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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev— Case Archive
personpersonPatrick MoynihanPatrick MoynihanState police Crime Scene Services employee trained in criminal justice and crime scene documentation.← All People
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Patrick Moynihan

State police Crime Scene Services employee trained in criminal justice and crime scene documentation.

Appeared2015 Federal Trial
307 lines·3 proceedings·2 mentions

About

Patrick Moynihan testified on Day 35 as a prosecution fingerprint expert from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services section. Qualified without objection, he explained the ACE-V comparison process, verification by two additional analysts, and conditions that can prevent usable fingerprints. He described processing the Honda Civic and Mercedes SUV at the Watertown Police Department garage on April 20, 2013.

Moynihan identified Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's prints on the Honda's rear driver's-side door, radio face, and iPod Nano, and an exterior Honda print belonging to Tamerlan. On the Mercedes, he attributed ten exterior prints and two prints on interior items to Dzhokhar, and three exterior prints and seven on interior items to Tamerlan. He also identified Dzhokhar's print on a Mercedes CD but declined to identify bumper stains as blood. The court admitted photographs and physical evidence while the defense preserved its CD objections; several comparison charts were shown as illustrations rather than admitted evidence.

Under Judy Clarke's cross-examination, Moynihan acknowledged that fingerprints cannot establish when contact occurred and that driving need not leave identifiable prints. After a collection report refreshed his recollection, he described receipts from Tamerlan's wallet for two backpacks, a $900 transfer to Russia, a soldering gun, and a gun-and-ammunition-store transaction. He confirmed where the receipts were recovered, not who made the transactions, and would not confirm the MoneyGram receipt's named sender without seeing it. The government offered a recovery stipulation without opposing admission, and the court said the available receipts could be admitted. There was no redirect.

Trial Record (3)

2015 Trial2015 Federal TrialJan 5, 2015 – Jun 24, 2015Called by prosecution

Patrick Moynihan identified fingerprints belonging to Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev on vehicles and recovered items as a prosecution expert on Day 35. On cross-examination, he acknowledged that fingerprints cannot be dated or reliably establish who drove a vehicle, and described receipts recovered from Tamerlan's wallet.

Day 35

DirectPatrick Moynihan — DirectPatrick MoynihanWilliam D. Weinreb2highlightsMentioned270lines spoken

Summary

Moynihan identified prints from both men on the vehicles and recovered items; the court admitted photographs and physical evidence with CD objections preserved.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (2)

rulingThe government requested that Moynihan be qualified as a fingerprint expert; the defense had no objection and the court agreed.Open in transcript →
testimony highlightMoynihan reported ten of the defendant's prints and three of Tamerlan Tsarnaev's on the Mercedes exterior, and two of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's and seven of Tamerlan Tsarnaev's on items inside it.Open in transcript →
CrossPatrick Moynihan — Cross-ExaminationPatrick MoynihanJudy Clarke2highlights37lines spoken

Summary

Moynihan acknowledged fingerprint timing limits and described receipts from Tamerlan's wallet; the government offered a recovery stipulation without opposing admission.

Highlights (2)

admissionMoynihan agreed that regular car use could explain fingerprints, that fingerprints cannot be dated, and that Tamerlan's driving the Honda would not necessarily leave identifiable prints.Open in transcript →
testimony highlightWith his recollection refreshed, Moynihan described four receipts and confirmed that they were found in Tamerlan Tsarnaev's wallet. He did not confirm whose name appeared on the MoneyGram receipt without seeing it.Open in transcript →

Day 38