DNA Consumption is Scientifically Unnecessary, Defense Says

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A murder defendant’s defense attorney said that he may oppose the prosecution conducting DNA testing which would destroy the sample. Torey Stockton, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 23-year-old Jasmine Light on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE on Jan. 17, 2018. His co-defendant Kayla Thompson is charged with obstruction of justice. “It seems like something that isn’t scientifically necessary,” said Stockton’s defense attorney Justin Okezie. The prosecutor previously said he did not intend to order any DNA testing but, in a status hearing on Nov. 7, he told DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson that there was one item he wanted to test. The prosecutor has to file a DNA Consumption motion, since conducting the testing would destroy the evidence. Okezie accused the prosecution of testing the evidence without cause. Judge Dayson said the prosecution’s request did not seem out of the ordinary, but she plans to rule on whether she would allow DNA consumption at the next status hearing on Dec. 11. Before the evidence can be tested a new DNA sample needed to be collected from Stockton, according to the prosecutor. Okezie said that either he or Stockton’s other defense attorney, Gemma Stevens, needed to be present when the sample is collected in order to ensure it is done properly. Judge Dayson rescheduled Stockton and Thompson’s trial for July 6, 2020, in order to accommodate a conflict in her schedule. Siena Rush wrote this article.

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