A LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE

A look at the use of DNA fingerprinting as evidence:

1985: Dr. Alec Jeffreys, a British scientist, develops a technique called DNA fingerprinting that makes it possible to identify murderers and rapists from blood samples with virtually no chance of mistake.

1987: Tommy Lee Andrews becomes the first person convicted with DNA fingerprinting of rape, aggravated battery and burglary.

1988: Timothy W. Spencer, 26, is the first defendant in a U.S. serial-murder case to be convicted with DNA fingerprinting evidence used at his trials.

1989: Sammie Scheff, who spent six months in jail on rape charges, was released after DNA tests cleared him.

1992: Ricky Hammond, convicted in March, 1990, of rape despite DNA evidence suggesting that he was innocent, is freed pending a new trial after spending more than two years in jail.