Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Entwistle trial may be delayed

The numerous problems at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab might affect the case of Neil Entwistle - or at least that's what Neil's lawyer, Elliot Weinstein, seems to think. So far, the lab has taken over five months to test DNA samples from ammunition boxes, gun locks, and other items that Entwistle may have touched while allegedly taking his father-in-law's gun to commit the murders. Weinstein says that when the results finally come in he'll have them tested again by a private company:

"We just have to deal with the reality that the workings of the state crime lab have been called into question. When the lab gets these results, we have every reason to question the results and to be able to have the public and trial juries be mindful that just because the state scientists say something does not mean it's accurate."

District Attorney Gerry Leone downplayed the possibility that the DNA mess will delay Entwistle's trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on October 1st.

Hmm, I wonder if Neil's trial will overlap with that of Alexander Pring-Wilson? At a hearing on Monday a judge set a tentative date of November 5th for the former Harvard grad student's retrial.

Thanks to the Boston Globe for some of my information.

P.S. In case anyone was wondering, there has still not been a ruling on Entwistle's motion to suppress from way back in April. I will post as soon as possible if I find out anything new about either of these two cases.

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