Opinion ID: 1315295
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Admissibility of Hair Analysis

Text: The State introduced testimony from a State Police chemist who testified about certain hair retrieved from animal nests that were located in an abandoned underground mine. The mine was beneath the crevice where the defendant allegedly threw the severed heads. The chemist performed a microscopic examination of these hairs in comparison with hair taken from a pocketbook and clothing belonging to the victims. He testified that the hairs contained some characteristics in common, although he was unable to form an opinion from his examination as to whether the nest hair was actually that of the victims. The defendant asserts that it was error to admit the chemist's testimony as to hair comparison in view of the fact that the chemist admitted that he did not possess sufficient known samples from the victims to give an ultimate opinion, based on a reasonable degree of scientific accuracy, that the hair samples found in the nest were the same as those taken from the personal possessions and clothing of the victims. Part of the problem lies in the fact that the record does not adequately disclose the scientific basis for determining how comparison is made with regard to hair samples. We are aware that other courts have permitted expert testimony in regard to comparison of hair samples, but in these cases there was no question raised as to the absence of a sufficient quantity of known samples and consequently this point was not discussed. Most of the cases seem to assume that a sufficient scientific accuracy has been demonstrated and, without any extensive discussion of the evidentiary basis for admitting such testimony, hold that such testimony is admissible. United States v. Brady, 595 F.2d 359 (6th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 862, 100 S.Ct. 129, 62 L.Ed.2d 84; United States v. Cyphers, 553 F.2d 1064 (7th Cir. 1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 843, 98 S.Ct. 142, 54 L.Ed.2d 107; United States v. Haskins, 536 F.2d 775 (8th Cir. 1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 898, 97 S.Ct. 263, 50 L.Ed.2d 182; People v. Allen, 41 Cal.App.3d 196, 115 Cal.Rptr. 839 (1974); Padilla v. People, 156 Colo. 186, 397 P.2d 741 (1964); People v. Di Giacomo, 71 Ill. App.3d 56, 27 Ill.Dec. 232, 388 N.E.2d 1281 (1979); Commonwealth v. Tarver, 369 Mass. 302, 345 N.E.2d 671 (1975); People v. Watkins, 78 Mich.App. 89, 259 N.W.2d 381 (1977); State v. Carlson, 267 N.W.2d 170 (Minn.1978); State v. Vargus, 118 R.I. 113, 373 A.2d 150 (1970); State v. Batten, 17 Wash.App. 428, 563 P.2d 1287 (1977). In at least one case, People v. Roff, 67 A.D.2d 805, 413 N.Y.S.2d 43 (1979), the court struck down hair comparison testimony because the expert stated only that the hair could have come from the same person: The court erred in receiving and refusing to strike the testimony of the chemist that the hair taken from the bathroom and that found at the scene of the crime could have come from the same person and that there was some similarity between the two samples, and erred in receiving the physical evidence itself. `Expert opinion evidence lacks probative force where the conclusions are contingent, speculative or merely possible' ( People v. Harding, 59 A.D.2d 897, 898, 399 N.Y.S.2d 57, 59). Since the evidence was inadequate to connect the hair samples with defendant's hair, it was inadmissible, because it did not `accurately portray a relevant and material element of the case' ( People v. Julian, 41 N.Y.2d 340, 342, 392 N.Y.S.2d 610, 612, 360 N.E.2d 1310, 1311.) 67 A.D.2d at 805-06, 413 N.Y. S.2d at 44-45. It is generally recognized that scientific tests that are relevant to some issue may be admitted into evidence. However, in order for an expert to testify concerning the results of such tests several initial facts must be shown. The first relates to what is commonly called the Frye test which is derived from the following statement in Frye v. United States, 54 U.S.App.D.C. 46, 293 F. 1013, 1014 (1923): [W]hile courts will go a long way in admitting expert testimony deduced from a well-recognized scientific principle or discovery, the thing from which the deduction is made must be sufficiently established to have gained general acceptance in the particular field in which it belongs. Most courts have adopted this rule that there must be general acceptance of the scientific principle which underlies the test. United States v. Brown, 557 F.2d 541, 556 (6th Cir. 1977) (ion microprobic test for hair identification); United States v. Alexander, 526 F.2d 161, 163-164 (8th Cir. 1975) (polygraph); United States v. Baller, 519 F.2d 463, 466 (4th Cir. W.Va.1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1019, 96 S.Ct. 456, 46 L.Ed.2d 391 (spectrograph analysis); United States v. Addison, 162 U.S.App.D.C. 199, 498 F.2d 741, 743 (1974) (spectrograph analysis); United States v. Stifel, 433 F.2d 431, 438 (6th Cir. 1970), cert. denied, 401 U.S. 994, 91 S.Ct. 1232, 28 L.Ed.2d 531 (1971) (neutron activation analysis); Marks v. United States, 260 F.2d 377, 382 (10th Cir. 1958), cert. denied, 358 U.S. 929, 79 S.Ct. 315, 3 L.Ed.2d 302 (1959) (polygraph); United States v. Hearst, 412 F.Supp. 893 (N.D.Cal. 1976) (psycholinguistic analysis); People v. Kelly, 17 Cal.3d 24, 30-31, 130 Cal.Rptr. 144, 148-49, 549 P.2d 1240, 1244-45 (1976) (spectrogram); Reed v. State, 283 Md. 374, 385-89, 391 A.2d 364, 368-72 (1978) (spectrogram); Commonwealth v. Lykus, 367 Mass. 191, 327 N.E.2d 671, 674, 677-78 (1975) (spectrogram); State v. Andretta, 61 N.J. 544, 296 A.2d 644 (1972) (spectrogram); see Comment, 64 Corn.L.Rev. 875 (1979). There is some divergence among courts as to how generally accepted the scientific principle must be and the fact that the test is not completely infallible will not bar its acceptance. United States v. Brown, 557 F.2d 541 (6th Cir. 1977); People v. Allweiss, 48 N.Y.2d 40, 396 N.E.2d 735, 421 N.Y.S.2d 341 (1979). Undoubtedly there are certain scientific tests that have been widely used over a long period of time, such that their general acceptance in the scientific community can be judicially noticed. This point was recently made in Reed v. State, 283 Md. 374, 391 A.2d 364, 367 (1978): On occasion, the validity and reliability of a scientific technique may be so broadly and generally accepted in the scientific community that a trial court may take judicial notice of its reliability. Such is commonly the case today with regard to ballistics tests, fingerprint identification, blood tests, and the like. Much the same reasoning was followed in our first fingerprint case, State v. Johnson, 111 W.Va. 653, 658-59, 164 S.E. 31, 34 (1932), where we quoted this passage from an Illinois decision holding that: ... there is a scientific basis for the system of finger print identification, and that the courts are justified in admitting this class of evidence; that this method of identification is in such general and common use that the courts cannot refuse to take judicial cognizance of it. People v. Jennings, 252 Ill. 534, 549, 96 N.E. 1077, 1082 (1911). As the Maryland court points out in Reed, supra, where the reliability of the scientific test cannot be judicially noticed, its reliability must be demonstrated before the expert can testify concerning the test: [I]f the reliability of a particular technique cannot be judicially noticed, it is necessary that the reliability be demonstrated before testimony based on the technique can be introduced into evidence. Although this demonstration will normally include testimony by witnesses, a court can and should also take notice of law journal articles, articles from reliable sources that appear in scientific journals, and other publications which bear on the degree of acceptance by recognized experts that a particular process has achieved. ... 283 Md. at 380, 391 A.2d at 367. This is much the same approach that we followed in State v. Frazier, W.Va., 252 S.E.2d 39, 43 (1979), where we reviewed at length the literature and court opinions in regard to the admissibility of a polygraph test and concluded that such tests are not admissible in criminal trials in this State because of several problems, one of which is its questionable scientific reliability. [14] We do not reach the question in this case as to whether the hair analysis comparison test should have been initially subjected to a determination of its scientific accuracy and reliability. This is because at trial no objection was raised on this point and the expert after giving his general background as a chemist and his training in hair analysis was permitted to testify about the examination that he made in regard to the hair samples. Ordinarily where evidence is introduced at trial without an objection, we will not consider such matters on appeal. State v. Burton, W.Va., 254 S.E.2d 129, 140 (1979); State v. Starkey, W.Va., 244 S.E.2d 219, 227 (1978); State v. McGee, W.Va., 230 S.E.2d 832, 836 (1976), overruled on other grounds, State v. McAboy, 236 S.E.2d 431 (1977); First National Bank v. Bell, W.Va., 215 S.E.2d 642 (1975); State v. Pietranton, 137 W.Va. 477, 492, 72 S.E.2d 617, 625 (1952). Beyond the initial issue of the accuracy and reliability of the scientific test is the question of whether accepted test procedures were followed by qualified personnel in making the test. In State v. Hood, 155 W.Va. 337, 342, 184 S.E.2d 334, 337 (1971), we made this general statement about the necessary foundation for the admissibility of the test results: It further appears that the necessary foundation before the admission of the results of any test are: (1) That the testing device or equipment was in proper working order; (2) that the person giving and interpreting the test was properly qualified; (3) that the test was properly conducted; and (4) that there was compliance with any statutory requirements. (Citations omitted) [15] Much the same principles have been expressed in People v. Kelly, 17 Cal.3d 24, 30, 549 P.2d 1240, 1244, 130 Cal.Rptr. 144, 148 (1976): The parties agree generally that admissibility of expert testimony based upon the application of a new scientific technique traditionally involves a two-step process: (1) the reliability of the method must be established, usually by expert testimony, and (2) the witness furnishing such testimony must be properly qualified as an expert to give an opinion on the subject. ... Additionally, the proponent of the evidence must demonstrate that correct scientific procedures were used in the particular case. As we have earlier noted the hair analysis expert had conceded that because of the lack of sufficient known samples of the victims' hair he was unable to determine whether the hair found in the nests matched the victims' hair. His testimony essentially was that the hair from the nests was human hair and that it came from two separate sources. He was also able to state from microscopic examination that as to two groups of nest hair there were certain similarities with the hair found in one of the victim's pocketbook and on the clothing belonging to both victims by way of natural color and dye characteristics. Because this case is reversed on other grounds, we need not determine whether the expert's testimony on hair comparison should have been presented to the jury. One of the dangers inherent in expert testimony in regard to scientific tests is that the jury may not understand the exact nature of the test and the particular methodology of the test procedure and accord an undue significance to the expert testimony. This problem was discussed at some length in People v. Kelly, supra : Lay jurors tend to give considerable weight to `scientific' evidence when presented by `experts' with impressive credentials. We have acknowledged the existence of a `... misleading aura of certainty which often envelops a new scientific process, obscuring its currently experimental nature.' ... As stated in Addison, supra, in the course of rejecting the admissibility of voiceprint testimony, `scientific proof may in some instances assume a posture of mystic infallibility in the eyes of a jury....' ( United States v. Addison, supra, 498 F.2d at p. 744.) One of the significant problems in the record in the present case is that at no time was the expert asked to describe how comparison characteristics of hair are scientifically determined. In the Federal Bureau of Investigation publication entitled Microscopy of Hair, A Practical Guide and Manual (Issue 2, 1977), 11 et seq., there is a list and discussion of some fifteen comparison points. [16] In the initial discussion of the comparison characteristics, this statement is made: In the literature, one may encounter other lists of identifying features in hair which may enumerate 25 or more different characteristics. Those lists generally do not disagree in substance with the following list but differ only in manner of organizations. It is apparent that the trial court confronted with this problem should require some in camera disclosure of the test results and methodology in order to make an initial determination of whether the expert's testimony should be admitted. For the foregoing reasons the judgment of the circuit Court of Monongalia County will be reversed and the case remanded for a new trial. Reversed and remanded.