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Admissibility of DNA Evidence in a Rape Case

By Walin & Klarich

The California Supreme Court seems likely to allow wide latitude for prosecutors to use DNA evidence to extend the statute of limitations in crimes such as rape. The statute of limitations is the amount of time a prosecutor has to file charges against the alleged defendant. If the prosecutor does not file charges in time, then the defendant cannot later be prosecuted for that crime. In November, the California Supreme Court heard oral argument in a case where a man was arrested for rape based upon a no-name ?John Doe? warrant. Prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for a ?John Doe? 4 days prior to the running of the six year statute of limitations. Six weeks later, Paul Eugene Robinson was arrested for rape after state computers matched his DNA to the no-name warrant...continue to full post

Full post as published by Southern California Criminal Defense Blog on January 15, 2010 (boomark / email).