Mississippi’s overwhelmed crime lab system is under scrutiny as it threatens to undermine the prosecution of Cameron Harris, a 21-year-old Natchez man accused of attempted murder. Harris, arrested on June 26, 2023, has spent 17 months in custody without an indictment due to delays in processing key ballistic evidence.

The Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Harris must receive a habeas corpus hearing without delay, citing insufficient evidence to justify his prolonged detention. The decision highlights systemic issues plaguing Mississippi’s justice system, where backlogged forensic testing has become a critical bottleneck.

Harris was charged in connection with the June 2023 shooting of Amari Horton on Lower Woodville Road. At the time of his arrest, police recovered a Glock 17 pistol and an AR-15 pistol from the vehicle Harris occupied. Both firearms were sent to the state crime lab for analysis. However, no results have been returned, leaving prosecutors unable to establish a conclusive link between Harris and the crime.

Sixth Circuit District Attorney Tim Cotton expressed frustration, calling the crime lab delays a barrier to justice. “Testing evidence is essential to our ability to prosecute cases,” Cotton said. “The year-plus delay not only hinders this case but impacts prosecutions across the state.”

The appellate court’s ruling acknowledged that Harris’ continued detention rests on weak, hearsay evidence of an unnamed witness seeing him near the crime scene. Without forensic results, probable cause for holding Harris remains in question, increasing the likelihood of reduced bail or release.

The case underscores how Mississippi’s crime lab backlog risks derailing justice, not just for Harris but for victims like Horton and their families seeking closure.