Appeal likely over warehoused evidence lost during Sandy
Brooklyn defendant Manuel Castro discovered the physical evidence against him was washed away in waters of Superstorm Sandy. Even with the destruction of the physical evidence, Castro, a repeat violent offender, was sentenced to 23 years to life for the robbery and stabbing assault of a woman.
The Brooklyn Eagle reported early this month that the auto pound and evidence warehouses where the New York City Police Department store hundreds of seized cars, thousands of guns and 9,846 barrels of evidence containing sensitive DNA material have suffered tremendous damage during October’s Superstorm Sandy.
Slowly, cases affected by the damaged evidence are being brought to light. Paul J. Browne, the chief spokesman for the Police Department, said that in at least six criminal trials, a police official has had to testify that evidence was inaccessible, but still existed.
Castro, whose case was presided over by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Deborah Dowling, was found a few blocks from the crime scene covered in blood and tattered clothing. After he was arrested, Castro’s clothing was taking for DNA testing, and it was found that the blood on his clothing matched that of the victim. A report detailing the findings were delivered to prosecution and defense and the physical evidence was returned to the NYPD storage warehouse in Brooklyn.