4:04 PM Bring the Jury back.
Defense Cross of Anthony Gorgone
West: Wants to track through the evidence as it was done, but first want to talk about the part he played in collecting the actual evidence. Swabs of the firearm for example were taken by someone else. He just tests the 4 swabs. He doesn't take the swabs. He has never been to a crime scene.
Moisture, heat, moisture involving rain and humidity can chop up or degrade the DNA evidence.
Hard surfaces are not good for retaining 'touch DNA'. Thus, the DNA on the hard surface of the gun, did not allow him to identify or exclude.
The holster on the other hand, the major profile matched George. Exclusion means they did not contribute to that data obtained from that swab. (He is the statistics guy.) West attempting to confuse it all. Witness talking about how a DNA sample can be damaged. He doesn't know the history of the swab collections, samples. Again, he doesn't take the swab himself.
West showing photos of Skittles and the flashlight. He never saw the Skittles bag or the flashlight, he only saw the swabs associated with them.
Now on the fingernail scraping, about testing for blood. The blood profile on the right, matched Trayvon, there was nothing foreign to it. He is most interested in blood or skin or anything foreign to the person whose fingernail was scrapped. West points out, if its blood for example, the witness doesn't know when it got there. Witness, that's correct. West says the absence of evidence in a fingernail scraping, isn't particularly of concern to you? Witness, No. Generally speaking, one stick is used to scrap all five fingers. Witness has never done it, but believes that is how it is done.
West, pointing out use of singular/plural. Fingernail or fingernails. West says he noticed each part of the gun was swabbed separately. Witness, Yes. So, blood was from one of Trayvon's fingernails but he has no idea from which nail, says West. Witness Yes.
West: The packaging of, oops, wait, did you do any processing on Trayvon's pants? No? Now switch to NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology. He has NIST standards in his laboratory.
Everyone in the lab is required to pass proficiency tests. West: Is biological a standard term for things like blood, and fluids, etc. West: Its well known in the preservation of wet evidence that it should be air dried before it is collected. Witness: Yes.
Alvin Gussman, in trace evidence section of the lab had previously opened the package, the two shirts. Outer container was a sealed brown paper bag, inside was a red plastic bag used for putting bio hazard material in, sealed with a knot, with the two sweatshirts, packaged separately. When he opened the dark gray sweatshirt it had an odor, the item was still wet, more damp than the light gray which was not as wet. West is saying that the clothes should have been air dried before they were put into bags. Witness, Yes. and, don't put in plastic bags. Witness cannot quantify how much evidence was harmed by the packaging. West: Did you dry the evidence? Witness: I let it dry out as much as possible but I needed to pass it on to Ms Sieward, the firearms lady. Talking about order of evidence from section to section. First guy does not do any chemical tests on the evidence. This guy does not drop any chemicals on the actual fabric itself. Talking about the physical process of his testing. Takes cuttings, and puts in tubes. Visual, rubbing, cutting. He stores the cuttings until he is ready to extract the DNA from the stain. Its done in a clear tube with a variety of chemicals added to extract the DNA.
West is going to test him on correlating his findings from the hooded sweatshirt. West wants him to point out the stain he identified as Stain A. (Bottom front pocket) (He sourced it to Trayvon) West: It could have gotten there from somewhere else? Witness: Yes.
Stain B? West doesn't seem to know the difference between the hoodie and the other shirt.
West: So the only stain you could match on the hoodie was A, on the front?
Now repeating there was no foreign DNA on the cuffs, sleeves of the hooded sweatshirt.
Now on to more repetition with the other shirt Trayvon wore. The one underneath the hoodie.
Yadda, yadda, yadda.
West seems to be trying to use up as much time with this witness as possible, so as to forestall the calling of what will probably be the last witness by the State (my opinion).
Oh thank god, done with that, they almost broke the whole evidence exhibit of Trayvon's shirt.
Asking now about George's orange (or red orange and black) jacket, bringing that exhibit forth; Focus on only the stains that you matched or couldn't exclude Trayvon from:
Stain E, not on front;
Stain N, front right shoulder, major George, minor Trayvon; the whole stain was rubbed for the blood, the small cuttings were for the DNA.
Stain U, bottom of right cuff, a mixture of DNA with Trayvon included as possible.
Stain V, no match, did not exclude either individual.
Now turning the exhibit to the back of the jacket.
Two on the back, not able to make a determination if Trayvon was present.
Stain E, was a mixture, major was complete match to George, minor did not determine nor did it exclude Trayvon.
And, one more on back, (which I missed this retelling)
Now, jacket exhibit is gone, West needs a moment he is nearing completion, consults with O'Mara. He is done.
Re-direct
Bernie, the defendant's jacket, Stain U, right cuff bottom included Trayvon as a possible. Is asking witness to do something but West has a speaking objection so everyone heads to sidebar...
Now asking witness how that Trayvon DNA could have gotten there? West objects, overruled. Bernie says how it got there the witness doesn't know but, it is his DNA so the witness says for it to have been there, Trayvon had to have come in contact.
(Confusing)
Bernie, you were also asked about the hoodie? Witness: Yes.
Bernie: you examined the hoodie and you did not find any of George's DNA on the hoodie? Witness: Correct.
No further from Bernie.
West for re-cross. The right cuff area of George's jacket
Your testimony is there is DNA there but you don't know how it got there. Objection. Judge lets him continue his question. He doesn't know how it got there.
Mr Gorgone is excused.
