Evidence Mishandling Controversy: The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office stated that San Antonio Police Chief William McManus mishandled evidence, leading to significant issues. Kevin Perez was sentenced to 25 years for killing Arnulfo Cortez in Dec 2020. This case was about him. Perez must serve time in jail as part of a deal.
Arnulfo Cortez was returning from a shopping trip when something terrible occurred. During the journey, he met Kevin Perez, believed to have killed Cortez by shooting him unexpectedly.
When the Cortez family claimed the District Attorney’s Office said the trial couldn’t proceed due to alleged mishandling of evidence by SAPD, the case grew more contentious. People were shocked by this news, raising doubts about the investigation’s fairness.
Chief McManus is furious about these claims. He said his team had reviewed the case and were confident in the agent and watch officer’s performance. McManus defended their actions, stating that there were no issues with the case handling.
Things got interesting when the Cortez family expressed concern about an alleged illegal search of Kevin Perez’s gun. McManus stuck to his position, saying there was nothing wrong with how the firearm was handled based on the facts.
District Attorney’s Office to inquire about the situation. They asked why the SAPD told Cortez’s family they messed up the case. Pete Gallegos, in charge of media for the DA’s office, said it’s difficult to comment on what the family was told.
Joe Gonzales, the district attorney, also discussed the situation. He stated that his office and the SAPD collaborated on the Kevin Perez case. Gonzales didn’t criticize the probe or the police’s proof. He said their work helped make a firm decision and put a criminal in jail.
Despite ongoing communication between McManus and the DA’s office, the tragic fate of the Cortez family remained in the news. McManus claimed the 25-year deal was unfair and upset his family. He agreed the term may not be harsh enough for the crime and apologized for the family’s pain.
This case highlighted the complexities of the criminal justice system. As lawyers debated, the Cortez family sought peace and justice amidst their grief.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What is an example of mishandling of evidence?
If crucial fingerprints indicating the defendant’s presence at a crime scene suddenly disappear, the prosecution loses valuable evidence for the case. This weakens the prosecution’s argument significantly and may lead them to drop the case altogether.
Is mishandled evidence admissible in court?
Mishandled or unsubmitted evidence becomes lost and cannot be used for further testing in court. Contaminated or hidden evidence is irretrievable and unusable.
What are some potential consequences of mishandling or losing evidence?
In cases where evidence has vanished or been ruined, the court has to rely only on the witness’s unverified statement to determine guilt or innocence for both sides. If the evidence was clearing the defendant, their situation will suffer even if a new trial is granted.
What is misleading evidence?
A forensic analyst or other forensic expert provided evidence that was either (1) derived from untrustworthy or untested methods, (2) conveyed with overstated and deceptive certainty, or (3) deceitful.