Forensic scientists found the DNA of a man accused of sexually assaulting his former partner with a baseball bat on the striking end of the bat, the Supreme Court in Launceston heard on Friday.
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The evidence came in a trial of a man who has pleaded not guilty to a count of persistent family violence in Mowbray between August and November 2019.
A 26-year-old woman gave evidence this week that the man hit her on the legs with the bat and pushed it 'very hard' into her vagina to a depth of 2-3 centimetres.
Forensic scientist Dr Charles Connor said that examination of the bat found semen on the striking end as well as the pommel end.
The testing was done because of information provided to Forensic Science Services Tasmania by Tasmania Police.
He said that semen could remain in the vagina for up to three days after sexual intercourse.
FSST scientist Carl Grosser said a DNA test of the semen swab found that the accused man was a potential contributor with a likelihood of 100 billion - the highest ratio.
The woman was also a contributor but there was not enough material to test for a possible third contributor.
The jury heard that the woman told an LGH sexual assault examiner Rachel Boucher that she had consensual sexual intercourse with the accused man two days before police intervention in November .
The woman gave evidence that the man held her by one leg and struck her with the bat on the other leg before inserting it into her vagina twice.
Forensic scientists found no trace of blood on a hammer, which is alleged to have been used to strike the woman on the head.
Under cross examination by defence counsel Evan Hughes, Ms Boucher told the jury that the woman did not tell her about an alleged stomping of her pregnant stomach at a consultation.
The jury has heard this week that the woman alleged that the man tried to stomp on her.
She said that he said: "Make sure you kill that baby, you wanted an abortion anyway, I will do it for you."
Ms Boucher forensically examined the woman after police intervention because of the allegation of sexual assault.
"At no stage did she say she was stomped on or that significant force was applied to the pregnancy?," Mr Hughes asked. "Correct," Ms Boucher replied.
The man has pleaded not guilty, denying that the 10 incidents comprising the persistent family violence charge occurred.
Ms Boucher agreed with a suggestion from Mr Hughes it was possible that pregnant women bruise more easily.
The trial continues on Friday.
Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
