Australian burglar betrayed by leech
AFP
AFP - Tuesday, October 20



SYDNEY (AFP) - – Blood taken from a leech found at an Australian crime scene was used to catch an armed robber eight years after his crime, in what officials on Tuesday claimed to be a forensic world first.

The engorged bloodsucker was found beside a safe at the ransacked home of an elderly woman in Tasmania, Australia's southernmost state, following a 2001 break-in.

"It was the only evidence we found, and as there was no evidence of any leech bites from the victim or the police present we thought it was a good chance to have come from one of the offenders," said Detective Inspector Mick Johnston.

Police took a sample of the blood for DNA profiling, and when the robber was DNA tested over drug offences in late 2008 Johnston said they found a match.

"It is the oddest way of convicting anyone I have ever been involved in," Johnston told the Hobart Mercury newspaper.

"I have not been able to find any similar cases anywhere in the world -- nothing like this at all."

The bitten burglar, Peter Alec Cannon, 54, pleaded guilty to the robbery which netted 550 dollars (510 US). He will be sentenced on Friday in the Launceston Supreme Court.

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/afp/20091020/tt...at-79adaf4.html

that is amazing! the things they do these days astound me, haha