Broderick advised of his rights, will be in Larimer court again Sept. 8 - The Denver Post

Broderick advised of his rights, will be in Larimer court again Sept. 8 - The Denver Post

FORT COLLINS — A police detective accused of perjury in the investigation that led to the conviction of Tim Masters was advised of his rights Tuesday in a brief hearing that attracted more reporters than defendants.

Fort Collins Lt. Jim Broderick faces nine charges of first-degree perjury related to his testimony during the probe and trial that resulted in Masters' conviction for the 1987 murder of Peggy Hettrick.

Larimer County Magistrate Matthew Zehe informed Broderick of his rights during a short video-taped presentation.

Broderick, who did not enter a plea, was accompanied by his attorney Patrick Tooley. Neither man said anything as they left the courtroom trailed by several reporters and cameras.

Broderick's next court hearing is Sept. 8.

Broderick was reindicted on the perjury charges in late July.

In June 2010, a grand jury indicted Broderick on eight counts of perjury. But that indictment was thrown out May 9 by Weld County District Court Judge James Hartmann, who ruled the prosecution had not specified when the alleged perjury was discovered.

Colorado law states that the statute of limitations for the crime of perjury is three years from the date of the discovery of the crime.

In July, Weld County prosecutors presented their case again, asking a new grand jury to review seven of the original charges and two more. They cited a discovery date on or after Oct. 15, 2007, and credited lawyers Maria Liu and David Wymore with uncovering the perjury during their post-conviction representation of Masters.

Masters was convicted in 1999 for Hettrick's murder and served nearly 10 years in prison. His conviction was overturned in 2008 after a visiting judge ruled new DNA evidence pointed to another suspect.

No one has been charged with her death since.