7.Kerri Rosana — Direct
54 linesMS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes, sir. The State calls Kerri Rosana.
(Pause. )
JUDGE HANKINSON: If you'd face the clerk and raise your right hand, please, ma'am.
whereupon, KERRI ROSANA was called as a witness, having been first duly sworn, was examined and testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Please introduce yourself and spell your name.
KERRI ROSANA: My name is Kerri Rosana, K --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: How are --
KERRI ROSANA: -- E-R-R-I, R-O-S-A-N-A.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Sorry. I jumped the gun. How are you employed, Ms. Rosana.
KERRI ROSANA: I work as a forensic examiner with the Virginia Department of Forensic Science in Richmond, Virginia.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And where were you employed back in July of 2014?
KERRI ROSANA: I was working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Laboratory in their Forensic Biology Section.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: How long did you work in that capacity with FDLE?
KERRI ROSANA: AS a crime laboratory analyst, I was with FDLE for three years.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. what about before that?
KERRI ROSANA: Prior to that, I worked as a forensic technologist with FDLE and also in their DNA databank.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: what is your training and education in the area of DNA analysis?
KERRI ROSANA: I have a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the college of New Jersey. And I have a master of science degree in genetics from Pennsylvania State University.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. what were your duties in the crime laboratory FDLE?
KERRI ROSANA: My job is to examine items of evidence for the presence of biological material. And then and I perform DNA testing on those items. And I also would perform DNA testing on samples known as standards, which are collected from known individuals. Then I would compare the results from those standards to the results from the evidence to see if that person could have contributed to any DNA found on the evidence.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So the comparison process only comes into play if you find a DNA profile on these swabs from the items, correct?
KERRI ROSANA: Yes. That's correct.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. Were you provided any test swabs to test for the presence of DNA in reference to State of -- well, the death of Dan Markel?
KERRI ROSANA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And can you tell us specifically whether you were provided any swabs from the car in the case?
KERRI ROSANA: Yes. I was provided four swabs from different door handles from the car.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And what testing did you perform on those swabs?
KERRI ROSANA: The testing that I perform uses a process called PCR, which stands for polymerase chain reaction. And it's a way that I'm able to identify specific areas in the DNA that are known to vary from person to person. And I do that process on both evidence samples and known samples and then compare them.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And what was the result of your testing of the DNA swabs collected from the car?
KERRI ROSANA: For the DNA swabs collected from the car, I obtained limited results, which means I did not develop for any DNA types. Because of that, I couldn't make any comparisons to those DNA results.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And what if -- assuming someone touched that car and shed some skin cells, what could interfere with your ability to collect enough data to make a comparison?
KERRI ROSANA: So there are a number of factors to consider. If DNA had been deposited, then the Uv light from the sun or heat or moisture can break down the DNA, which would result in limited results. Also, if someone touches a surface, it's not guaranteed that DNA will be left behind.
So there are a couple of different things that can affect that, such as the length of time they touch. So if it's very brief, it's less likely. If they hold something for a long time, they're more likely to deposit DNA. Also, the frequency -- the last time they've washed their hands. If they've just washed their hands, there's going to be less free DNA potentially than if it's been a while since they washed their hands. Also the force of the contact, the surface, whether it's smooth or rough. All of those can affect whether DNA is deposited, if a surface is touched.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So, basically, nothing of value from the car as far as DNA swabs.
KERRI ROSANA: That's correct.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. Let's move on to the doorknobs. what swabs were you given to test in reference to doorknobs?
KERRI ROSANA: I had a swab of an exterior doorknob to the house from the garage.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And what testing did you perform on that item?
KERRI ROSANA: The same DNA testing as I previously described.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And with what report?
KERRI ROSANA: Again, the result from that was limited DNA results, so I couldn't make any comparisons to that sample.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No further questions.
JUDGE HANKINSON: Cross.
MR. ZANGENEH: No cross for Mr. Garcia, Judge. No cross.
MR. DECOSTE: No cross, Your Honor. Thank you.
JUDGE HANKINSON: All right. Any juror have a question of this witness?
Okay. Do we need to keep her further?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No, sir.
JUDGE HANKINSON: Anybody need her further?
MR. ZANGENEH: No, thank you, Judge.
JUDGE HANKINSON: All right.
MR. DECOSTE: No, Your Honor.
JUDGE HANKINSON: You're excused. Thank you for being here.
(witness exits.)
JUDGE HANKINSON: Call your next witness.