Scientist Tells Jury About 'Benzos' In Lindsay Clancy's Blood Samples

Hillary Griffiths is a forensic scientist with the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory. She testified in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial today (Tuesday, August 4, day 6) 02:21 "Our samples are tested in a batch system, so each analyst is assigned a particular task for the month, and then any case that requires that test during that month is performed by that individual. So often, cases could need anywhere from three to 10 different tests to be done, and so different individuals will conduct each different test." 07:49 "I performed the confirmation method for benzodiazepines on the urine sample and the quantitation method for benzodiazepines on the blood sample." 09:44 "There were four vials of blood and then two vials of serum plasma, which had started out as blood but were serum by the time we received them, and then one tube of urine." 11:50 "what were the results in in the testing of the benzodiazepines in the blood? The blood contained eight nanograms per milaliter of diazepam and 20 nanograms per milliliter of nor diazepam, and 4.8 nanograms per mill of oxazepam, and 1.9 nanograms per mill of temazepam, and 61 nanograms per mill of lorazepam. 14:12 cross-exam by defense attorney Kevin Reddington 17:25 "This testing procedure separates the drugs present in the sample into drugs that are more basic in nature and drugs that are more acidic in nature. This test looks for several 100 types of drugs, and so in order to customize the extraction method to target certain drugs. The sample is divided into two fractions." 17:48 "So, in other words, it gives you a broader spectrum, if you will, of the drugs that would be in the person's sample of their blood, right?" "Yes." 18:46 "There's no alcohol detected, right?" "Correct." "No amphetamines detected, right?" "Correct." "There was a benzo screen that was positive, which we've already talked about, correct?" "Yes." Reddington tried to ask Griffiths about another blood test at another lab, but Judge William Sullivan called a sidebar and Griffiths left the witness stand after.