Opinion ID: 1819029
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Biological evidence

Text: ¶ 12. Howard first alleges that a plethora of samples of DNA evidence were collected by the State and submitted to the Mississippi Crime Lab for examination. Howard asserts that the existence of this evidence and the test results were concealed and that this DNA evidence is 100 percent exculpatory, relevant and material to Howard's defense of the charges levied against him. ¶ 13. Howard's arguments are without merit for several reasons. First, there has never been any DNA testing in this case even though Howard was recently given the opportunity to seek DNA testing by this Court. Therefore, there is no proof that any biological evidence is 100 percent exculpatory. Second, the trial transcript clearly shows that Howard's counsel was aware of the biological evidence which had been collected and sent to the crime lab. Third, the State offers evidence that the existence of the biological evidence was disclosed to Howard's counsel prior to both trials. ¶ 14. A thorough examination of the appellate record and all evidence submitted by Howard and the State reveals that no DNA testing has ever been performed in this case. Biological evidence including, but not limited to, the rape kit, blood samples from Kemp and Howard, blood stained sheets and clothing, pubic hair combings from Kemp and Howard, the bloody knife, and Kemp's fingernail scrapings were submitted to the crime lab for testing. At the time, the crime lab was not performing DNA testing and samples of the evidence were not sent to any other lab for DNA testing. The crime lab did perform certain tests which tend to show that DNA testing would not have been helpful to either side. For example, the crime lab tested the rape kit, but no seminal fluid was found. The lab tested evidence for fingerprints, but only found Kemp's fingerprints. The lab tested various items for blood type. All of the items tested were consistent with Kemp's blood type and inconsistent with Howard's type. The crime lab did not find any hairs of Negroid origin in Kemp's pubic combing and [n]o hairs of Caucasian origin were found in Howard's pubic combing. It appears that the biological evidence in this case is neither exculpatory nor incriminatory. ¶ 15. Additionally, as discussed above, the State produced a box of physical evidence to the MOCPCC. That box included, but was not limited to, a rape kit, blood samples, and pubic hairs. We granted Howard a reasonable amount of time to inspect that box of evidence and if Howard determined that expert funding and assistance were necessary, he was directed to request it from the circuit court. To date, Howard has not requested any such relief. ¶ 16. The transcript from the second trial also reveals that this argument is completely without merit. Two witnesses testified at trial regarding the collection of physical evidence, including biological evidence, and the submission of that evidence to the Mississippi Crime Lab. Specifically, David Turner, an investigator with the Columbus Police Department, testified that twenty-seven items were collected and submitted to the crime lab. Dr. Steven Hayne testified that he prepared a rape kit on the victim and submitted that to the crime lab. During Howard's second trial, defense counsel used the fact that there was no DNA evidence linking Howard to the crime in an effort to establish reasonable doubt with the jury. ¶ 17. Finally, the State asserts that all evidence was produced during pre-trial discovery and the State offers District Attorney Forrest Allgood's affidavit as proof. [5] Included with Allgood's affidavit are copies of documents produced to Howard and his counsel before his first trial. [6] Included in these documents are copies of crime scene reports, evidence submission forms to the crime lab, the Report of Post Mortem Examination, and numerous reports from the crime lab regarding the results of various testing. Additionally, several crime lab employees were listed as potential witnesses for the State. We find that no exculpatory DNA evidence was suppressed by the State and, therefore, there was no Brady violation. Brady, 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. at 1196-97; see also Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972); Banks v. Dretke, 540 U.S. 668, 124 S.Ct. 1256, 157 L.Ed.2d 1166 (2004).