Michael Proctor Scandal Could Impact Multiple Murder Cases
The scandal involving Michael Proctor, a former State Police trooper fired for misconduct in the Karen Read investigation, may influence 19 other cases he worked on, most involving murder charges, according to legal filings.
Access to Phone Data in Related Cases
Since Proctor's misconduct surfaced, defense attorneys in other cases have been granted access to his phone data to search for potential bias evidence. This was noted in an October 30 ruling by Judge Peter B. in Norfolk Superior Court during the murder trial of Brian Walshe.
Details of the Walshe Case
Brian Walshe is accused of killing and dismembering his wife at their home in Cohasset in 2023. Proctor’s involvement in the investigation raises concerns due to his previously exposed misconduct.
Background on Proctor’s Misconduct
Proctor was removed from the force after being compelled to read offensive and misogynistic texts he sent about Karen Read during her first trial. Read's attorneys claimed these texts demonstrated Proctor’s bias against her.
“The texts showed he was biased against the former financial analyst.”
Read was acquitted in June at her retrial for the alleged murder of her boyfriend; Proctor did not testify during this retrial. The first trial ended with a hung jury the previous year.
Summary
The Proctor scandal has cast doubt on multiple cases, prompting investigation into his conduct and its possible impact on justice in numerous serious criminal trials.