THE sister of former Bolton Wanderers' starJlloyd Samuel has said she will seek a court order allowing her to privately test DNA after a coroner found that remains from a car crash were the former footballer's.
The 37-year-old, who played left back for Wanderers for four years until 2011, was killed when his Range Rover burst into flames after colliding with a four-tonne delivery vehicle last year, Warrington Coroner's Court heard.
The former defender's white car had strayed on to the wrong side of the road before the crash and was then thrown into the air by the impact, the two-day inquest was told.
Fire damage meant that his body was so badly disfigured that it could not be visibly identified, the court heard.
It has been reported that the ex-footballer's sister, Leslie-Ann Samuel, has claimed her sibling's death was faked.
The Sun reported on Sunday that she believes that her brother is still alive and that he was not at the wheel of the car when it burst into flames following the crash.
But, after hearing how DNA samples from the remains matched those of Mr Samuel and how teeth matched a dental chart and radiographs from his mouth taken before death, coroner Alan Moore said that it was the footballer's body.
He said: "After careful consideration of the evidence, I find that in this case, and for the purposes of the inquest, the remains were those of Jlloyd Tafari Samuel."
As the coroner gave the ruling, he was interrupted by Leslie-Ann Samuel, who told the court that she had been denied the chance to privately test DNA taken from the body.
Mr Moore explained how the DNA samples belonged to the footballer's next of kin, his wife Emma, who had said they would only be released if the sister could guarantee they are taken to a UK-registered laboratory.
The coroner told the sibling: "I cannot release any tissue to you for analysis - I cannot do that.
"I can only do that with the permission of the next of kin. If that permission is withheld then that is something for another court.
"If you still wish to carry out your own private testing, I understand that but please understand I cannot release the tissue."
Leslie-Ann Samuel responded: "I will seek that order, and thank you for telling me that, Mr Alan Moore. I hope they keep the DNA samples until such case."
The inquest heard how the driver of the other vehicle, Frederick Dare, had tried his best to swerve out of the way of Mr Samuel's car when the crash happened on West Lane, High Legh, Cheshire, on the morning of May 15 last year.
Holding back tears, he told the ex-Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers player's family: "I'm just sorry."
The incident happened a short distance behind cyclist Neil McCabe, who described the sound of the crash as "the loudest thing I have heard".
He said that he approached Mr Samuel's Range Rover, telling the court: "Looking in, I could see that it was practically black and I could see flames from where the driver's lap would have been."
Toxicologist Nicola Martin said that samples of the ex-player's blood indicated that it was over the drink-drive limit - but added the caveat that the body can sometimes produce alcohol after death.
Dr Jonathan Medcalf, a pathologist, gave the cause of death as "head and neck injuries".
He was asked by Leslie-Ann Samuel whether her brother's right arm had been missing at the time of death, saying that it was not present when she saw the body.
Dr Medcalf responded: "Well, that was not how the body was left and we have the photographs to prove it."
The inquest, which is taking place at Warrington Town Hall, continues.