA to carry out successful analysis.

However, the same butt was examined again last year and a profile was obtained.

Mr Russell said when compared with Ashurst's profile, they matched 'in every particular that was capable of being examined'.

Tyre marks similar to the tyres on Ashurst's distinctive Ford Escort had also been found near Louise's body.

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