Whether the filing of a direct appeal is a prerequisite to the filing of a habeas petition?

Questions Presented e Whether the filing of a direct appeal is a prerequisite to the filing of a habeas petition? e Whether exculpatory scientific evidence, that was excluded for review by jurors, may serve as new evidence to satisfy the threshold showing of actual innocence? e Whether the circuit court subjected Petitioner to a fundamental miscarriage of justice by affirming the district court's ruling void an understanding of what constitutes "new evidence"? _ i IL _