Top MD court affirms denial of motion for new trial after DNA test

Key Takeaways:

Maryland’s high court affirms denial of a retrial for Prince George’s County man

2024 DNA test showed no detectable DNA on gun barrel

Court says new evidence does not affect original conviction

Decision highlights limits of postconviction DNA testing

The Maryland Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed the denial of a Prince George’s County man’s motion for a new trial after a new postconviction DNA test detected none of the victim’s DNA on the barrel of a gun found in the man’s possession.

In a unanimous ruling , the high court determined the Prince George’s County Circuit Court correctly denied Travis Rashad Shepperson’s motion for a new criminal trial, finding the “no detectable DNA” result for a DNA test performed last year was neither favorable to him nor created