MISTAKES at a Met Police forensic laboratory meant no record exists of when fibre samples were taken from clothing belonging to a man accused of murdering Stephen Lawrence, the Old Bailey heard today.

In evidence, assistant forensic scientist Yvonne Turner admitted that the wrong reference had been given in 1993 to two items seized from Gary Dobson's home – a yellow and gray jacket, along with a multi-coloured cardigan.

She had also recorded at the time that no tapings were taken – referring to strips of sticky tape used to take fibre samples from clothing.

But by the time of a private prosecution in 1995, tapings of the two garments were in existence.

Prosecutor Mark Ellison said: "From what you've said, it seems you've made a mistake."

"Yes," replied Ms Turner.

She told the court she could shed "no further light" on when exactly the tapings had been made.

Under cross-examination, Dobson's barrister Tim Roberts said: "This is very unusual isn't it?"

"Yes it is," she replied.

"It's highly irregular," Mr Roberts said.

"It's very irregular," she agreed.

In her report, the jacket had been described as "grubby" with cigarette burns on it, but tests had shown no trace of blood, the court heard.

Items she examined from co-accused David Norris's home, including a pair of heavily stained jeans, also showed no sign of blood, Ms Turner had recorded.

The court also heard that a photo of Mr Lawrence's jacket may have been taken at the laboratory by putting it on the floor without a groundsheet.

A snap of Dobson's jacket was taken with it hanging against a lab cupboard, jurors heard.

Dobson, aged 36, and Norris, aged 35, both of south London deny murdering Mr Lawrence in Well Hall Road, Eltham, in 1993.

They claim the scientific evidence linking them to the murder has been contaminated.

The trial continues.