Jan 13, 2008 7:26 pm US/Mountain
Possible Misconduct Investigated In Masters' Case
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) ―
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Timothy Masters in court on Jan. 2, 2008.
CBS
Alleged police misconduct in the murder conviction in 1999 of Tim Masters will be investigated, says Larimer County District Attorney Larry Abramson.
Abramson has handed over allegations of misconduct to Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck.
Buck took over after lawyers for Masters, convicted of the 1987 murder of Peggy Hettrick, filed motions saying evidence was withheld from his defense team.
"We want to make sure it's open and fair and that there can be no allegations of any type of bias on our part," Abrahamson told the Fort Collins Coloradoan.
Masters' new lawyers filed motions last year alleging misconduct by one of the lead investigators in the case. They have called for Masters' release from prison pending completion of an independent investigation. Those involved in the earlier investigation have denied any wrongdoing.
The Adams County district attorney's office is handling the prosecution side of the case for the time being. District Judge Joseph Weatherby has been called in from Fort Morgan to handle motions.
Abramson said it is premature to say whether his office would take the case back if Masters is granted a new trial.
"What we want is for the process to go forward and be complete," he said. "If it falls back in our lap, we'll look at it and make a decision."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Special Prosecutors' Court Filing
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