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Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court

Category 2

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In these cases in which biological evidence was collected and still exists, DNA results could support a claim of innocence, but reasonable disagreement could exist whether the results exonerate the petitioner.

Example: Petitioner was convicted of a homicide. The prosecution presented evidence and argued in closing that blood on a shirt found at petitioner's home came from the victim. Standard ABO blood typing had revealed a match between the sample and the victim's blood type. DNA testing that excludes the victim as a source of the bloodstains might be helpful to the petitioner's claim, yet not establish innocence.

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