BLOOD found in the van of murder suspect Andrew Lawless could not be matched with missing Paignton man Stephen Price, a forensic expert has told a jury.

Julie Allard, a forensic scientist at the Forensic Science Service in London, said traces of blood had been found in the Ford Transit but she had not be able to extract enough DNA to link them to Mr Price.

Other small amounts of blood found in the van belonged to Lawless, who is accused of stabbing Mr Price, 47, to death outside his flat in Great Western Close.

Mrs Allard, who has 36 years' expertise in the field of blood analysis, was asked by Devon and Cornwall police to undertake a thorough search of the vehicle on June 21, 2008. Mr Price went missing on May 2.

She told prosecuting counsel Martin Meeke QC, that suspected blood stains in the van were treated with a special chemical and then subjected to DNA analysis.

She said some blood was found in 'areas on the floor and edges of doorways of the van' but she 'wasn't able to obtain any DNA' from them.

Defence counsel Alun Jenkins QC said: "You found nothing that connected any blood or anything else in this vehicle with Mr Price did you?"

Mrs Allard replied: "I did find some other blood, it either matched Mr Lawless or I couldn't say whose it was."

She added that some fibres and hairs had been found and retained as part of the search but had not been tested.

The court has previously heard that Mr Price went missing after an alleged argument with Lawless.

Mr Price had become angry that Lawless was living in a van parked close to his flat.

The morning's evidence was taken up by Andrew Malone who helped Lawless convert his Ford Transit van into a camper-style vehicle, complete with carpets and insulation.

Mr Malone said he had known Lawless for about eight years and helped him to buy vinyl, wooden and carpet flooring for the van.

In November, 2007, Lawless was about to be evicted from his flat in Queen's Park Road over a rent dispute and wanted to convert his van so that he could live in it.

The evidence centred on what floor materials Lawless had in his van prior to the alleged murder of Mr Price.

Mr Malone would accompany Lawless on visits to Trago Mills to buy the materials.

The witness agreed with defence counsel Alun Jenkins QC that Lawless was 'a perfectionist' who wanted to get everything in his van just right.

He agreed the van was 'a work in progress' and Lawless would take up the floor and change it if he was not happy with the result.

The jury were shown pictures of the van taken in March, 2008, showing it fitted with kitchen units and other household items.

Mr Malone said Lawless had replaced an old piece of lino with a new one on May 7.

He said: "He said he had helped someone move someone's things and the lino had been damaged."

Lawless, 42, of Bronshill Road, Torquay, denies murder.

The trial continues.