Kovco mate feared he'd be blamed (his DNA found on gun!)

[Barrett808]

Kovco mate feared he'd be blamed
By Belinda Tasker
August 21, 2006 12:40pm

A SOLDIER whose DNA was found on the gun that killed Private Jake Kovco today said he had nothing to hide about his friend's fatal shooting in Baghdad.

The soldier, codenamed soldier 14, today continued giving evidence to the inquiry into Kovco's death after sensational evidence last Friday revealed that his DNA was found on his friend's 9mm pistol.

Soldier 14 repeatedly said that he did not know how his DNA ended up on the gun and that he had never touched the weapon.

Under cross examination by the lawyer representing Kovco's widow Shelley, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Berkley, Soldier 14 said while he had been on duty with his friend the day he died he never handled his pistol or saw Kovco use it.

Soldier 14 also claimed that he feared people, including Mrs Kovco, wanted to blame him for Kovco's death.

(more)

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20198088-1702,00.h...