Opinion ID: 853198
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Exclusion of Hair Evidence

Text: Wentz moved to exclude the testimony of State witness Susan Laine. During the hearing on Wentz's motion, Laine testified that she compared hair found in a sock cap left at the crime scene to Wentz's, and that the hair was sufficiently similar to be of possible common origin with Jason Wentz. Wentz argued that the prejudicial effect of Laine's testimony substantially outweighed its probative value, violating Indiana Evidence Rule 403. However, his motion was denied and his objection during Laine's testimony was overruled. On appeal, Wentz again argues that Laine's testimony violated Rule 403. In addition, Wentz argues on appeal that (1) Laine was never qualified as an expert and (2) the procedures she employed were not scientifically reliable, violations of Evidence Rule 702. This Court will reverse a trial court's Rule 403 determination only when there is an abuse of discretion. Wheeler v. State, 749 N.E.2d 1111, 1114 (Ind.2001). Wentz contends that, because Laine could not say with certainty that the hair from the sock cap matched Wentz's, Laine's testimony was so unreliable and speculative that it was prejudicial to allow its introduction. This Court has already held that trial courts are generally within their discretion to permit hair comparison analysis. McGrew v. State, 682 N.E.2d 1289, 1292 (Ind.1997). Wentz offers nothing specific to distinguish Laine's testimony from that which we found admissible in McGrew. The testimony was that the hair sample was consistent with Wentz's, not that it was a conclusive match. The remedy for this is cross-examination, not exclusion. The admission of this evidence under Rule 403 did not constitute an abuse of discretion. Wentz raises his Rule 702 arguments for the first time on appeal. This is a good example of the reason for the requirement of objection at trial. Because no Rule 702 objection was raised, there was no need or opportunity to cure any flaw in the foundation for Laine's testimony. Therefore, these arguments are waived. Brown v. State, 728 N.E.2d 876, 878 (Ind.2000) (A party may not object on one ground at trial and raise a different ground on appeal.).