The defense in a quadruple murder case says a small piece of evidence could make a big difference in the courtroom.
Friday was the final opportunity to include it, before the murder trial begins Monday in Marianna.
The man accused of the murders is 25-year old Wesley Williams. In court Friday, Williams was smiling despite an unfavorable ruling for the defense.
The evidence in question is a fingertip of a latex glove found on duct tape around three-year-old Amarion Baker.
Amarion and his two brothers, four-year-old Ahmaad and three-week-old Aaron, were found suffocated with duct tape in a bathtub in their Marianna apartment in March of 2005. Their mother, Danielle Baker, was found shot to death.
Williams was Danielle Baker’s ex-boyfriend and the father of two of the three children.
Because the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said a lab used by the defense is not certified, the glove won’t be allowed as evidence.
The defense was requesting that its DNA findings, by Trinity DNA Solutions, be sent through an FBI database that matches DNA to people. The defense said the DNA on the glove was not a match to Williams.
But FDLE lab technicians said Trinity let its certification expire in May. Trinity actually has an inspection scheduled for Monday, the day the trial is set to begin.
But FDLE said even if Trinity passes the inspection, FDLE will not allow the data.
Also, FDLE said the DNA is too complex to send to the FBI database, because it would turn up too many matches.
“I think I have no choice but to make a finding today that the state has met it’s burden as far as discovery in providing to the defense everything they possibly could as to this DNA matter,” Judge William Wright said at Friday’s motions hearing.
The selection of the 12-person jury begins Monday. The attorneys will choose from a pool of about 400 people. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
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