Opinion ID: 1379489
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: admissibility of bite-mark evidence

Text: The appellant did not challenge Dr. Sopher's qualifications as a forensic dentist and did not question the reliability of the bite-mark comparison techniques utilized in this particular case. The appellant did, however, move for an in camera hearing for the State to establish the reliability and general acceptance by forensic dentists of bite-mark comparisons in general. The appellant sought a ruling that such an in camera hearing was a necessary predicate to allowing Dr. Sopher to testify as to such comparisons in this case. The trial court denied the appellant's motion for an in camera hearing on the ground that expert testimony as to such comparisons was admissible and the appellant could argue to the jury the weight to be given to such testimony. The appellant assigns as error the trial court's denial of his motion for an in camera hearing on the admissibility of bitemark evidence. We perceive no error in the trial court's ruling. The appellant contends that State v. Clawson, 165 W.Va. 588, 270 S.E.2d 659 (1980), involving hair analysis, requires a trial court to compel  in camera disclosure [by the State] of the [scientific] test results and methodology in order to make an initial determination of whether the expert's testimony should be admitted. Id. at 622, 270 S.E.2d at 678. As we explained in State v. Wallace, ___ W.Va. ___, ___, 337 S.E.2d 316, 319 (1985) (hair analysis), and in State v. Wyant, ___ W.Va. ___, ___, 328 S.E.2d 174, 179 (1985) (leuco-malachite green test to detect blood and hair analysis), Clawson does not require an in camera hearing for all scientific tests, but only for those not yet generally accepted in the particular scientific field. 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. Clawson at syl. pt. 8. In contrast, where the reliability of the scientific test cannot be judicially noticed, its reliability must be demonstrated before the expert can testify concerning the test[.] Id. at 618, 270 S.E.2d at 677. [4] An example of a scientific test which this Court has judicially noticed as being generally reliable is identification of a criminal defendant by fingerprint comparison. See syl. pt. 4, State v. Johnson, 111 W.Va. 653, 164 S.E. 31 (1932). The Court concluded that judicial notice of the admissibility of fingerprint evidence was not precluded by the fact that the case presented a question of first impression for this Court or by the fact that error in identification by such evidence may sometimes result, as the latter goes to the weight, not to the admissibility, of the evidence. Id. at 658-59, 164 S.E. at 34. See also State v. Clawson, 165 W.Va. 588, 617, 270 S.E.2d 659, 676 (1980) (fact that scientific test is not completely infallible will not bar its admissibility). This case presents a question of first impression for this Court, specifically, the admissibility of bite-mark evidence. All of the twenty-one jurisdictions which have specifically addressed this question in a reported opinion, where a qualified expert was involved, have held bite-mark evidence to be admissible for positive identification purposes, and the general reliability of bite-mark comparison techniques has been sufficiently established, such that a hearing in each case to establish the general reliability thereof is not necessary. The courts have rejected challenges to bite-mark evidence based upon constitutional, evidentiary and scientific arguments. See People v. Middleton, 54 N.Y.2d 42, 429 N.E.2d 100, 444 N.Y.S.2d 581 (1981); People v. Smith, 110 Misc.2d 118, 443 N.Y.S.2d 551 (Dutchess County Ct.1981), aff'd, 63 N.Y.2d 41, 479 N.Y.S.2d 706, 468 N.E.2d 879 (1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1227, 105 S.Ct. 1226, 84 L.Ed.2d 364 (1985); State v. Peoples, 227 Kan. 127, 605 P.2d 135 (1980); State v. Sager, 600 S.W.2d 541 (Mo.Ct.App.1980), application to transfer denied (Mo. July 15, 1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 910, 101 S.Ct. 1348, 67 L.Ed.2d 334 (1981); Kennedy v. State, 640 P.2d 971 (Okla.Crim.App. 1982); Doyle v. State, 159 Tex.Crim.R. 310, 263 S.W.2d 779 (1954) (burglary; bite mark in cheese). [5] While there is no unanimity of opinion among forensic dentists as to the best bite-mark comparison techniques or as to the minimum number of points of identity between the bite mark and the suspect's dentition, forensic odontology, inclusive of bite mark identification, is an exact science. It is exact in the sense that through acceptable scientific procedures [requiring a skilled expert], an expert can form an opinion useful to the courts in their quest for the truth. State v. Sager, 600 S.W.2d 541, 569 (Mo.Ct.App.1980), application to transfer denied (Mo. July 15, 1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 910, 101 S.Ct. 1348, 67 L.Ed.2d 334 (1981). All of the experts agree it is easier to rule out a suspect by bite-mark comparison techniques than it is to rule in a suspect thereby, as one unexplained inconsistency between the bite mark and the suspect's dentition means the suspect could not have made the bite mark. Sager, 600 S.W.2d at 564, 567; Kennedy v. State, 640 P.2d 971, 976 (Okla.Crim.App. 1982); P. Giannelli and E. Imwinkelried, Scientific Evidence § 13-3, at 375 (1986); Sperber, Forensic Odontology, in Scientific and Expert Evidence 723, 752 (E. Imwinkelried 2d ed. 1981). [6] Many of the courts have emphasized that the reliability of bite-mark evidence, unlike most scientific evidence, is, when presented properly in the particular case, readily apparent; it is a common sense type of comparison of physical evidence which lends itself readily to verification and understanding. The judge and the jury can see the extent to which the bite mark conforms to the suspect's teeth. [7] Based upon our review of the authorities, this Court holds that the general reliability of bite-mark evidence as a means of positive identification is sufficiently established in the field of forensic dentistry that a court is authorized to take judicial notice of such general reliability without conducting a hearing on the same. When the witness at trial has the requisite skill and experience and demonstrates the accuracy and reliability of the models, photographs and any other physical evidence utilized in that particular case as bite-mark evidence, the trial court may properly admit the opinion testimony of the expert witness as a valuable aid to a jury in understanding the evidence in a criminal case.