MASON - A judge on Wednesday denied a request by the attorney for accused murderer Matthew E. Macon for disciplinary records of lead investigators who may testify at his trial.
During a pretrial hearing before Ingham County Circuit Judge William Collette, Macon's attorney, Mike O'Briant, said grievances and other information in police personnel files could potentially be used to challenge investigators' testimony.
In denying the motion, Collette said, "I agree with the prosecution that personnel files are not fair game in every case."
Jury selection is set to begin April 28.
O'Briant - who during the hearing said his request was not, as prosecutors claimed, "a fishing expedition" - would not comment about it afterward.
He did say that his request involved police detectives and sergeants.
In court documents, O'Briant has accused police of physically abusing his client and continuing to question Macon without a lawyer present, even after he asked for a lawyer.
He did not offer evidence. He still could raise the issue at trial.
Macon, 28, of Lansing, is charged in the murders of Sandra Eichorn, 64, and Karen Delgado-Yates, 41, and in an assault on Linda Chapel Jackson, 56. All three attacks occurred in Lansing during the last week in August. Police say they suspect Macon in the slayings of five other women over several years, but he has not been charged in those cases.
Contact Kevin Grasha at 267-1347 or firstname.lastname@example.org.