04/04/2010, 08:01 PM
You probably know that to be found guilty of a criminal charge, it must be proven to be "beyond reasonable doubt".
Well, things can get a little tricky if you're an identical twin to someone else and the police are relying on DNA as evidence...
Well, things can get a little tricky if you're an identical twin to someone else and the police are relying on DNA as evidence...
Quote:James and John Parr were both arrested after watches worth £10,000 were 'borrowed' from a shopping centre.- Source: [Telegraph]
The only clue at the scene was blood on a piece of glass and detectives traced the 25-year-old identical twins through DNA tests.
But James and John both denied the theft and, because they have identical DNA, it has been impossible to prove if either of them were responsible.
The Crown Prosecution Service has now decided it cannot press charges against the brothers, from Ramsbottom, Bury.
When the twins were approached, each of them denied that they were responsible for the theft.
James said: "The police told us that they knew it was one of us, but wee both denied it.
"I definitely know I didn't do anything wrong. I was watching my daughter that night."
The dad-of-one added he was unhappy he had been arrested because it had jeopardised his job at JD Sports.
"I had to explain to work that I'd been arrested for thieving," he said. "I'm angry about it. It's done my head in. I think it's wrong that I had to explain myself to work for nothing."
His brother John also denied being responsible for the offence but did not wish to discuss the matter further.
The CPS said it had received a file from police relating to a burglary at a jewellers in Bury's Mill Gate shopping centre in November.
CPS spokesman Rob Pett confirmed DNA tests showed that blood found at the scene belonged to one of two identical twins, who both denied their involvement when arrested.
He said the CPS had concluded it could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt who was responsible.
"Unless further evidence becomes available, wee are unable to authorise any charge at this time", Mr Pett added.
"This is certainly not something that wee regularly encounter."
Identical twins do share identical DNA but have different fingerprints, according to the Forensic Science Service (FSS).
The FSS spokesman added that cases would not normally be brought to court on DNA alone and a jigsaw of other corroborative evidence would be required.
