Judge hears arguments on destroyed evidence

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A defense attorney says a coin purse mistakenly destroyed by police is the key to a Pittsburgh woman’s defense on federal drug charges.

Tiona Jones is charged with possession of more than 100 grams of heroin stemming from a May 2008 traffic stop. But the coin purse and drugs were mistakenly destroyed by the Pittsburgh police when the case was transferred to federal court.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Marketa Sims says the coin purse had a zipper and she would have been able to discount an officer’s testimony and undermine the legality of the searches of Jones’ car and home.

The purse was among evidence destroyed by the Pittsburgh Police Department in June.

U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond said he was “not overwhelmed” by the testimony and would rule later.