THE FIRST HALF AND 11:00 TO 12
NOON, THEN IT BECOMES WINDY
WITH GUSTS TO 55 MILES PER
HOUR.
OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU, LONNIE.
TODAY, STRONG REACTION FROM
REFORM ADVOCATES AFTER POLICE
CLAIMS THAT NEW TRIAL
PROCEDURES MAY HAVE JEOPARDIZED
A MAN'S SAFETY.
CAROLYN GUSOFF HAS MORE.
Reporter: THESE ARE TWO OF
THE ALLEGED GANG MEMBERS, AND
ONE OF THE VICTIMS IS DEAD,
BLUDGEONED AND FOUND DEAD AT
THIS NEWCASTLE HOME AT THE EVE
OF TRIAL.
POLICE LAID OUT A TIMELINE THAT
IMPLICATED NEW LAWS ABOUT
REVEALING EVIDENCE FOR TRIAL
CALLED DISCOVERY.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE
INFORMATION THAT WAS RELEASED,
ARE VICTIMS' INFORMATION THAT
SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS TURNED
OVER WE SAW THE INTIMIDATION
PATTERN START.
Reporter: IN THIS CASE, A
NEW LAW WAS DISCUSSED IN
DECEMBER TO COMPLY WITH JANUARY
1, NAMES TURNED OVER TO DEFENSE
ATTORNEYS.
BUT FOR DEFENSE COUNSEL ONLY
NOT TO BE SHARED WITH THEIR
CLIENTS.
ON JANUARY 6, THE TRIAL WAS
DELAYED.
ACCORDING TO THE JUDGE, THE
PEOPLE FAILED TO SEEK A
PROTECTIVE ORDER BUT THE
DEFENSE COUNSEL CONSENTED NOT
TO PROVIDE NAMES TO THEIR
CLIENTS, AND PROSECUTORS
REITERATED SO LONG AS THE
WITNESS NAMES WERE NOT PUT OUT.
YOU KEPT THAT INFORMATION TO
YOURSELF?
COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY, AND
IS ON FOR TRIAL JANUARY 6. NEW
LAW OR OLD LAW, WE WERE ABLE TO
DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION TO
OUR CLIENT.
THEY ARE TRYING TO
POLITICIZE THIS HAS TO DO WITH
DISCOVERY LAWS.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
DISCOVERY LAWS.
Reporter: THE DA SAID THE
WITNESS MAY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO
THE DEFENDANT.
THERE ARE OTHER STEPS IF
THEY ARE IN PERIL SUCH AS
WITNESS PROTECTION AND POLICE
PROTECTION.
Reporter: TRIAL BY AMBUSH IS
WHERE LAWYERS PLAY NOT GET
EVIDENCE UNTIL THE DAY OF
TRIAL.
THE HEAD OF THE NEW YORK CIVIL
LIBERTIES UNION.
TO BLAME A REFORM IN THE LAW
TO IMPROVE JUSTICE ON THIS
MURDER IS REALLY FEAR MONGERING
AT ITS WORST.
Reporter: NASSAU SAID THAT
THEY FAILED MALDONADO RODRIGUEZ
BUT NEVER CITED A DIRECT LINK
AND ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO
JUDGE.
IN MINEOLA, LONG ISLAND,
CAROLYN GUSOFF.
