I examined a necklace during the trial. (BMHR 506). The item had blood on
it. I sent it to Genetic Design for DNA testing. The testing detected a mixture of
DNA using testing in existence at that time. (BMHR 506). The findings consistent
with Damien Echols’ biological material, that of victim Steven Branch, and that of
Jason Baldwin. (BMHR 506-507.
CROSS EXAMINATION BY JOHN PHILIPSBORN
During the recess today, Judge Burnett asked me to obtain some information
ABSTRACT 89
about the DNA testing. However, in 1993 the preferred method to try to identify
blood were some clinical tests to screen and then to confirm. You could then do
ABO typing and PCR-DNA. (BMHR 508-509).
Had a qualified scientist been accessed to deal with the DNA issues, that
scientist might have been able to refute some of the results being offered after
having reviewed the details of the examination. The way that would happen was
by a request for documentation.
To further explain the DNA tests done on the necklace in 1993: the
technology available then would have allowed identification of alleles pertinent to
chromosomes of the donors. The results using that technology would have shown
allele pairings consistent with Steve Branch, and possibly consistent with Jason
Baldwin also. But those pairings would also apply to a large percentage of the
population. The person who understood the technology properly would have been
able to address the issues. (BMHR 512-513).
