Edwards v. State

Appellant was convicted of attempted first-degree rape, third-degree sexual offense, and second-degree sexual offense. Appellant was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape offense. Appellant later filed a petition for post-conviction DNA testing, asserting that there was a reasonable probability that DNA testing of the requested items had the scientific potential to produce exculpatory evidence relevant to his claim of wrongful conviction. The post-conviction court denied Appellant’s petition for DNA testing after conducting a hearing. The Court of Appeals reversed, holding (1) the hearing judge erred in applying a more stringent standard that would require Appellant to show that the DNA testing he sought would exonerate him; and (2) Appellant established that DNA testing was warranted in light of the proper standard. View "Edwards v. State" on Justia Law