Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann’s attorneys are pushing to have certain evidence excluded from his upcoming trial, including DNA found on several victims.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Heuermann faces charges for the murders of seven women. His attorneys are pushing to exclude DNA evidence from hair found at six crime scenes, arguing that the technique used for analysis is unreliable.
They asked the presiding judge to dismiss expert testimony related to the nuclear DNA results. If successful, this motion could significantly weaken the prosecution’s case at trial.
“We’re not going to engage in what ifs, obviously that’s among many other key components of our case, so we’re prepared to defend it,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Tuesday, according to ABC New York.
Heuermann, an architect and father of two from Massapequa Park, with seven of the at least 10 murders connected to Gilgo Beach.
Heuermann’s defense team filed a motion in Central Islip this week, arguing that the scientific method used by California’s Astrea Forensics lab lacks general acceptance as reliable in the scientific community.
This motion, filed Tuesday, initiated the process for a hearing to determine if the DNA profile that links Heuermann to the murders will be allowed in court.
“If we we’re not confident in the efficacy and the admissibility of that evidence, we would not have used it,” Tierney said.
When asked if Heuermann is currently a suspect in the remaining Gilgo Beach cold case murders, Tierney said, “Not right now.”
Check back for updates.
[Rex Heuermann/Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office via AP]
