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Utah Code § 77-11c-403

Remedies for failure to preserve biological evidence

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 448, 2023 General Session

(1)

(a) Except as provided in Subsections (1)(b) and (2), if a court finds that biological evidence that reasonably could have been found to be exculpatory in a defendant's criminal case was not preserved in accordance with this chapter, the court may impose sanctions and remedies at the court's discretion, including:

(i) the grant of a new trial;

(ii) an instruction to the jury that evidence was not preserved as required by law;

(iii) the reduction of the sentence;

(iv) the dismissal of the criminal charge;

(v) the vacation of the conviction; or

(vi) the entry of a finding that because the evidence was not preserved in accordance with this chapter, a presumption exists that the evidence would have been exculpatory to the defendant.

(b) The provisions in Subsection (1)(a) apply only if:

(i) a defendant's appeal has not concluded;

(ii) a defendant's time for appeal has not expired; or

(iii) a defendant has received a new trial in accordance with Subsection (2)(b).

(2)

(a) A defendant shall seek relief under Title 78B, Chapter 9, Postconviction Remedies Act, if:

(i) the defendant alleges that the biological evidence that is the basis for the defendant's claim was not preserved in accordance with this chapter; and

(ii)

(A) the defendant's appeal has concluded; or

(B) the time for the defendant's appeal has expired.

(b) If a defendant obtains relief under Title 78B, Chapter 9, Postconviction Remedies Act, the provisions in Subsection (1) apply to the defendant's new trial.

Official source: Utah State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Utah statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.