Should judge dismiss case because DA didn't know about FBI witness payments? Court battle continues
Accused by attorney Paul Morgan of withholding exculpatory information, a Texas prosecutor said she had known nothing about a total of $5,000 in relocation assistance arranged by a FBI agent for three witnesses in a murder trial against a co-defendant of Morgan’s client.
And on Thursday a state-court judge agreed with Harris County prosecutors that there was no cause to dismiss the murder case against Morgan’s client, Vernon Brooks, for this reason, the Houston Chronicle (sub. req.) reports.
The government trumpeted its win as vindication for assistant district attorney Sarah Mickelson Seely. “Today we want everyone to know what we’ve known all along—the allegations against ADA Sarah Seely are without merit and we’re happy we are finally able to talk about it,” a news release says.
However, Morgan said he plans to appeal the ruling by District Judge Katherine Cabaniss.
“I’m disturbed that the Harris County district attorney’s office can cheat, get caught cheating and get away with it,” he said. “It’s truly horrifying.”
