New Orleans
More than a year after Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of defendants in New Orleans are being set free because of ruined or lost evidence or missing witnesses, The New York Times reported this week. Prosecutors say that as many as 500 defendants have been let off because floodwaters damaged evidence—rusting out guns, for example—while an additional 1,500 cases have been put on hold because defendants who fled the city after the storm haven’t returned. In a typical case, drug and weapons charges against Edward Augustine, 18, were dismissed when prosecutors simply couldn’t find Augustine’s gun or the drugs police say he was carrying. “For every case I’ve walked into lately, there’s been evidence missing,” said Rick Tessier, a defense lawyer.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Sudan stands on the brink of another national schismThe Explainer With tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, one of Africa’s most severe outbreaks of sectarian violence is poised to take a dramatic turn for the worse
-
‘Not every social scourge is an act of war’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The Louvre’s security measures are in hot water after a major heistIn the Spotlight Millions of dollars in jewels were stolen from the museum
