New Haven Independent

Clark, a Yale lab tech, was charged with murder on Sept. 17. Police say he strangled Le and hid her body in a basement wall in the Yale lab building where they both worked. A judge ordered the warrant sealed upon his arrest.

The defense’s request means Clark’s warrant will not be released to the public when the two-week seal expires on Oct. 1. That’s because a judge is not expected to hold a hearing on the matter until after Oct. 6.

The warrant contains a trove of information, likely including gruesome details that have yet to be released to the public. Police gathered info from DNA tests, 300 pieces of evidence, over 100 interviews, and 700 hours of surveillance tape in building their case against Clark.

Judge Jon Blue approved a request from State’s Attorney Michael Dearington to seal the warrant upon Clark’s arrest. Dearington said releasing it would compromise an ongoing investigation.

Clark’s attorneys, Public Defenders Joseph Lopez and Beth Merkin (pictured above, left to right, flanking Clark), weighed in on the seal in a motion submitted Thursday in Connecticut Superior Court. They asked that the warrant remain under seal because releasing it “would irreparably prejudice the defendant’s state and federal constitutional rights to an impartial jury and to a fair trial.”

“It’s standard in a high-profile case to seal warrants,” Lopez said Friday. He said he requested the seal in part to give defense attorneys more time to examine information about the case before it is made public.

Lopez didn’t put a time frame on his written request. He said he’d like the seal to extend “until we have had the opportunity to look at all the materials” related to the crime. So far, he’s received only the warrant. He’s expecting prosecutors to deliver more information, including the medical examiners report, police reports, photos, and other pieces of evidence.

The warrant will remain under seal until Judge Roland Fasano rules on the request. Clark is next due in court on Oct. 6, at which point he will enter a pro-forma not guilty plea, Lopez said. At that time, Judge Fasano will likely set a hearing date to consider the warrant’s seal, Lopez said.

Previous coverage of the Annie Le case:

Thursday, Sept. 24
• Cops Back At Annie Le’s Lab Building
Monday, Sept. 21
• What Annie Le Story?
• Public Defender: I Don’t Want Annie Le Reporters Investigated
Thursday, Sept. 17
• After Annie Le Murder, Union Chief Sends Rallying Call
• Annie Le Suspect Knew Cops Were On His Tail
• Cops Arrest Lab Tech In Annie Le Murder
• Suspect Arraigned (live blog)
Wednesday, Sept. 16:
• Ex-Girlfriend “Shocked” About Annie Le Target
• Cops Stake Out Annie Le Target’s Motel
• Annie Le Case: It’s Coming Down To The DNA
• Annie Le Was Strangled
Tuesday, Sept. 15:
• City, Yale Learned From Jovin In Annie Le Case
• Suspect In Annie Le Case Has Fiancee
• NBC Producer Trampled At Annie Le “Briefing”
• Cops Take DNA From Annie Le Target
• Was That Annie Le’s Killer?
Monday, Sept. 14:
• Body Identified As Annie Le
• “Serious” Suspect In Annie Le Case
• You Can Get In The Wall With A “Butter Knife”
• Lab Building Shuts Down
Sunday, Sept. 13:
• Remains Of Annie Le Believed Found; “A Time For Compassion,” Levin Says
• Annie Le Hunt Extends To Hartford
Saturday, Sept. 12
• Focus In Annie Le Probe Less On “State Lines”
Friday, Sept. 11
• City Cops Join Search For Annie Le; $10,000 Reward Posted