Lil Wayne Due For DNA Hearing In NYC Gun Case

First Published: October 21, 2009 8:38 AM EDT Credit: Getty Images

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Caption Lil Wayne attends Game One of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLil Wayne has a date in a Manhattan courtroom, but DNA science will take center stage.

A hearing on a DNA profiling technique used in the rapper’s 2007 gun-possession case was due to start Wednesday. It concerns a process used for identifying people from tiny amounts of DNA — including some that prosecutors say ties the Grammy Award-winner to a gun found on his tour bus after a concert.

The 27-year-old has pleaded not guilty. He faces at least 3½ years in prison if convicted.

The hearing aims to establish whether what’s known as low copy number DNA profiling has general scientific acceptance.

Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Carter, won last year’s best rap solo performance Grammy for “A Milli.” His albums include “Tha Carter,” '‘Tha Carter II” and “Tha Carter III.”

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