People v. Watson

Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(a)(1) (134 Ill. 2d R. 604(a)(1)), the State appeals from an order of the trial court ruling inadmissible scientific evidence offered against defendant, Vernon Watson, who was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, armed robbery, and aggravated kidnapping. Prior to trial, defendant filed a motion in limine seeking to exclude the results of a DNA profiling analysis performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which indicated that defendant’s DNA matched that of the assailant. The trial court conducted an extensive Frye hearing…