§ 12-12-313 - Records as evidence -- Analyst's testimony. - Arkansas Statutes

12-12-313. Records as evidence -- Analyst's testimony.

(a) The records and reports of autopsies, evidence analyses, drug analyses, and any investigations made by the State Crime Laboratory under the authority of this subchapter shall be received as competent evidence as to the matters contained therein in the courts of this state subject to the applicable rules of criminal procedure when duly attested to by the Executive Director of the State Crime Laboratory or his or her assistants, associates, or deputies.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to abrogate a defendant's right of cross-examination if notice of intention to cross-examine is given prior to the date of a hearing or trial pursuant to the applicable rules of criminal procedure.

(c) The testimony of the appropriate analyst may be compelled by the issuance of a proper subpoena, in which case the records and reports shall be admissible through the analyst who shall be subject to cross-examination by the defendant or his or her counsel, either in person or via two-way closed-circuit or satellite-transmitted television pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.

(d) (1) All records and reports of an evidence analysis of the laboratory shall be received as competent evidence as to the facts in any court or other proceeding when duly attested to by the analyst who performed the analysis.

(2) The defendant shall give at least ten (10) days' notice prior to the proceedings that he or she requests the presence of the analyst of the laboratory who performed the analysis for the purpose of cross-examination.

(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to abrogate the defendant's right to cross-examine.

(e) Except trials in which the defendant is charged with capital murder, 5-10-101, or murder in the first degree, 5-10-102, in all criminal trials upon motion of the prosecutor the court may allow the prosecutor to present the testimony of the appropriate analyst by contemporaneous transmission from a laboratory facility via two-way closed-circuit or satellite-transmitted television which shall allow the examination and cross-examination of the analyst to proceed as though the analyst were testifying in the courtroom:

(1) After notice to the defendant;

(2) Upon proper showing of good cause and sufficient safeguards to satisfy all state and federal constitutional requirements of oath, confrontation, cross-examination, and observation of the witness's demeanor and testimony by the defendant, the court, and the jury; and

(3) Absent a showing of prejudice by the defendant.