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Delaware Drug Testing Lab Scandal Hits Homicide Cases

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WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A scandal surrounding evidence tampering at the state's drug-testing lab is also affecting homicide prosecutions.

At a court hearing Wednesday, defense attorneys in a negligent homicide case challenged the autopsy conducted by Delaware's then-Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Richard Callery. He was fired earlier this month on allegations of misconduct in his role overseeing the office.

The problems at the drug-testing lab have endangered thousands of drug convictions.

The Wilmington News Journal reports Thursday that at least five homicide cases could be in jeopardy as well because Callery's autopsy findings might not hold up at trial.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.