DNA analysis of evidence in the Christian ‘Kit’ Martin triple-murder case will be conducted by the FBI Crime Lab and won’t be monitored by a defense expert.
The Kentucky State Police lab isn’t equipped to analyze the type of mitochondrial DNA that is present in this case and the FBI is willing to perform the testing at no cost, according to the Commonwealth. A previously agreed upon order would have allowed a defense expert to monitor the process, but Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Prather says he was notified that’s against FBI protocols.
Prather says there’s precedent to go ahead with the testing and then determine what’s admissible or useful once the results are back.
Judge John Atkins issued a ruling allowing the testing to proceed in the FBI Crime Lab.
The judge says protocols are in place to help Martin’s defense team understand the testing process.
Defense attorney Doug Moore noted his objection to the unmonitored FBI testing remains in place.
There is at least one private option to perform the DNA analysis that could have possibly been monitored by an expert, but Prather said the bill for that could have been in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Martin is charged for three counts of murder, arson, attempted arson, first-degree burglary and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. The charges are in relation events that occurred on November 18, 2015, when Calvin Phillips was found shot to death in his home located on South Main Street in Pembroke. The bodies of Pamela Phillips and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau were found a few miles away in a burnt car in a corn field near Rosetown Road. Martin could face the death penalty, if convicted.