MIAMI – Deandre Charles was in court Monday for his final Arthur Hearing, with his defense attorney trying to convince Judge Jason Bloch to set bail.
Charles is accused of killing Rabbi Joseph Raksin who was walking to a synagogue in august of 2014.
When Charles was arrested it was announced that DNA played a big part in nabbing the suspect.
Judge Bloch heard Monday that three sets of DNA were found on the door handle of a car involved in the case – Raksin’s DNA, the DNA from the suspect and DNA from a third person.
“Contrary to what you believe, I have a pretty good understand what the DNA evidence was but I’m listening,” said Judge Bloch.
What he heard was that the DNA associated with the suspect and the victim could also fit about one-third of population.
“One-third of the population was the type that is present on the handle and the defendant shared the type that is within one-third of the population,” said Dr. Kevin McElfresh, a DNA expert at Florida International University.
The prosecution also has an eyewitness and cellphone evidence.
It is very complicated and the defense team is putting up doubt.
“I think in this case they just do not have enough. They have a weak eyewitness that was tainted and the DNA does not say anything,” said Charles’ attorney, Adam Goodman.
The judge said he is going to study the evidence and decide if bail could be lowered for Charles.
