A prosecutor in one of Nicholas Alahverdian’s two Utah rape cases wants to block his defense lawyer from sharing all the evidence the state has against him to protect, he said, the integrity of possible other investigations involving Alahverdian in other states or overseas.
During a pre-trial conference hearing Friday, Alahverdian’s public defender, Samantha Dugan, objected to a broad request from the state that she be prevented from sharing all the evidence prosecutors have against the former Rhode Island fugitive.
The prosecutor, Clint Heiner, explained “Our concerns are about not just the integrity of this case but some of the information we will be disclosing actually could hamper investigations in other cases that are happening, not only just within the continental U.S. but also overseas.”
Heiner said “there are still some pending investigations that may or may not be occurring in other jurisdictions outside of Utah as well as over in Europe.”
Alahverdian faces rape allegations in England
Alahverdian, 37, who faked his death in 2020 and was discovered in Scotland at the end of 2021, faces allegations that he raped a woman in Bristol, England, several years ago.
That case was left unresolved when U.S. Marshals extradited Alahverdian to Utah in January to face charges that he raped two Utah woman in 2008.
Lawyer says state's request could prevent her from doing her job
Dugan said Friday that she wanted to remind District Court Judge Barry Lawrence of Alahverdian's constitutional right to “fully defend against the charges against him.”
She said she worried that the prosecution’s request was so broad about limiting her ability to speak to her client that she could be sanctioned for doing her job.
“It makes me uncomfortable to be subject to a protective order that I could be in trouble if I say the wrong thing," she said.
Judge Lawrence asked Heiner: Where in the rules of criminal procedure does it say you can keep information from the defendant himself?
The prosecutor replied that, while the law says the state “should” share all information, it doesn’t say it must.
“That actually allows the state an opportunity not to disclose everything,” Heiner argued.
Lawrence set down a closed hearing for next week when the two sides will discuss the matter more fully.
Alahverdian, who insists authorities have arrested the wrong man , is charged under the name Rossi, the surname of his Rhode Island stepfather, who adopted him as a youngster.
Contact Tom Mooney at: tmooney@providencejournal.com
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Prosecutors in Alahverdian's Utah rape case say he may be facing more charges elsewhere
Most Popular
Comments / 0