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Friday, Nov 6, 2009 @08:22pm CST The third day of testimony has wrapped up in the murder trial of Curtis Vance.
He stands accused of the October 2008 attack of Little Rock news anchor Anne Pressly. Jurors first heard from Lisa Channel with the Arkansas State Crime Lab. She testified that tests confirm that semen was found in Pressly's bedroom. Chandler also said presumptive tests on hair found on Pressly's quilt and bed sheets were similar to Vance. The defense asked Chandler about certainty of some of the tests. She responded, "We cannot say that this hair came from this person to the exclusion of all others." DNA examiners also testified that one hair found at the crime scene proved to be a complete match with Curtis Vance--in fact DNA Examiner Melissa Myhand said there is a one in quadrillion chance that it could be anyone other than Vance. Another examiner testified that the crime lab discovered several partial matches with Vance's DNA taken from hairs and trace material in Pressly's bedroom. However, the defense was quick to point out those partial matches could include a wide range of people, anywhere from all of the men in Vance's family to tens of thousands of other people. Some of yesterday's testimony was emotional and included a lot of graphic details. Jurors saw shocking photos of the crime scene that showed blood on the wall and ceiling in Pressly's bedroom. They also heard from Kristen Edwards, the alleged rape victim from Marianna. Also on the stand, an examiner who says DNA from the Pressly crime scene and Edwards' rape kit matched Curtis Vance's DNA beyond scientific certainty. |