Opinion ID: 1110827
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Insufficient Challenge to Admissibility of State's DNA evidence.

Text: ¶ 13. Hughes continues to argue that the State's DNA evidence was scientifically unreliable. The report concluded that the likelihood of someone other than Hughes being the donor of the sample recovered from the victim was 1:86,000. This issue was thoroughly litigated at both trial and on direct appeal. Pursuant to the test set forth in Polk v. State, 612 So.2d 381, 390 (Miss.1992), [1] a reviewing court should ask whether (1) there is a theory generally accepted in the scientific community which supports the conclusion that DNA testing can produce reliable results, (2) there are techniques capable of producing reliable results in DNA identification, and (3) in the case before the court, whether the testing laboratory performed generally accepted scientific techniques without error in the performance or interpretation of the tests. ¶ 14. After carefully applying and discussing the Polk test, we held that the DNA test performed by GenTest Laboratory and the accompanying report were properly admitted. Hughes, 735 So.2d at 272. The underlying issue is procedurally barred pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3) (Rev.2000), and Hughes may not recast the issue under the guise of ineffective assistance of counsel. Wiley v. State, 842 So.2d 1280, 1283 (Miss.2003).