NYPD Accused Of Fabricating Evidence In Murder Case

Murder is perhaps the most serious crime that anyone can face in New York, and police officers must be incredibly careful when investigating these crimes. Even a slight mistake can put innocent people behind bars for murders that they did not commit. New Yorkers trust detectives and officers to investigate crimes and collect evidence responsibly, but our trust in the criminal justice system is often rocked by incidents involving serious negligence. One recent incident involves the alleged fabrication of evidence in a New York murder case.

Woman Sues the NYPD for Allegedly Fabricating Murder Evidence 

On November 30th of 2023, it was reported that a woman was suing the New York Police Department for allegedly fabricating evidence in her murder case. She was accused of murdering her husband three years prior, but prosecutors were eventually forced to drop the case in 2022 due to insufficient evidence.

The circumstances leading to her husband’s death were initially quite unclear. In her lawsuit, the woman stated that police officers who arrived at the scene immediately jumped to conclusions. One officer wrote in her report that the defendant admitted to stabbing her husband in the chest – despite her never making such statements. In fact, bodycam footage clearly shows that after police arrived, the defendant said nothing of the sort.

However, this alleged “confession” was picked up by the District Attorney, who read the officer’s inaccurate report and immediately pushed for second-degree murder charges. The situation became even more desperate after a judge ignored the defendant’s attempt to cite the bodycam footage when refuting the baseless claim.

Ultimately, the defendant was placed in jail due to a confession that she never actually made. Meanwhile, prosecutors obtained search warrants to go through the defendant’s phone and computer. The woman claims in her lawsuit that the authorities were legally required to notify her when they executed these search warrants. However, the searches were never disclosed – and a court order prevented Google from informing her that her email account had been compromised. The prosecutors also went through the defendant’s dating apps during the investigation.

Finally, the prosecution admitted that they had insufficient evidence to pursue a murder charge. A forensics expert eventually concluded that the woman’s husband had slipped during an argument, subsequently falling upon a knife in what can only be described as a tragic freak accident.

How to Fight Fabricated Evidence 

If nothing else, this incident stresses the value of remaining silent. Words may be misheard, finding their way onto police reports in drastically altered forms. The best way to fight fabricated evidence is with the help of a qualified, experienced defense attorney in New York.

Find a Qualified Defense Attorney in New York 

If you’ve been searching for a qualified, experienced New York criminal defense attorney, look no further than Phillip J. Murphy, Attorney at Law. Recent incidents show that police officers in New York may fabricate evidence in murder trials, and this is something that should concern everyone. If you have been falsely accused of murder in New York, a criminal defense attorney may assist in exposing fabricated, inadmissible evidence. Book your consultation today to get started.

Sources: 

theintercept.com/2023/11/30/nypd-domestic-violence-lawsuit/

nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/125.25