LJWorld.com / Rape trial introduces DNA evidence

Archive for Thursday, May 15, 2008

J-W Staff Reports

May 15, 2008

Rape trial enters third day

Science takes center stage as trial for an accused serial rapist enters its third day. Enlarge video

Scientific testimony took center stage Wednesday during the third day of trial for a man accused of being a serial rapist.

The 39-year-old Sacramento, Calif., man is facing multiple rape and sodomy charges in Douglas County District Court, stemming from sexual assaults on two women in Lawrence in the mid-1990s.

Sindey Schueler, a DNA examiner at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at the time of the crimes, testified Wednesday during the trial. She said investigators originally weren’t able to come up with a genetic profile for a suspect. But newer, more sensitive tests revealed the defendant’s DNA on evidence from the crime scenes.

On cross-examination, defense attorney Jim Rumsey tried to point out how easy it would be for the lab to make a mistake while testing multiple samples from different cases.

“I keep each case separate,” Schueler testified. “To cross-contaminate from one case to another case, there would have to be physical contact.”

The trial, which started Monday, is expected to last the remainder of the week.

The Journal-World typically does not identify suspects in sex crimes unless there is a conviction.