Wishbone
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BOSTON — A slew of Worcester County drug cases will be retried after a judge ruled that “egregious” conduct in the form of secret recordings made by Massachusetts State Police tainted the cases and denied defendants’ their right to pursue “vital defenses” at trial.
“The court finds the MSP had actual knowledge that the recordings were made and being made, and they were aware of their obligations to turn said recordings over to the Worcester DA’s Office. The court also finds that certain financial incentives (promises, reward and inducements) given to the defendants, in the vast majority of cases, were not disclosed to the defense,” LoConto wrote in his order.
“The court further finds these violations to be egregious conduct that prevented the defendants from investigating and possibly implementing vital defenses that may have been available to each defendant,” Loconto continued. “For all of the above reasons, the court concludes that justice may not have been done in the above cases.”
“The court finds the MSP had actual knowledge that the recordings were made and being made, and they were aware of their obligations to turn said recordings over to the Worcester DA’s Office. The court also finds that certain financial incentives (promises, reward and inducements) given to the defendants, in the vast majority of cases, were not disclosed to the defense,” LoConto wrote in his order.
“The court further finds these violations to be egregious conduct that prevented the defendants from investigating and possibly implementing vital defenses that may have been available to each defendant,” Loconto continued. “For all of the above reasons, the court concludes that justice may not have been done in the above cases.”
‘Egregious’ Massachusetts State Police conduct leads to new trials for slew of drug cases, judge rules
BOSTON — A slew of Worcester County drug cases will be retried after a judge ruled that “egregious” conduct in the form of secret recordings made by Massachusetts State Police
www.unionleader.com