Farries Trial Will Continue, Despite Missing DVDs

Public defender’s for Detra Farries will be going to trial without their best line of defense; two witness interviews that have disappeared at the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Farries is accused of dragging tow-truck driver Allen Rose to death in February 2011.

Colorado Springs detective Michael Montez was sworn in before Judge Jann DuBois on Monday morning regarding the whereabouts of two witness interviews.

Det. Montez told the judge one copy was made for each interview and that he handed them off to lead detective Wayne Bichel.

Bichel said he received dozens of CDs and DVDs from various detectives in the case and did not recall getting those specific DVDs. The only explanation he could give the defense was he lost them.

Farries’ attorney Jeremy Loew said the witnesses physically demonstrated the interaction between Rose and Farries during a recorded interview. Now, those witnesses have changed details in their accounts.

Loew told the judge the DVDs are crucial to impeach the witnesses or challenge them on the stand.

There is a written report of the interviews available, but not verbatim.

Judge DuBois ruled the trial will go on as scheduled and that the defense will be allowed to question police detectives about their mistakes during trial.

Jury selection is expected to last through Thursday. The judge expects opening arguments on Friday.

Once the jury is selected and physical evidence is presented, jurors will be taken to the scene of where the dragging occurred, said Judge DuBois. A tarp will cover the memorial that stands so jurors have an impartial view.

The trial is expected to take three weeks.