Conviction Based on ''DNA Odds of Match'' Evidence Alone Example Cases

In Hinojosa v. State, 4 S.W.3d 240, 245 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999), the court stated: "Despite one in 19,900,000 odds, appellant's DNA profile matched the semen found in the victim. Contrary to appellant's argument, these impressive statistics support the jury's conclusion that appellant, as opposed to some unidentified 'suspect' also sharing the same DNA profile, sexually assaulted, kidnaped, and killed Wright." In Springfield v. State, 860 P.2d 435 (Wyo. 1993), the victim in a rape prosecution was unable to make an in-court identification of the defendant who only "resembles" her attacker. The DNA expert found a match between the defendant's blood sample and samples recovered from a stain on the victim's panties and from her anus. The probability that another Indian person would have the same DNA was estimated to be at 1 in 250,000. the Wyoming Supreme Court concluded that "the evidence was sufficient for 'reasonable and rational individuals' to conclude that the defendant was the perpetrator." Springfield, 860 P.2d at 449.