DNA evidence discussed at Markoff hearing

By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff

Investigators are analyzing hundreds of items of evidence in the case of a former Boston University Medical School student charged with killing a masseuse he met through Craigslist, but have yet to determine that any of those items contain DNA that might be matched to the defendant.

During a pretrial hearing in Suffolk Superior Court, Judge Christine McEvoy asked Philip Markoff's attorney, John Salsberg, whether he intends to submit a sample of his client's DNA to the prosecution, as Edmond Zabin, the Suffolk County prosecutor handling the case, had asked him to do in a recent out-of-court meeting.

Salsberg said he would hold off on deciding on the matter until prosecutors complete the testing of all the evidence. He added, "I'll have to speak to my client about these things.''

Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, authorities announced today that Markoff had been indicted by a grand jury on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to commit robbery for allegedly attacking a prostitute at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Warwick on April 16.

The Rhode Island attack came just two days after Markoff, who has been dubbed the "Craigslist killer," allegedly killed masseuse Julissa Brisman at the Boston Marriott Copley Place hotel.