Opinion ID: 1621897
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: cross-examination of dna expert.

Text: Kinder asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective in cross-examining respondent's DNA expert, Dr. Allen. In particular, Kinder complains that counsel failed to demonstrate on cross-examination that Dr. Allen's results did not lead to the conclusion that Kinder's DNA matched the sample obtained from the victim's body. This complaint centers on counsel's alleged ineffectiveness in establishing that one of the autorads Dr. Allen worked on was altered. On cross-examination, however, counsel confronted Dr. Allen with the original autorad and the copy of the autorad and asked him to explain the difference in the markings between the two exhibits. At that point, it was reasonable to conclude that it was unnecessary to cross-examine Dr. Allen in some other fashion. Subjects covered and the extent of cross-examination are matters of trial strategy and must be left to the judgment of counsel. State v. Newson, 898 S.W.2d 710, 717 (Mo.App.1995). Kinder has failed to overcome the presumption that the cross-examination of Dr. Allen was trial strategy. Further, Kinder cannot show that he suffered prejudice because his counsel did present the opinion of his own expert that the TBQ7 probe original autorad was altered. The motion court did not clearly err in finding that counsel was not ineffective.