Will suicide of gun expert hurt convictions?

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Reaction was mixed in the legal community over allegations that Joseph Kopera, the state police firearms expert who committed suicide last week, may have falsified his academic qualifications.

Kopera, a more than 16-year crime lab veteran of the state police, killed himself March 1 — the day after he retired and shortly after a public defender accused him of faking his degrees.

“I would be absolutely shocked if they revisited his findings as it related to him being good at what he did,” said Warren Brown, a prominent defense attorney based in Baltimore. “He just put it out there. He was very honest; he was on top of his game.”

But criminal defense attorney Billy Murphy said the questions about Kopera’s qualifications were a lesson for all defense attorneys.

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State police launch internal investigation

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“This is yet another lesson about our lack of diligence ... including prosecutors, about investigating the qualifications of expert witnesses,” he said.

Murphy said the lapse points to a flaw in Maryland law, which does not allow depositions of expert witnesses in criminal cases.

“It is appalling that we can do it in routine fender bender accidents but can’t do it when human life is at stake,” Murphy said.

Kopera, who was 61, worked as a firearms experts for the state police for more than 16 years. Previously he worked as a ballistics expert for the Baltimore Police Department for nearly 21 years.

Kopera shot himself after a city public defender raised questions about his credentials.

Both the state attorney general’s office and city state’s attorney office said they were aware of the allegations, but neither had plans to call for a review of any cases.

Col. Thomas Hutchins, a spokesman for the state police, said he was not aware of any complaints regarding Kopera’s work.

“He comes highly regarded. ... He had the proper credentials and the skills,” Hutchins said. “From everything that we know, he did good work.”

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com

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