Two twins with the same DNA, accused of murder in France. The police cannot determine who the murderer is

Two identical twin brothers on trial for murder in France have hampered investigators' attempts to determine which of them fired the gun because they share the same DNA.

Police can't figure out who the real killer is PHOTO Shutterstock

The two 33-year-old brothers are among five defendants on trial in a trial taking place near Paris. They are accused of committing a double murder and several attempted murders that took place in 2020, according to the BBC.

The French press writes that both are suspected of plotting to organize the double murder, but DNA found on an assault rifle used in one of the subsequent shootouts could belong to only one of the twins.

A police officer told judges that forensic experts had not been able to establish beyond doubt which of the two brothers was directly involved. “Only their mother can tell them apart”one of the investigators is cited before the court in Bobigny, north of the French capital.

The atmosphere in the courtroom is described as extremely tense. On Tuesday, the two twins were allegedly kicked out of the gym after they refused to stand up.

Investigators believe the brothers took advantage of their resemblance to cover their tracks. A senior officer, quoted by Le Parisien, said the pair frequently changed their clothes, phones and identity documents.

Identical twins develop from a single fertilized egg that divides during pregnancy. Because they come from the same egg and sperm, they have identical DNA, making forensic identification extremely difficult.

In the absence of genetic differences to distinguish them, investigators relied on the analysis of telephone conversations, surveillance camera images, interceptions and corroborating information related to the places where they were and their movements, according to Le Parisien.

However, the crucial question — who fired the recovered gun — remains unanswered.

The trial continues and the court is expected to issue a decision at the end of February.