The People v. Jonathan Ludarac (Abridged)

[TESTIMONY]-- Witness #1

James: According to the report filed by the CSI office, there were over three hundred gallons of blood in Vincent Bates home. Is that correct?

Xiong: Yes.

James: And you ran DNA tests on all of it?

Xiong: We ran DNA tests on random samples taken from various locations within Vincent Bates's home. Some from each surface in each room was tested.

James: And what did you find?

Xiong: The only DNA match we found for any of the samples was Vincent Bates.

James: So is it your opinion that all the blood in the home belonged to Vincent Bates?

Xiong: Yes.

James: How much blood is in the human body?

Xiong: On average, blood accounts for about seven percent of our body weight, so in the case of Vincent Bates, a rough estimate would be about two gallons.

James: So how did over three hundred gallons of blood get into his home, and how would all of it match him?

Xiong: I don't know. If someone had been saving it for a while, maybe they could store that much, but they would have to have infrastructure set up to keep the blood preserved. All the blood we found appeared to be fresh.

James: In your professional opinion, Ms. Xiong, was Vincent Bates murdered?

Xiong: Not only do I think he was murdered, I think he was liquefied.

James: Nothing further, Your Honor.

[CROSS EXAMINATION]

Harker: Do you recognize this document, Ms. Xiong?

Xiong: Yes, it's my follow-up report on the autopsy of Dallas Gaines.

Harker: Can you read the highlighted segment?

Xiong: The deceased's throat was slit from left to right indicating that the attacker was right-handed.

Harker: Thank you. Here is Jack Sitersin's autopsy report. Can you read the highlighted segment for the court?

Xiong: The genitals were ripped away to the left indicating the attacker is most likely left-handed.

Harker: Now, in your professional opinion, were Dallas Gaines and Jack Sitersin killed by the same person?

Xiong: Based on that specific piece of evidence, no, but-

Harker: Can you tell the court exactly how Cullen Krast's injuries caused cardiac arrest?

Xiong: Extreme pain can cause the body to go into shock which elevates the heart rate and-

Harker: They go into shock? That sounds stressful. Would you describe the act of being attacked and going into shock as stressful, Ms. Xiong?

Xiong: Yes.

Harker: Would you say that if you were being attacked, you might be afraid?

Xiong: Yes.

Harker: And fear produces norepinephrine, correct?

Xiong: Yes.

Harker: And Barton Mueller, who you adamantly disagree with, said that the norepinephrine was, in fact, produced by fear, correct?

Xiong: Yes, but-

Harker: So would it be a safe assumption, in your professional opinion, that you do, in fact, agree with Barton Mueller, but are simply not as well informed about your own opinions?

James: Objection, badgering the witness.

J: Sustained.

Harker: Did you find any fingerprints in Mr. Krast's apartment?

Xiong: Yes.

Harker: And whose were they?

Xiong: Lucy Ludarac.

Harker: When did Lucy Ludarac die, Ms. Xiong?

Xiong: November third, 2011.

Harker: Can you explain why her prints were in Cullen Krast's apartment?

Xiong: No.

Harker: Did you perhaps also find the fingerprints of, oh let's say, Elvis?

James: Your Honor.

J: If you are out of real questions to ask the witness, Mr. Harker, I will end your examination.

Harker: You said that Vincent Bates was liquefied. Did you check the blender at the Bates household for any recent heavy use?

James: Objection, relevance.

Harker: The witness stated that she believes the victim was liquefied. With all due respect, Your Honor, if I were to liquefy someone, I would use a blender, and I certainly wouldn't use my own blender. That would just be asking for trouble. I would use the blender of the victim. They aren't going to use it anytime soon.

J: There's no need to be cute, Mr. Harker. The objection is overruled. Answer the question, Ms. Xiong.

Xiong: No, we didn't check the blender.

Harker: Well, it sounds like there have been some mistakes made during this investigation. Are there any others we should know about?

James: Objection.

J: Sustained. Move on, Mr. Harker.

Harker: Nothing further.

*Automated Fingerprint Identification System.