wishfulthinking
Junior Member
Arizona
I was arrested on a felony offense. While pending trial, a local investigative journalist in the small community I live in was given access to key evidence which would later be used against me in court. The journalist made copies of my personal writings and other materials which were being held by the police as evidence. Even before I had my pre-trial hearing, these documents had been presented to the public through the local media.
The journalist claimed to have utilized the freedom of information act in order to be given access to the evidence. I must emphasize that the items which they copied and reprinted in the media were key pieces of evidence and were later used as the centerpiece of the state's case against me.
My question: Was it legal for the police to literally open the evidence room and allow a journalist access to their choice of police evidence in a case which was pending trial?
I was arrested on a felony offense. While pending trial, a local investigative journalist in the small community I live in was given access to key evidence which would later be used against me in court. The journalist made copies of my personal writings and other materials which were being held by the police as evidence. Even before I had my pre-trial hearing, these documents had been presented to the public through the local media.
The journalist claimed to have utilized the freedom of information act in order to be given access to the evidence. I must emphasize that the items which they copied and reprinted in the media were key pieces of evidence and were later used as the centerpiece of the state's case against me.
My question: Was it legal for the police to literally open the evidence room and allow a journalist access to their choice of police evidence in a case which was pending trial?