By Walter F. Roche Jr.
The trials of two former pharmacists charged with 11 counts of second degree murder are apparently months away as the judge on the case has set an April 14 date for another preliminary hearing.
Livingston County Circuit Judge Michael P. Hatty set status hearings for April 14 of next year for Glenn Chin and Barry Cadden. Hatty also denied a motion by Cadden's attorney to bar the use of evidence previously collected by federal investigators in their probe of the two men.
In both the federal and Michigan cases, Cadden and Chin have been charged for their roles in the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak which ultimately killed over 100 patients across the country including 11 in Livingston County.
In separate federal trials the two were acquitted of second degree murder racketeering charges but were found guilty of racketeering, conspiracy and related fraud charges. Cadden was sentenced to 14.5 years on the federal charges while Chin got a 10.5 year federal sentence.
Hatty previously ruled that the two defendants must be tried separately. He also denied motions to force prosecutors from the Michigan Attorney General's office to file a so-called bill of particulars, giving more detailed evidence on each of the charges.
In a statement issued today Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said," “Eleven Michiganders tragically died as a result of a lack of concern for patient safety.”
“My department looks forward in taking the next steps to seek justice for the victims and their families,”she added.
Cadden was president and part owner of the New England Compounding Center, the company that produced thousands of vials of methylprednisolone acetate loaded with a deadly fungus. The steroids were injected into the spines and joints of unsuspecting patients. In addition to the 100 deaths more than 700 were sickened, many seriously.
Chin was a supervising pharmacist at NECC overseeing the clean room where the deadly drugs were produced.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
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