Conflict in Hettrick Case?
Seven months after the governor asked the state attorney general to reopen the probe into Peggy Hettrick's murder, state investigators have yet to access the physical evidence warehoused in the case. The delay stems from an escalating dispute with Tim Masters' lawyers, who are seeking a court-ordered protocol to ensure that the evidence, currently stored in Larimer County district court, is properly handled and preserved by state officials. In recent days, his attorneys also have filed court papers seeking to disqualify Attorney General John Suthers' office from overseeing the inquiry into the 1987 homicide because of its defense of Masters' now-vacated conviction. "This is a blatant conflict of interest," Masters' lawyers allege in a new court petition. "The Attorney General was an integral part of the mechanism which resulted in the original conviction being upheld (by the state Supreme Court). The attorney general cannot be expected to do justice since it has a vested interest. . . ." A spokesman for Suthers said he would not comment on the court fight except to say, "We will continue to do everything we believe is necessary to investigate (the cold case)." In court briefs, Suthers' attorneys have stated that they harbor no prejudice toward Masters in light of the murder charges being dropped against him.
The Denver Post
1 comment:
John Suther should be voted out at the next chance to vote against him, as he served as executive director of the Dept of Corrections and has a conflict of interest in many cases. His constitutional uterrances on many issues are questionable in my opinion. Voting rights for parollee's and inmates is one of them.djw
Post a Comment