Opinion ID: 1999621
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Evidence on identification of hairs.

Text: Other expert witnesses were called by the state. One identified a hair found on the murder weapon as a cat hair which came from the pet cat belonging to the Broomells. Similarly, another expert testified that hairs found in the lining of defendant's jacket belonged to Mrs. Broomell. Defendant contends that the jury was misled by the definite identification of the hairs, since a leading text, Gradwohl's Legal Medicine (2d ed. 1968), Hair As Evidence, states, at page 230, that it is impossible to assert that any given hair could have come only from one particular animal. Defendant resorted to this text as authority during cross-examination of the witnesses. If the witnesses overstepped their bounds in testifying that a particular hair came from a particular cat or person, their testimony was subject to impeachment in the eyes of the jury. Moreover, the record reveals that the testimony of the witnesses was not as definite as defendant contends, since one of the state experts admitted that the identification was not an absolute certainty. Defendant contends that he was unduly surprised by the testimony of the experts. He admits that he learned of the general nature of the witnesses' testimony three days before the experts took the stand. Furthermore, the record reveals that defense counsel conducted a skilled cross-examination, which hardly supports his contention of lack of time for preparation. Clearly, defendant has failed to show surprise. The testimony was properly admitted.