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Aytugrul v The Queen

[2012] HCA 15
Case number
S315/2011
Before
French CJ, Hayne, Heydon, Crennan, Bell JJ
Catchwords

Criminal law – Evidence - Admissibility of evidence about DNA analysis - Appellant convicted of murder - Expert gave evidence at trial about mitochondrial DNA testing of hair found on deceased's thumbnail - Expert's statistical evidence given in form of frequency ratio and exclusion percentage - Whether evidence of exclusion percentage relevant given evidence of frequency ratio - Whether probative value of evidence of exclusion percentage outweighed by danger of unfair prejudice to appellant - Whether evidence of exclusion percentage misleading or confusing.

Evidence – Judicial notice - Argument for general rule that evidence of exclusion percentage is always inadmissible due to danger of unfair prejudice - Facts underpinning adoption of general rule not proved - Whether judicial notice can be taken of psychological research said to support adoption of general rule.

Words and phrases – "evidence", "exclusion percentage", "frequency ratio", "judicial notice", "misleading or confusing", "unfair prejudice".

Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – ss 135, 137, 144.

Files
15.rtf (67.79 KB)
15.pdf (129.79 KB)