DNA, Firearm Evidence Heard During Day 6 of East Hartford Murder Trial

HARTFORD DNA was recovered from two doorknobs at the East Hartford apartment complex that was the scene of a 2010 triple homicide that matched samples from Horvil "Trix" Lebrick, according to testimony Monday.

Dr. Angela Przech was one of five witnesses called by the state during the sixth day of Lebrick's murder trial. Lebrick is accused of fatally shooting Shawnalee Hudson, 26, during a botched robbery at a Woodcliff Estates apartment rented to Omari Barrett on May 6, 2010.

Przech testified that two doorknobs in the south stairwell of the apartment building were among the items from the scene swabbed and tested for DNA. The samples from the doors matched the sample of Lebrick's DNA that was submitted to the lab, according to Przech's testimony.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Christopher Duby questioned Przech about retesting that was done after the lab learned that there may have been problems with their testing kits. Przech said that all samples tested with the kits in question were retested and the tests done on the doorknobs yielded the same results.

The jury also heard from James Stephenson, who was working at the state forensics laboratory when the bullets and casings from the crime scene were examined. Stephenson, who is now retired and running his own consulting firm, testified that there were seven 9mm bullets and casings discovered in the apartment, along with four .38/.357-caliber bullets.

Six of the 9mm bullets likely came from the same weapon, but one had markings on it that indicated it came from a different firearm, he said. He testified that the same was true of the 9mm bullet casings; six were consistent with one weapon, one was different.

When asked about the examination of the marks on the bullets, Stephenson said it was like comparing "apples and oranges."

No actual firearms were presented as evidence in the case. One gun was found inside the apartment, according to previous testimony, but none of the bullets fired inside the apartment matched the weapon.

Barrett, who rented the apartment, previously testified that he rushed home that day after Hudson called him to say that three men had kicked in the apartment door.

He said he told Hudson to get his .357 Magnum revolver and then he drove from Hartford armed with a 9mm pistol. When he arrived, Barrett said he found the men inside his apartment and fired at one of them, setting off an exchange of gunfire that left Hudson and two of the intruders, twins Andrew and Andraw Moses, dead. Lebrick was the only person arrested.

Read the original:
DNA, Firearm Evidence Heard During Day 6 of East Hartford Murder Trial