The trial into a cold-case murder of a Kelowna, B.C., teenager opened Wednesday with evidence that DNA of the accused killer matched what was found inside the victim's body.
The body of college student Jennifer Cusworth, 19, was found dumped in a ditch after a house party in Kelowna on Oct. 16, 1993.
Neil Snelson, a father-of-four who is very active in his church, was charged in 2009 after being linked through DNA evidence. It was almost 16 years to the day after Cusworth's death.
RCMP Cpl. Bill Parmar said in May 2009 police obtained DNA samples from four different men who attended the party with Cusworth, but only Snelson's matched evidence at the scene.
Parmar told the trial that Snelson was shown photos of Cusworth, but he denied seeing her at the party.
Parmar also testified Snelson, who is married, admitted to having unprotected sex with one woman and fooling around with another.
Cusworth was strangled and beaten with a blunt object repeatedly before being dumped at the side of a road.
Snelson has no previous criminal record. The trial is expected to last four weeks.
With files from The Canadian Press
