Opinion ID: 1230162
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: william jadlowski

Text: Jadlowski, a sergeant with the Omaha Police Department, was one of the investigating officers at Bennett's home and testified generally as to the evidence found at the scene. Among these pieces of evidence were several sheets from Bennett's bed, which were sent to the Nebraska State Patrol for examination for the presence of any hairs. On cross-examination, Duncan's trial counsel asked Jadlowski whether hairs could be transferred by a person's walking from room to room and across floors and carpet such as those found in Bennett's home. Jadlowski answered yes. On redirect, the State then asked the following questions of Jadlowski: Q. If you're walking along the floor, Detective Jadlowski, where will that hairhair needs friction to adhere to something, doesn't it? A. Typically, yes. Q. All right. And so If I'm walking on something and there happens to be a hair on the floor, in order for that hair to get on my bed, my foot with my shoe or sock or whatever is on my foot, has to come up and actually come in contact with the pillow, wouldn't it, to transfer it? A. I think that's reasonable. Q. I mean, there's not hairs floating around that just fall into a particular area, true? [Defense:] I object to the form of the question, speculation and leading. THE COURT: You may answer. [A.] I think that's reasonable, yes. Q.... It's like blood. It's transferred by contact, fair? A. Yes. Duncan claims that the district court erred when it overruled his objection above because without foundation to show Jadlowski to be an expert in the field, the question called for speculation. With respect to those questions above which were not objected to, Duncan also claims he received ineffective assistance of counsel. We note that Duncan's trial counsel was different than his current counsel on this direct appeal. A party who fails to make a timely objection to evidence waives the right on appeal to assert prejudicial error concerning the evidence received without objection. State v. Harms, 263 Neb. 814, 643 N.W.2d 359 (2002), modified on other grounds 264 Neb. 654, 650 N.W.2d 481 (2002). However, Duncan may assert his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel because of the failure of his counsel to object. See, generally, State v. Hansen, 252 Neb. 489, 562 N.W.2d 840 (1997). To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), the defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient and that this deficient performance actually prejudiced his or her defense. State v. Dean, 264 Neb. 42, 645 N.W.2d 528 (2002). A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel need not necessarily be dismissed merely because it is made on direct appeal; the determining factor is whether the record is sufficient to adequately review the question. State v. Long, 264 Neb. 85, 645 N.W.2d 553 (2002). Duncan claims that each of the questions set forth above called for expert opinion under Neb. Evid. R. 702, Neb.Rev. Stat. § 27-702 (Reissue 1995). Duncan claims the State did not lay the proper foundation to qualify Jadlowski as an expert on the electro-magnetic properties of hair transfer. Brief for appellant at 25. The State admits that Jadlowski was not qualified as an expert, but argues that this step was unnecessary because his testimony did not consist of scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge under rule 702. We agree. The fact that hairs may stick to a person and be moved to a new location is not of such a scientific, technical, or specialized nature as to require expert qualification. Rule 702 provided no basis on which to object to Jadlowski's testimony. Thus, the district court did not err in overruling Duncan's objection, and Duncan cannot prove his trial counsel's performance was deficient. This assignment of error is without merit.