Hung jury at SA attempted murder trial

A jury has been unable to reach a verdict at the trial of a man accused of using a metal bar to viciously bash a woman in her kitchen more than a decade ago.

Justice Malcolm Blue discharged the South Australia Supreme Court jurors on Friday afternoon after they said they could not agree on a verdict.

The man, whose name is suppressed, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Nanette Clarke on August 19, 2003, at her home in Port Lincoln on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.

The jury was told police did not obtain a sample of the accused man's DNA until 2013.

His profile was found to match DNA found on a number of items including the metal bar, a balaclava and part of a disposable glove at the house.

The jury was told the accused was known to Ms Clarke and her partner and lived nearby.

Ms Clarke had gone to investigate a noise in her kitchen when she saw the back of a man, who almost immediately repeatedly struck her to the head with a metal bar.

The accused man gave evidence, telling the jury he was not the attacker and was in bed sick at the time after smoking marijuana.

The matter was adjourned to June 26 for directions.