Boston Globe reports a federal judge tossed out the conviction of former US senator Ted Stevens after the Justice Department admitted its prosecutors mishandled evidence in the corruption case. Two prosecutors did not turn over notes from an interview in April 2008 with the case's key witness--notes that contained exculpatory evidence. Veteran defense investigators know this is a not uncommon phenomenon: several agents from different agencies sit in on one interview, and their notes differ vastly from the "official report" that is eventually turned over to the defense. Always good practice to identify everyone at the meeting, and review notes from everyone present.

Prosecutors who handled the trial have been removed from the case and their conduct is under investigation.

Tags: stevens, private investigator, prosecution misconduct, criminal defense