DNA expert links Gallegos to murder

ALBUQUERQUE -- Crucial DNA evidence does link Ernest Gallegos to the murder of James Hogan, according to DNA experts who testified in district court today.

This afternoon defense attorneys in Gallegos’ murder trial questioned how the experts made those DNA matches.

Gallegos allegedly broke in Hogan's Tanoan home and killed him in August 2004. Hogan's wife was there but could not identify Gallegos because the killer was wearing a mask.

This morning, DNA expert Donna Manogue showed the court through DNA profiling that Gallegos left a trail of his DNA behind on the victim's fingernail, the palm of a glove and a tank top with blood spots on it.

Hair found in a mask left behind near the Hogan's home also matched Gallegos, but the defense questioned how the DNA was matched.

Gallegos' attorney said more DNA cells should have been found on the mask, not just one strand of hair.

The attorney also argued DNA taken from Hogan's fingernail had to be sampled several times before making a match, but the DNA expert stands by her results.

“The tests had been previously validated, and the results I obtained were verified and were second verified by another qualified DNA examiner,” Manogue said.

Late this afternoon and Albuquerque Police Department homicide detective took the stand to detail how the crime scene was protected right after the murder.

He also said a confidential informant led them to Mexico where Gallegos had been hiding out for nine months.

Closing arguments by defense and prosecution attorneys are set to begin Tuesday. After that, the jury will begin its deliberations on Gallegos guilt or innocence.