dna mixed profile

[jannyneve]

if a low copy number mixed dna profile(9loci) was tested in a criminal (cold)case how reliable would the result be and would it be safe to convict someone if the only other evidence was circumstantional?

[theprof]

I doubt that anyone can answer this question for you.

In Australia, 9-loci LCN results invariably lead to safe convictions that are rarely challenged. In the UK following the Omagh trials, much of the LCN techniques were considered dubious and unreliable and such convictions were regarded as unsafe for some time. Currently, LCN evidence is once again acceptable.

in theory, it should be possible to convict on 9-loci results but it's not foolproof due to various errors that creep in and imperfections with the statistical analysis performed. In my own scientific field, I've always had to have a reasonable good grasp of statistics, but believe me, the statistics they use for interpretation of LCN results is way over my head.

At the end of the day, it will be the decision of the judge based upon whether he or she is persuaded which of the group of expert witnesses called by defence and prosecution is the most believable. That's how justice works nowadays and the scientific evidence is of little consequence. I should know, as I'm an "expert witness" myself.