A defendant’s DNA matches the genetic profile of a man wanted for raping a Kansas University student in 1997, according to a DNA expert who testified Wednesday in an ongoing rape case in Douglas County District Court, saying the chances of that happening are one in 13 quadrillion.

“That would be a great match,” forensic scientist Sindey Schueler said.

The former biology supervisor at the KBI Lab spent much of Wednesday afternoon testifying about DNA evidence connecting the 36-year-old defendant to a crime that occurred 12 years ago.

The man is standing trial on one count of rape, accused of kidnapping a woman, who was then a 20-year-old Kansas University junior, from the parking lot of Naismith Hall on May 11, 1997, driving her to a secluded area near the tennis courts at Lawrence High School and raping her.

Schueler said the defendant’s DNA profile was found on the victim’s underwear, as well as on evidence collected during a sexual assault examination performed on the victim at the hospital in the hours after the attack.

Earlier in the day, Lawrence Police Capt. Dan Ward took the stand, showing jurors photographs of a series of finger and palm prints he lifted from the victim’s car.

Ward testified that one of the fingerprints collected from the door frame of the car was later identified as the defendant’s.

Prior to the jury entering the courtroom Wednesday morning, the judge heard testimony regarding two motions by the defense requesting a mistrial.

Defense attorney Jessica Travis claims prosecutors intentionally withheld information affecting her client’s right to a fair trial.

That included a surprise identification of the defendant by the victim Tuesday in Douglas County District Court.

The judge ruled prosecutors should have informed the defense that the victim was able to identify her attacker but denied the motions for a mistrial.

The defense is now asking that the in-court identification be suppressed, an issue the judge said she would address when compiling instructions for the jury prior to their deliberations.

Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case this morning.

The Journal-World generally does not identify the suspect in a sex crime unless there is a conviction.