In a motion filed last month, Simpson’s attorney alleges that Olmos Park Police Chief Fidel Villegas violated the gag order and allowed Olmos Park Mayor Erin Harrison to privately review physical evidence in the case.
The motion, which seeks personnel files, claims Villegas gave Harrison access to all physical evidence in the department’s possession after a judge had prohibited disclosure of evidence to non-parties.
The defense argues that the alleged action “destroys the chain of custody” for many items and could compromise the integrity of the case.
If evidence is found to be mishandled, it could be ruled inadmissible in court — a significant setback for prosecutors in a case that already faces challenges
The high-profile murder case against Brad Simpson may face new complications after his defense team accused the Olmos Park police chief of mishandling evidence and violating a gag order.
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