[SteveH]

IIRC, the DNA dude said the hoodie was in a plastic bag and any DNA was contaminated. This guy said “only paper allowed”. Person putting them in plastic would be immediately fired. Oops....I see a bus coming.

Not exactly, IIRC. Improper procedure for handling DNA. DNA needs to be kept in containers that permit air circulation, otherwise mold can grow and destroy DNA. IOW, whoever bagged the evidence for the DNA technician is a doofus who does not use proper procedure. Since improper procedure was used during the chain of custody, all of the evidence gathered by that person is suspect since that person did not use proper procedure in at least some instances (plastic instead of paper container for DNA evidence). At least that is the way I understand it. I am not a ME, etc.

[Spunky]

What I recall as being brought out by the defense is because the clothing items were bagged in plastic and wet any DNA that might have been on them would have deteriorated. So if that happened that the clothes were put in plastic it was done at the ME office.

The question on the DNA sampling that was done the defense brought out the fact that the person taking the DNA from under the nails used only 1 Q-tip to do one whole hand and another Q-tip to do the other hand, instead of 1 Q-tip for each finger.