Associated Press - July 2, 2009 11:54 AM ET

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - A central Illinois judge will allow DNA testing of blood and hair that a 42-year-old man hopes will clear him in his father's 1991 murder.

Donald Whalen is serving a 60-year sentence for killing his father, William Whalen, in a 1991 bar fight in Bloomington.

McLean County Judge Elizabeth Robb on Wednesday approved DNA testing of hair found on a table in Whalen's father's bar and hair taken from the victim's hand. She also approved the testing of blood from knives from the bar.

Robb had earlier turned down requests to test glasses, beer cans and other items from the bar.

Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.