Opinion ID: 1702189
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the state withheld exculpatory evidence.

Text: ¶ 35. Berry claims that the State committed a Brady violation by withholding the results of a DNA test, which he claims was exculpatory. Because the results were not exculpatory, this issue is without merit. ¶ 36. During the original trial, the State presented as a witness Deborah K. Haller, a forensic toxicologist with the state crime lab. On cross-examination, when asked whether DNA testing had been conducted, Haller responded affirmatively that, at the time of the trial, testing was still being conducted, effectively preventing her from testifying as to the results. ¶ 37. Berry claims that he failed to receive the results even after he requested production in preparation for resentencing. The State responds that, because it was previously determined during the original trial, guilt was not at issue during resentencing. With a copy of the report accompanying its brief, the State emphasizes that the results conclusively showed that the blood on Berry's tennis shoe was indeed that of the victim. ¶ 38. Though it is unclear why the State failed to produce a copy of the report, such failure does not warrant an evidentiary hearing. Berry fails to show how the State's failure deprived him a fundamentally fair trial during resentencing.