JB: The defense calls Dr. Timothy Huntington.
(He is sworn in)
Dr. H: My name is Timothy Eugene Huntington.
HJBP: You may proceed.
JB: May it please the court, Mr. Ashton, good morning ladies and gentlemen.
JB: Good morning Dr. Huntington.
Dr. H: Good morning.
JB: Before we begin, do you have a a sheet for the court reporter?
Dr. H: Yes I do.
JB: May i approach the witness Your Honor?
HJBP: You may.
JB: Sir, what is your occupation?
Dr. H: I'm an assistant professor of biology at Concordia University is Seward Nebraska and I'm a forensic entomology consultant.
JB: And what does that mean exactly?
Dr. H: A forensic entomology consultant is a professional entomologist who advises law enforcement, attorney's basically anyone who needs extra explanation of entomological or insect evidence.
JB: And how long have you been doing this?
Dr. H: I've been doing this since 2002.
JB: And what is your educational background?
Dr. H: I have a bachelor's science degree in biology from Concordia University I have a master's science degree in biology for entomology from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and a PHD in entomology from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. (repeats for the court reporter: Yes, ma'am. I have a PHD in entomology from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.)
JB: One of the things I will ask you to do is that if you can slow down a bit uh, the court reporter is typing everything you're saying and some of these words are a bit difficult to spell out, I'm sure.
Dr. H: No problem, I apologize.
JB: Okay, have you received any special training in the field of entomology?
Dr. H: Yes sir, I have. My entire focus in entomology has been forensic entomology. The use of insects as evidence. I've received extensive training from various board certified forensic entomologists in the field I am also a certified diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Entomology.
JB: Let me stop you there. Are you board certified as an entomologist and by whom?
Dr. H: I am. I am certified by the American Board of Forensic Entomology and the American Board of Forensic Entomology is the only certifying agency in the world for forensic entomology.
JB: How many board certified entomologists are there in the country?
Dr. H: The American Board of Forensic Entomology currently has 15 members.
JB: And have you written any topics or written any papers on in journals in the field of forensic entomology?
Dr. H: Yes I have. I have several publications and peer reviewed literature. I've also published several book chapters on the field of forensic entomology as well as popular, or non peer reviewed papers as well.
JB: And have you also conducted studies in the field of forensic entomology?
Dr. H: Absolutely. Since I was an under graduate actually, was my first study in forensic entomology and in carrion decomposition and the insects that are associated with it as I said earlier, my entire graduate school carrier was focusing on decomposition and forensic entomology, as well as since then as well.
JB: Do you also work with law enforcement?
Dr. H: I do. I consult as an expert with law enforcement routinely, in fact most of my case work comes from law enforcement, I'm also a reserve deputy sheriff at the Seward County Sheriff's Office.
(objection from states attorney)
HJBP: Sustained. Disregard the last statement.
JB: Now, have you received any honors and awards in the field of forensic entomology?
Dr. H: Specifically in forensic entomology? No, because as far as I know there aren't any. Although I have received a number of awards from Entomological Society of America as well as the University of Nebraska in reference to my teaching as well as research.
JB: How many times have you consulted as a forensic entomologist for law enforcement?
Dr. H: For law enforcement, I believe...
(objection for states attorney)
HJBP: Overruled.
Dr. H: For the law enforcement side I believe it's around 65 times. Most of those are going to be death investigations, the majority of those, homicides.
JB: And do you normally go out to scenes? Is that part of your assignment? Or do you just get material sent to you at the laboratory, or both?
Dr. H: Whenever possible I like to go out to the scene it's better if someone who knows specifically what their doing can be there to collect the evidence. So for example, if I'm relying on someone else to send me samples I don't know for sure that they really knew what they were looking for and that they actually got all of the evidence. If I'm there I know what I'm looking for, I like to collect my own evidence that way I can see everything in context as well. Most of the time in Nebraska and Iowa and even Missouri, I've traveled to the scenes to collect my own evidence. Outside of that, it gets sent to me.
(commercial break)