Back to Trials
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v Michael Robinson
TrueAllele links defendant to bandana
| Crime | On May 6, 2013, local rapper Lawrence Short (29) and friend Tyrone Coleman (18) were fatally shot on a Duquesne porch. |
| Evidence | A discarded black bandana was collected from the crime scene. |
| DNA | The Allegheny County Crime laboratory developed complex DNA mixture data from the bandana. |
| Match | The lab was unable to interpret the mixture data, and drew no conclusions about the defendant from the DNA evidence. |
| TrueAllele | On the same data, TrueAllele separated out genotypes, connecting the bandana Michael Robinson with a match statistic of 1.49 billion. |
| Cybergenetics | Following a pre-trial hearing, the defense was denied access to TrueAllele's source code. In February 2017, Dr. Mark Perlin testified at trial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
| Outcome | The court found Robinson not guilty. On February 7, 2017, Robinson was acquitted of homicide. |
Documents
- Judge ruling on source code Cybergenetics Newsroom
- Man sought in double-fatal Duquesne shooting WPXI
- Court denies Duquesne man’s motion to examine DNA program in homicide trial TribLive
- Appellate court refuses to hear DNA case Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Trial opens in 2013 double homicide in Pittsburgh WJAC
- 'Hard-working family guy' found not guilty of double homicide in Duquesne WTAE
- Man acquitted in 2013 Duquesne double homicide CBS Pittsburgh