Thornton v. State

Weltner, Justice.

Nathaniel Thornton was indicted for the murder of Mary Frances Moss. The state obtained involuntarily from Thornton certain dental impressions, so that his teeth might be compared to marks appearing in an autopsy photograph of the victim. State v. Thornton, 253 Ga. 524 (322 SE2d 711) (1984).

Thornton filed a pre-trial motion for funds to hire a forensic dental expert of his choosing, alleging that he is indigent. The trial court denied Thornton’s motion and we granted his application for interlocutory appeal.

By affidavit, Thornton’s counsel asserts that it is his opinion that…