Post by MJSUNIFC on Mar 24, 2005 14:28:39 GMT -5
santa maria times reports-
Expert says Jackson fingerprint evidence not affected by delay
By Quintin Cushner/Staff Writer
A prosecution fingerprint expert testified in Michael Jackson's child-molestation trial this morning that although it is preferable to check items of evidence for prints soon after they are seized, the prints are not likely to degrade over time.
Both sides in the Jackson case have fought over fingerprints of Jackson's boy accuser allegedly found on adult magazines seized from the singer's Neverland Valley Ranch near Los Olivos.
Prosecutors claim the fingerprints are evidence that Jackson showed his accuser the magazines in an attempt to seduce him. The defense denies that Jackson ever showed the boy any adult magazines and has hinted that the teen may actually first have touched them during a grand jury hearing where he testified.
The defense also has asserted that the year-long lag between when the items were seized and when they were fingerprinted may have compromised the evidence.
"You would expect to do the analysis first," said Dr. Antonio Cantu, a scientist with the U.S. Secret Service. "I was not aware they were a year old."
However, when asked by prosecutors if the lapse was detrimental to the fingerprint evidence, Cantu said it likely was not.
"Fingerprints, I would not expect to go away..." he said. "They last a significant amount of time."
Shortly before the morning break, Lisa Hemman, a Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department senior identification technician, took the stand to identify certain items seized from Neverland.
Jackson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of child molestation and four counts of administering alcohol to help him with the alleged lewd acts. He also has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion, and a count of attempted child molestation.
Because the accuser is the alleged victim of sex crimes, the Santa Maria Times, following its established policy, is not identifying him or members of his family, even though they are being named in court.
www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2005/03/24/news/local/news00.txt
Expert says Jackson fingerprint evidence not affected by delay
By Quintin Cushner/Staff Writer
A prosecution fingerprint expert testified in Michael Jackson's child-molestation trial this morning that although it is preferable to check items of evidence for prints soon after they are seized, the prints are not likely to degrade over time.
Both sides in the Jackson case have fought over fingerprints of Jackson's boy accuser allegedly found on adult magazines seized from the singer's Neverland Valley Ranch near Los Olivos.
Prosecutors claim the fingerprints are evidence that Jackson showed his accuser the magazines in an attempt to seduce him. The defense denies that Jackson ever showed the boy any adult magazines and has hinted that the teen may actually first have touched them during a grand jury hearing where he testified.
The defense also has asserted that the year-long lag between when the items were seized and when they were fingerprinted may have compromised the evidence.
"You would expect to do the analysis first," said Dr. Antonio Cantu, a scientist with the U.S. Secret Service. "I was not aware they were a year old."
However, when asked by prosecutors if the lapse was detrimental to the fingerprint evidence, Cantu said it likely was not.
"Fingerprints, I would not expect to go away..." he said. "They last a significant amount of time."
Shortly before the morning break, Lisa Hemman, a Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department senior identification technician, took the stand to identify certain items seized from Neverland.
Jackson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of child molestation and four counts of administering alcohol to help him with the alleged lewd acts. He also has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion, and a count of attempted child molestation.
Because the accuser is the alleged victim of sex crimes, the Santa Maria Times, following its established policy, is not identifying him or members of his family, even though they are being named in court.
www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2005/03/24/news/local/news00.txt