Detective Whitt testified on direct examination that it was common not to find identifiable fingerprints at a crime scene. Defendant contends that in admitting this testimony, the trial court erroneously permitted Whitt to give his opinion without first qualifying him as an expert. We conclude that Detective Whitt's testimony was nothing more than a statement of fact which his employment and experience qualified him to give. We therefore find no merit to defendant's argument. By his last assignment of error, defendant argues that the trial court erred in allowing Detective Whitt to testify as to whether a suspect's blood was left at the crime scene.
Defendant contends the testimony was irrelevant and prejudicial.
Our review of the transcripts convinces us that defendant misapprehends the nature of Detective Whitt's testimony and that considering its intended meaning, the testimony was admissible. Detective Whitt testified that he requested that bloodied items recovered from the crime scene be tested for a possible DNA match with blood samples from defendant and Charles Blackwell. He stated that he did not have any reason to suspect that the perpetrator shed blood in the house, only that he wanted the test performed. The witness was merely explaining that his request to have DNA comparisons made of various blood samples found at the scene was routine and not based on any particular expectation or belief that the perpetrator's blood was in fact left at the scene. He was not speculating about the actual presence of blood, as defendant contends.