The Brooklyn DA’s Office this week defended scandal-scarred former NYPD Detective Louis Scarcella in arguments before an appeals panel against freeing a convicted murderer.
Prosecutors Tuesday said they have found no evidence that Scarcella — who’s alleged to have used rigged lineups and witnesses in several past cases — took part in any misconduct in the 1992 murder case against Rosean Hargrave, who was found guilty of killing Correction Officer Rolando Neischer.
The DA is appealing Judge ShawnDya Simpson’s 2015 decision to vacate Hargrave’s 1992 murder conviction, based on Scarcella’s “false and misleading” investigatory practices.
“There isn’t any evidence” of misconduct, prosecutor Diane Eisner argued, calling the accusations “innuendo” and “speculation.”
Seven of Scarcella’s cases have been tossed amid allegations of evidence manipulation.
Hargrave and co-defendant John Bunn were convicted of second-degree murder in Neischer’s shooting during a carjacking in Crown Heights. Bunn’s conviction review is still pending.