Judge bars laptop evidence in DE Auditor corruption case

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A judge has chastised prosecutors for failing to turn over information to the defense in a criminal corruption case against Delaware’s state auditor.

In a ruling that also exposed weaknesses in the state’s cyber forensics capabilities, the judge on Wednesday prohibited prosecutors from using material from three laptops seized during a search of Auditor Kathy McGuiness’ office last year. Judge William C. Carpenter said that prohibition was an appropriate sanction for prosecutors’ failure to provide information contained on laptops to the defense until April 6, more than six months after search.

Judge Carpenter refused, however, to grant a defense motion to dismiss the indictment against McGuiness.

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