Part 3/12:
Chain of Custody Violations
A fundamental principle in criminal law is maintaining the chain of custody for evidence—documenting every step of its handling to prevent tampering. Prosecutors failed spectacularly here. Evidence was deliberately altered, and the court was misled about its provenance. Smith admits ignorance regarding how the tampering occurred, offering only speculative explanations, further undermining credibility.
Legal experts warn that this tampering is "fatal" to the case, as admissibility hinges on unquestioned authenticity. Once evidence is compromised, the entire case falls apart.