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DNA expert takes the stand at Carver hearing

Defense attorneys are asking the judge to either drop Mark Carver’s charges all together or allow for a new trial concerning the 2008 death of Ira Yarmolenko.

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — The fate of a man currently serving a life sentence for murder is in limbo inside courtroom 4D at the Gaston County Courthouse.

For the last five days, attorneys with the North Carolina Center for Actual Innocence have been arguing that Mark Carver’s original murder trial in 2011 was filled with injustices.

“For me, the most important aspect is, was the prosecution trying to reach justice in this case or were they just trying to win a case?" asks defense attorney Chris Mumma.

They’re now asking the judge to either drop Carver’s charges all together or allow for a new trial.

In 2008, the body of 20-year-old UNC Charlotte student Ira Yarmolenko was found strangled to death along the Catawba River. Her car was found nearby. 

During the investigation, police said Carver’s DNA was found in two places near the rear of the car. Carver was later convicted in 2011 and began serving a life sentence.

But Monday, the defense called a forensic DNA analyst to the stand. 

“This data is inconclusive,” he said. “This profile is missing a lot of data where I cannot compare it to Mr. Carver or not.”

The analyst claimed, based on his analysis of the DNA samples, that both were also only a partial DNA profile, consisting of “a mixture, made up of at least two contributors.”

Although Carver has maintained his innocence since the beginning, prosecutors argued Monday the DNA evidence was clear and put Carver at the scene -- and that his conviction should stand.

Many are also wondering if Carver himself will take the stand at any point during this hearing, but so far, there’s no confirmation he will.

The hearing is expected to continue through Friday.

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