The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that a federal judge may permit a drug case to proceed after the Allegheny County Office of the District Attorney destroyed evidence. The case, which is being heard by U.S. District Court Judge Gustave Diamond, involves a defendant who has been accused of possession with intent to deliver heroin. After the Allegheny County DA’s office transferred prosecution to the United States Attorney General’s office, the drug evidence and the zippered purse in which the drugs were allegedly found were incinerated. The defendant argues that the absence of the zippered purse will hamper her ability to challenge the legality of the police officers’ search.
For more information, go to:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11096/1137378-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml