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A man charged in a Brockton killing was freed from prison because of evidence tainted by former state drug lab chemist Annie Dookhan.
A federal judge in Boston has denied a motion from two men to withdraw their guilty pleas in a drug case tied to former state chemist Annie Dookhan, the first rejection of a so-called “Dookhan defense” in US District Court in the Hub, according to records and authorities.
The state’s highest court will consider whether special magistrates can legally free defendants who are seeking new trials based on allegedly tainted drug evidence tied to disgraced former state chemist Annie Dookhan.In what could have a far-reaching effect on cases throughout the Commonwealth, the Supreme Judicial Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the matter in three related cases on Thursday. Two of the arguments center around a pair of defendants in Essex County and the third involves several procedural questions.The proceedings pit Essex prosecutors, who argue that the magistrates cannot free so-called “Dookhan defendants” while their motions for new trials are pending, against defense lawyers and the state Superior Court.
Video | The Back Story
Scott Allen talks about the Globe investigation into one of the biggest law enforcement scandals in Massachusetts history.
Internal e-mails describe a staff drowning in work, misplaced evidence in crime cases, and mounting frustrations over the Patrick administration’s seeming indifference.
Suffolk County judges have freed at least 11 defendants facing drug charges, almost all with lengthy criminal records, since early September, in the first wave of potentially thousands of cases.
The state drug-testing crisis could taint the national image of Governor Patrick, which was elevated at the Democratic National Convention.
Former state chemist Annie Dookhan is accused with mishandling and manipulating drug evidence that may have helped convict hundreds of people from 2003 through 2012. The state now faces the task of reviewing each case - and conviction - that may have been tainted as a result of the drug lab scandal.
A man charged in a Brockton killing was freed from prison because of evidence tainted by former state drug lab chemist Annie Dookhan.
Governor Patrick named former prosecutor David Meier to lead the investigation into fears of widespread tampering at a state drug laboratory.
Commissioner John Auerbach said that he bears responsibility for a lack of oversight that led to mishandling of drug evidence, possibly jeopardizing thousands of criminal cases.
The former chemist finally found fame, as scandal engulfed the state drug lab.
Annie Dookhan, arraigned Thursday on 15 counts of altering drug evidence and obstructing justice, viewed herself as part of the prosecution team, the e-mails show.
Inspector General Glenn Cunha will now take over the sweeping inquiry into the lab, while Attorney General Martha Coakley will focus on the criminal investigation.
Disturbing details are starting to emerge about the alleged mishandling of drug samples at the state testing laboratory in Jamaica Plain.
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