Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Teri Kun Trial 1UC Davis forensic scientist who tested submitted swabs for animal DNA ← All People
🔬 Expert Witness · UC Davis

Teri Kun

Courtroom still of Teri Kun.

UC Davis forensic scientist who tested submitted swabs for animal DNA

Trial 1
196 lines 5 proceedings

About

Teri Kun, a forensic scientist and DNA technical lead at UC Davis, tested two swabs submitted by the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab. She reported pig DNA on both swabs, while canine testing and a dog-focused follow-up test were negative. She did not identify the source of the pig DNA; food was one possibility she raised. On cross-examination, Kun acknowledged that her findings applied to the swabs she received, not the garment they came from, and that she did not know how the swabs had been collected. She also agreed that inhibitors or degradation could prevent nuclear canine DNA from being detected. She distinguished that test from the separate species testing, which tested for dog as well as pig DNA and showed no inhibition. On redirect, she said the mitochondrial and species tests showed no inhibitors.

Trial Record (5)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 5 proceedings

Day 12

Direct Teri Kun Direct Examination: Animal DNA Testing of Two Swabs Teri Kun Adam Lally 4 highlights 75 lines spoken
Summary

Forensic scientist Teri Kun testified that two submitted swabs tested positive for pig DNA and negative for canine DNA.

Highlights (4)
Cross Teri Kun - Cross Teri Kun Alan Jackson 3 highlights 112 lines spoken
Summary

Kun said her analysis was limited to two swabs and distinguished the inhibited nuclear-DNA test from the meat I.D. test.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“In our meat I.D. test, we also have a test for an inhibitor. It's also called an IPC. It's the same initials. Internal positive control. And that's what did not work in the nuclear testing. It did work and worked very well in the test on the meat I.D. So there wasn't any inhibition that we were seeing on the meat I.D. test.”

Clarifies the differing test results and the absence of inhibition in the meat I.D. test.

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Redirect Teri Kun - Redirect Teri Kun Adam Lally 1 highlights 7 lines spoken
Summary

Kun distinguished the inhibited nuclear-DNA test from the more sensitive mitochondrial and meat I.D. testing and described expected swab handling.

Highlights (1)
Quote

“The mitochondrial DNA is a heartier DNA. There is a lot more of it.”

Kun explained why the mitochondrial species testing differed from the nuclear-DNA testing discussed on cross-examination.

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