Opinion ID: 2222257
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Misrepresentation of DNA Evidence

Text: Roman Nose next asserts that the prosecutor misrepresented Schoenbauer's testimony about the blood on Roman Nose's boxer shorts when the prosecutor told the jury that it was Stuedemann's blood. Roman Nose contends that Schoenbauer actually testified that the nonsperm cell fraction found on the boxer shorts was a DNA mixture matching Roman Nose and Stuedemann's DNA profiles, and that the DNA could have come from epithelial and carryover sperm cells from a sexual act, and not the blood. Consequently, Roman Nose contends that the prosecutor could not conclusively state that Stuedemann's blood was on the boxer shorts. A review of Schoenbauer's testimony indicates that the boxer shorts contained a mixture of semen and blood. Schoenbauer testified that she was able to extract the mixture into a sperm cell fraction and a nonsperm cell fraction. DNA analysis on the nonsperm cell fraction indicated that the nonsperm cell fraction contained a mixture of DNA that was consistent with being from Roman Nose and Stuedemann. On cross-examination, Schoenbauer testified that it was possible that the mixture of Stuedemann's and Roman Nose's DNA profiles in the nonsperm cell fraction came from epithelial cells and some carryover sperm cells from a sexual act and not from the blood found on the boxer shorts. Therefore, Roman Nose is correct that it is possible for Stuedemann's DNA profile to appear in the mixture found on Roman Nose's boxer shorts, even though the blood was not from Stuedemann. However, it is also possible that the blood is from Stuedemann and is the reason that her DNA profile appeared in the mixture. As noted above, the prosecutor may present all legitimate arguments and draw reasonable inferences based on the evidence presented to the jury in support of his theory of the case. Because the record supports the possible inference that Stuedemann's DNA profile was found on Roman Nose's boxer shorts because it was her blood, we cannot say that prosecutor committed prosecutorial misconduct by his comments.