An RCMP DNA expert testified Tuesday at the Ranbir Dhull murder trial in Saskatoon about blood samples taken from a scarf and two pairs of pants.

The 44-year-old former Saskatoon taxi driver, charged with first-degree murder, is on trial before a judge alone at Court of King's Bench.

It's alleged that Dhull killed his ex-wife's cousin, Samandeep Jhinger, in Warman, about 20 km northeast of Saskatoon, in early July 2020. Dhull is charged with first-degree murder because Jhinger died while being unlawfully confined.

Robert Schimpf is based in Edmonton and works for the RCMP's national forensic laboratory services. He prepared two reports for prosecutor Tyla Olenchuk.

Schimpf examined a pair of pants and a scarf that had been wrapped around Jhinger's neck for one report, and a pair of blue jeans recovered from a van driven by Dhull for the other.

Olenchuk described the findings in court Tuesday.

"The testing found her blood on his jeans, and his blood on her pants," she said.

Imtiaz Ahmad, a former taxi colleague of Dhull's, testified on Monday that Dhull borrowed his van on July 2, 2020.

Ahmad said Dhull told him he needed the van to move toys for his kids. After getting the van back, Ahmad discovered four pieces of luggage in the back. They included a carry-on, a purse-type bag, a small basket and a large bag. The jeans with the blood residue were in the large bag.

Ahmad took the luggage to police because he'd heard there had been a murder.

Jhinger was supposed to fly to Winnipeg on July 2. Her body was found rolled in a carpet, hidden in the basement of a Warman home belonging to Dhull's ex-wife Amandeep Kaur. Dhull had access to the home for childcare purposes.

The prosecution is close to wrapping up its case. Pathologist Shawn Ladham is expected to testify as the prosecution's final witness on Wednesday. The trial will then take a break for an as-yet-undetermined length of time.