Evidence
Murder Case Based on DNA Database Find
A man identified as a murder suspect through a national DNA database is on trial in Fairfax County, Va., for a murder committed almost 19 years ago.
Alfredo R. Prieto was on California’s death row for a rape and murder when a match was found between his DNA and that of the man who raped 22-year-old murder victim Rachael Raver. The bodies of Raver and her boyfriend, who both died of gunshot wounds, were found in a Virginia field in 1988.
Robert F. Horan Jr. told jurors yesterday his case will be built largely on the DNA link, the Washington Post reports.
Defense lawyer Jonathan Shapiro said there were many unanswered questions in the case, and evidence of rape does not prove murder.
