Detroit, MI - Approximately two weeks ago a defense attorney brought information to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy that uncovered significant discrepancies in firearm evidence reviewed by the Detroit Police Department Crime Laboratory in two homicide cases and several other cases.

Prosecutor Worthy immediately sent the evidence for evaluation by an independent expert. Late in the day on April 23,2008 the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the independent laboratory that confirmed that the findings of the defense expert. Prosecutor Worthy then informed Chief Ella Bully Cummings of this problem.

On Thursday, April 24, 2008 Prosecutor Worthy instructed her staff to conduct an audit of all Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office files that resulted in a trial, or a guilty plea that relied upon findings from DPD firearm examiners. The audit will go back for one year. All of the defense attorneys on these files will be contacted and after consultation any fired evidence in question will be submitted for re-examination.

The Detroit Police Department has suspended operations of the Firearm Section and has ordered and independent audit.

“This is a serious matter, but extremely necessary to protect the integrity of our convictions, past, present and future,” said Prosecutor Worthy. “We will also be re-evaluating any firearms evidence in our upcoming trials.”