(NewsNation) — On Wednesday, the ninth day of the trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, a yoga instructor who is accused of shooting and killing professional cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, the state rested its case.
Wilson was found unconscious with a gunshot wound to the head on May 11, 2022, at a friend’s home in Austin, Texas.
After the state rested, the defense called its first witness: Erin LaGrone, a senior latent print examiner for the Austin Forensic Science Department.
LaGrone was helped conduct comparisons in this case. A software called Automated Fingerprint Identification System was used to submit fingerprints and search for possible candidate profiles.
LaGrone’s written report was shown to the jury and courtroom. LaGrone clarified on the stand that she does not collect the fingerprints: they are just handed to her for analysis.
There was an immediate mistake with the fingerprint envelopes when they were first handed to her, LaGrone testified, as their labels were switched. The number of prints inside the envelope didn’t match what was printed on the label, LaGrone said.
LaGrone said she was given a “known” print to compare the latent prints to. Those prints were from Kaitlin Armstrong. APD detectives did not ask LaGrone to consider any other subjects to possibly match them to, she said.
Defense attorneys, as they questioned LaGrone, emphasized the fact that she was not asked to compare fingerprints to any other people, including Wilson or Caitlin Cash, the friend at whose home the cyclist was found.
Matthew Quartaro, a forensic DNA consultant, testified next about “transfer DNA.” He said it is possible for Armstrong’s DNA to be at the scene where Wilson was killed if Strickland transferred it in some way.
However, he added that he agreed with most of Texas Department of Public Safety DNA Supervisor Samantha Perkins’ findings in the case. Perkins testified Tuesday that it was highly likely that Armstrong’s DNA had been found on Wilson’s bike.
William Tobin, a scientist of metallurgy, testified virtually over Zoom. He told the jury that firearm identification is not “real science” as “the practice is devoid of all six cornerstones of the scientific method.”
This appears to be the defense’s attempt to discredit an expert brought in as a witness for the state.
Earlier in the trial, the prosecution called a firearm forensic scientist, Steve Aston, who said the projectiles found at the scene where Wilson was killed came from the Sig Sauer 9mm owned by Armstrong.
Tobin said the scientific community is universally behind him in his beliefs about the inconsistencies and shortcomings of the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners methodology. In response, the state read word-for-word from journals and papers from several leading DNA experts, scientists and doctors who have published studies disagreeing with Tobin’s assessments.
On Tuesday, those who testified included a firearm forensic scientist and the person who performed Wilson’s autopsy. The court also heard more from Officer Rosalda Johnson with Travis County’s Hospital Visitation Unit about the day Armstrong briefly escaped while leaving a medical appointment outside the jail two weeks ago.
Prosecutors have said jealousy was Armstrong’s motive for allegedly killing Wilson. Wilson had been in a brief romantic relationship with Armstrong’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Colin Strickland, another professional cyclist. On the day Wilson died, she and Strickland had gone swimming together.
Armstrong has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
Cameras so far have not been allowed in the courtroom following opening statements. They will be let back in for closing statements.
NewsNation local affiliate KXAN contributed to this article.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.
