High court hears argument on post‑conviction testing of knife handles in Cadet case

The Supreme Judicial Court heard oral argument in Commonwealth v. Pierre Paul Cadet over whether post‑conviction forensic testing of handler swabs and alleged cleanup materials should be authorized under Chapter 278A.

Merrick Schnipper, appearing for Cadet, told the court that "handler DNA analysis, that showed Bettina Francoise held the knives in question, before the defendant did would support his trial testimony that she initiated their fatal confrontation." He argued the requested testing is material because DNA found on unstained portions of the knife handles could have been deposited before blood transfer and would corroborate Cadet’s account that the victim was the first aggressor.

Schnipper acknowledged gaps in the trial record but said the criminalistics logs and the defendant’s pro se filings show…