Redirect examination of Dr. Terence Speed (part 2)

📄 Redirect examination of Dr. Terence Speed (part 2) — Tuesday, August 8, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\AUG\8\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-DR-TER.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 131 of 167

◀ Recross-examination of Dr. Terence Speed Sidebar: witness examination and conduct ▶

Witness: Dr. Terence Speed
Examiner: Peter Neufeld
Called by: Defense • Date: Tuesday, August 8, 1995 • Utterances: 11

In a brief redirect, defense attorney Neufeld clarified that Dr. Speed's position on external blind proficiency testing being necessary for valid error rates was not merely his personal opinion, but a recommendation endorsed by the National Research Council and the broader statistics community. The examination consisted of only a few targeted questions to rehabilitate Speed's credibility after cross-examination.

# 1 MR. COCHRAN:

I'm sorry.

FURTHER REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. NEUFELD

# 2 MR. NEUFELD:

Mr. Harmon asked you whether or not your requirement that the error rates be based on external blind proficiency testing was an objection you had as to the form of the testing. Do you recall that?

# 3 PROF. SPEED:

Could you state that again. An objection--

# 4 MR. NEUFELD:

Okay. Do you remember whether--I don't mean in the legal sense, sir. I mean do you remember when Mr. Harmon was asking you a few minutes ago whether or not your opinion that external blind proficiency testing is a necessity is a precondition for presenting an appropriate error rate, whether he asked you was that simply, you know, your opinion. Do you remember that?

# 5 PROF. SPEED:

I do remember that.

# 6 MR. NEUFELD:

Okay. Is that also something which has been strongly recommended by the national research council?

# 7 PROF. SPEED:

Certainly. It was in the quotes we read out.

KEY QUOTE

# 8 MR. NEUFELD:

Has both the necessity of external blind proficiency testing in error rates been strongly recommended by your colleagues in the statistics community?

# 9 PROF. SPEED:

Yes.

# 10 MR. NEUFELD:

Thank you.

# 11 MR. HARMON:

Nothing further, your Honor.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (2)

Dr. Terence Speed

Certainly. It was in the quotes we read out.

Speed ties his requirement for external blind proficiency testing back to the NRC report, grounding his opinion in authoritative published guidance rather than personal preference.

Dr. Terence Speed

Yes.

Confirms that the statistics community broadly shares his position, undermining Harmon's implicit suggestion that Speed's standard was idiosyncratic.

Evidence (1)

Informal

National Research Council report recommending external blind proficiency testing and error rates for DNA evidence

discussed

Notable Exchanges (1)

Peter Neufeld•Dr. Terence Speed

Neufeld rehabilitates Speed by establishing that his standard for external blind proficiency testing reflects NRC recommendations and consensus in the statistics community, not just personal opinion.

strategic

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 7244 • 11 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103