(NewsNation) — Accused Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann will be in court Friday as a judge weighs whether certain DNA evidence should be excluded from his trial.
Judge Timothy Mazzei will preside over the Frye hearing, which will begin with one prosecution witness who will also be cross-examined by the defense. So far, the prosecution has four witnesses planned though scheduling dates for them to appear will depend on both their availability and that of the court.
Heuermann’s defense team wants certain DNA evidence disallowed at trial. They have argued against a technique known as “whole genome sequencing” that was used to link hairs found at the crime scene to Heueramnn.
Prosecutors argued that the technique has been used in peer-reviewed scientific journals and a variety of fields and is widely accepted as accurate. They also said the results were corroborated by mitochondrial DNA testing, which has previously been accepted by the courts.
Heuermann is charged with murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack.
The investigation into what has become known as the Gilgo Beach killings began in 2010 after police discovered the remains of up to 18 people on the beach in Long Island.
Heuermann was initially charged in the deaths of three of the women: Waterman, Barthelemy and Costello. Officials added the remaining charges as the investigation unfolded.
His attorneys have also requested the cases be severed and split into five separate trials. The judge is expected to issue a ruling on that request at some point.