When a violent crime occurs, the police will look for DNA evidence. If they find yours, they may believe it is the key piece they need to prove you are guilty.
You might assume your chance of proving them wrong is zero. However, that is not the case. While many people believe DNA evidence is indisputable, it is not.
Forensic experts can collect DNA evidence more easily than before
The collection methods now available enable DNA evidence to be collected from far lower concentrations. This increased sensitivity means they can collect it from a crime scene even when the person was never there. How is that?
Let’s say a killer brushes past you in a restaurant. Some of your DNA could get onto their jacket sleeve as they brush past your hand. When they tussle with the victim, some of your DNA could pass from their sleeve onto the victim’s clothing. When the forensic team finds that tiny amount of DNA on the victim’s clothing, they may assume you were the killer.
Another example could be when the police collect physical evidence. They collect a gun and a cigarette packet from the crime scene and store them in a bag together. The packet was yours, but the gun was not.
Once in the bag, some of your DNA could transfer from the packet onto the gun, making it look like you are guilty of murder when all you are guilty of is littering.
It sounds extreme, but if you face murder charges, it is crucial to examine all defense options. Challenging forensic evidence can be critical to your outcome in court.