Prosecutors performed a clip from “Jurassic Park” at a listening to within the case of the alleged Gilgo Seashore serial killer Wednesday – in an uncommon transfer to defend their DNA proof.
The scene from the sci-flick was used to bolster the argument that the “nuclear” DNA testing that linked alleged killer Rex Heurmann to 6 of seven slain intercourse staff was respectable as his attorneys pushed to have the proof tossed out as junk science.
Prosecution skilled witness Nicole Novroski — the affiliate director on the Heart for Human Identification for the College of North Texas — mentioned Wednesday the kind of science used for DNA evaluation by investigators of the Giglo Seashore killings isn’t new and has really been trusted for many years.
Throughout Novroski’s testimony, prosecutors performed a clip for the choose from the favored movie franchise, displaying how scientists extracted dinosaur DNA from a mosquito preserved inside amber after which used it to clone the animals which were extinct for some 66 million years.
Novroski mentioned the DNA science referenced within the film has been round since earlier than it got here out in 1993 and it has been verified “1000’s of instances” by individuals within the scientific neighborhood. She mentioned it’s correct and dependable to make use of in forensics.
Protection lawyer Michael Brown asserted that this science isn’t actual, evaluating it to “magic.” He added that characters in Jurassic Park “thought that they had good science” however really, “the dinosaurs ended up consuming everybody.” This prompted the choose to chuckle.
Investigators have been compelled to make use of the actual kind of nuclear DNA testing, moderately than extra generally used testing as a result of the hair samples of the stays of the ladies have been extraordinarily degraded — partially due to the size of time between their deaths and once they have been lastly uncovered.
Heuermann, 61, is charged with killing the ladies beginning in 1993 after which ditching them alongside Ocean Parkway just for their stays to be present in 2010 and 2011.
It wasn’t till July 2023 that Heuermann — an architect residing in Massapequa Park — was arrested for the murders of Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman and Melissa Barthelemy. He was additionally charged with killing Maureen Brainard-Barnes in January 2024 with the 4 girls changing into often called the “Gilgo 4.”
Heuermann was later charged with the killings of Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, the earliest sufferer who was killed in 1993.
Officers lastly introduced final month that the investigation into Heuermann’s alleged murders had concluded — which means they didn’t anticipate charging him with any further slayings.
Wednesday was the second day of hearings on the DNA proof in Heuermann’s case which started on Friday.
He has pleaded not responsible. No trial date has been set but within the case.
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