Opinion ID: 2637623
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Erroneous Admission of Entomological Evidence

Text: Defendant contends expert testimony relating to ants and the presence of semen on Woodruff should have been excluded under the Kelly/Frye test for determining the admissibility of scientific evidence. ( People v. Kelly (1976) 17 Cal.3d 24, 130 Cal.Rptr. 144, 549 P.2d 1240; Frye v. United States (B.C. Cir.1923) 293 Fed. 1013.) According to defendant, the erroneous admission of this testimony warrants reversal of his conviction on count 10 for the rape of Woodruff and the jury's finding of the rape-murder special circumstance. Even assuming this testimony should have been excluded, we find its admission harmless.
At trial, the prosecution sought to introduce expert testimony from David Faulkner, an entomologist, who had examined the ants found at the crime scene and photographs of Woodruffs body. In her offer of proof, the prosecutor stated that Faulkner would testify that the ants were probably attracted to a protein source like semen. Claiming that there was no scientific basis for Faulkner's testimony and that the prejudicial effect of his testimony outweighed its probative value, defendant objected under Evidence Code sections 801 and 352. Defendant also asked the court to conduct a hearing outside the presence of the jury to determine the admissibility of this testimony. The trial court, however, overruled defendant's objections and refused to conduct a hearing. At the beginning of Faulkner's testimony, defendant challenged his qualifications. During the ensuing voir dire, Faulkner testified that he was completing a master's degree in forensic entomology and was the curator of entomology at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Although he had testified as an expert four times in the past and had been involved in 30 or so cases, only two or three of these cases involved ants. He further testified that he had no expertise in the area of bodily fluids and had never conducted any experiments with ants and seminal fluid. Faulkner, however, noted that he had once investigated fire ant attacks on baboons. Based on his review of the literature and his discussions with zoo personnel, he had determined that the ants were attracted to seminal fluid from the baboons. Following voir dire, the trial court overruled defendant's objection to Faulkner's qualifications. Faulkner then testified that he had investigated ant attacks on zoo animals on several occasions, including one that involved primate seminal fluid. In that case, semen from primateswhich is similar to human semenappeared to attract ants. He then identified the ants from the crime scene as fire ants and, based on photos of Woodruffs body, observed that the ants were concentrated around Woodruffs head and pubic area. Based on these observations, Faulkner opined that the ants in Woodruffs pubic area were likely feeding on semen. Faulkner also stated that the ants could have consumed all the semen in Woodruffs pubic area.
The erroneous admission of expert testimony only warrants reversal if it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error. ( People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836, 299 P.2d 243 ( Watson ); see also People v. Venegas (1998) 18 Cal.4th 47, 93, 74 Cal.Rptr.2d 262, 954 P.2d 525 [applying Watson standard to the erroneous admission of expert testimony].) Defendant contends it is reasonably probable the jury would not have convicted him of the rape of Woodruff without Faulkner's testimony because, without this testimony, the jury would not have found that he had engaged in an act of sexual intercourse. (§ 261.) We disagree. Even without Faulkner's testimony, there was ample evidence of sexual intercourse. This evidence included: (1) fresh abrasions at the entrance of Woodruffs vagina and on her back inflicted just before her death; (2) Woodruffs state of undress from the waist down; (3) Woodruffs physical struggles with defendant as he lay on top of her; (4) Woodruff's statements that defendant was hurting her; and (5) bruising of Woodruffs hymen that occurred at most 24 hours before her death. Moreover, the evidence established that defendant and his two cohorts separated the three victims with the intent to rape them, and that his two cohorts did rape their victims. The prosecution also offered alternative explanations for the absence of semen. For example, a forensic pathologist testified that semen rapidly degenerates if the body is not refrigerated. A criminalist also explained that the absence of semen does not necessarily mean that no sexual activity occurred. In light of this evidence, there is no reasonable probability defendant would have obtained a more favorable result absent Faulkner's testimony. ( Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836, 299 P.2d 243.) Accordingly, we find no reversible error.