FREDERICTON - DNA belonging to Gregory Despres was found on a dagger left at the blood-spattered home where an elderly New Brunswick couple were murdered two years ago.

Joy Kearsey, a DNA expert from the RCMP crime lab in Halifax, testified Tuesday that blood from the victims was also found on clothing belonging to Despres. Despres, 24, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the April 2005 killings of Fred Fulton, 74, and wife, Verna Decarie, 70.

Decarie's daughter, Sandra Martin, left the court after the testimony to return to her home in Kentville, N.S.

She told reporters outside the Fredericton courthouse that she has heard enough about the deaths of her mother and stepfather in their small home in Minto, N.B.

She said the evidence, including blood and DNA evidence, has convinced her that Fulton did what he could to protect his wife and home.

"It means Fred was doing his best to protect Mom and he put up a hell of a fight," Martin said, fighting tears.

Blood evidence collected at the scene tell a tale of savagery and struggle in the final moments of the two elderly victims.

Although a crime scene video played earlier in the trial has already shown the enormous amount of blood at the scene, especially around the decapitated corpse of Fulton, crime scene analysts have minutely detailed the places blood was collected from, including walls, ceilings, floors, door handles and a bathtub.

Kearsey told the court that most of the blood came from Fulton.

She said the elderly man's blood was found on a motion sensor found destroyed in the back porch of the home, along with a "possible contribution" from Despres.

Kearsey said that in many of the mixed samples where two or more persons contributed DNA, it's difficult to say definitely who the DNA came from.

Fulton's blood was also found in the kitchen, the bathroom, the bedroom and on door handles. Decarie's blood at the crime scene was found only in the bedroom, where her body was found slumped by the bed.

Fulton and Decarie were both stabbed numerous times. Fulton's decapitated head was found in a pillow case beneath the kitchen table. His body was on the kitchen floor.

Kearsey testified that she found DNA belonging to Despres on the handle of the dagger, beneath some tape.

She said items of clothing belonging to Despres were stained with blood from both victims, including a pair of pants found in St. Stephen, N.B., near the border that Despres crossed.

She said DNA belonging to Despres was also found on the waistband of the pants.

Despres was arrested in Massachusetts on April 26, 2005, the day the bodies of Fulton and Decarie were discovered in their home.

Kearsey said she was unable to compile a full DNA profile of blood found on the handle and blade of a homemade sword seized from Despres at the Maine-New Brunswick border, but added that Fulton and Despres cannot be excluded as donors.

Darryl Barr, an RCMP toolmark specialist, told the court he couldn't say for sure whether the sword seized from Despres caused the wounds.

He said he couldn't identify or eliminate the sword, the dagger and a knife Despres was carrying as weapons used at the crime scene.

"So, maybe and maybe not," defence lawyer Ed Derrah said to Barr, referring to the possible use of the sword.

The trial will continue Wednesday.