Opinion ID: 1040404
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Lack of Defense DNA Expert

Text: 6 {21} Relying on State v. Brown, Defendant argues that the district court erroneously denied his motion for a new trial based on a claimed violation of his right to a DNA expert to assist in his defense. See 2006-NMSC-023, ¶ 31, 139 N.M. 466, 134 P.3d 753 (holding that the right to effective assistance of counsel for indigent defendants, including defendants assisted by private counsel providing pro bono legal services, includes the right to state funding for necessary expert witnesses). Defendant does not cite anything in the record demonstrating that he requested the district court to order expert assistance, and we have found nothing in our own review. Accordingly, Defendant’s argument that he should have been granted a new trial because he lacked a DNA expert is without merit.