Loss of Russell blood vials a shock

Fred Russell is accused of vehicular homicide, based on an accident in 2004. Shortly before he was scheduled to go to trial, he fled the country. The Whitman County prosecutor asked the state crime lab to retain the blood sample. More than once. But the crime lab lost them. Now defense attorney Francisco Duarte (also a Trial Ad instructor) is asking for the suppression of the results of the test, since the sample cannot be retested. Duarte also suggests that dismissing the case would be an appropriate remedy if Russell has been deprived of his right to a fair trial. Loss of Russell blood vials a shock, Spokesman Review, July 23, 2007.

The article explores the possible impact of the missing evidence. And the website has a link to copies of correspondence between the Whitman County Prosecutor's office and the crime lab.