Crime lab should be independent of DA
I believe that it is completely unconscionable for delay after delay to occur in bringing the L.A. lawyer to trial for the death of Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Hudnall more than three years ago. ("Trial in 2006 death of deputy is delayed again, Oct. 29.)
It is, however, typical lawyering tricks to delay and delay and delay, hoping that the witnesses or evidence will either die off or be lost. In this case we have a county crime lab employee pitted against the D.A.'s office. There's a conflict of interest if I ever saw one. A defense lawyer's dream come true, complete with lights and newspaper headlines.
The crime lab should be run by a independent company, beholden to no one. At the very least, cases involving county employees or law enforcement should be handled by an outside lab.
Whether or not the alleged amount of methamphetimines in the accused's blood was at any particular level is not the point. The mere fact that he had any level of an illegal drug in his system while driving makes him completely responsible for the accident. End of story!
Now it doesn't look like this trial will come to court any time soon, if ever, and meanwhile the Hudnall family waits and waits and waits for justice. How'd you like to be in their shoes?
GEORGE EDWARDS
Bakersfield
