Judge Roland Fasano on Wednesday ordered the release of a red 2004 Ford Mustang belonging to murder suspect Ray Clark.
The car had been seized by police investigating the death of Annie Le.
Clark, a former lab technician at Yale, is accused of murdering the grad student and hiding her body in the basement of the building in which they both worked.
In a brief court proceeding in New Haven Superior Court on Church Street on Wednesday afternoon, Judge Fasano granted a defense motion to have the car returned to Clark’s family.
Clark sat between his attorneys during the brief hearing. He wore orange coveralls, handcuffs, and leg chains.
The prosecuting attorney, John Waddock, told Judge Fasano that the state had no objection to the car being released.
Photos of the car could be used during Clark’s murder trial.
“There’s nothing of evidentiary value connected to this car, in my opinion,” said Clark’s attorney, public defender Joe Lopez, after the hearing. There is “no link” between the car and the crime, he said.
According to a police warrant, blood stains were found inside a different red Ford: a Taurus. Police say they found numerous blood stains on that car’s carpet and door panel. The name of the Taurus owner is redacted in the warrant.
Clark’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 5 at 10 a.m.
Previous coverage of the Annie Le case:
March 15, 2010
Warrant: Why Cops Sought Saliva Sample From Annie Le’s Alleged Killer’s Fiancee
March 9, 2010
Final Annie Le Warrant To Be Unsealed On Monday
March 3, 2010
Judge Plans To Unseal Final Annie Le Warrant
Tuesday, Jan. 26
• Annie Le’s Alleged Killer Pleads Not Guilty
Wednesday, Dec. 2
• Annie Le Warrants: Blood Found In Kitchen, Car
Tuesday, Nov. 17
• Seal Extended On Annie Le Warrants
Friday, Nov. 13
• Annie Le Warrant: Bloody Boots Read “Ray‑C”
Friday, Nov. 6
• Annie Le Documents To Be Unsealed
Tuesday, Nov. 3
• Hearing Continued For Annie Le Suspect; Judge Will Rule By Week’s End On Warrants: Live Blog
Tuesday, Oct. 20
• Annie Le Suspect Enters No Plea; Warrants Remain Sealed
Tuesday, Oct. 6
• Live Blog: Lawyer For Annie Le Murder Suspect Wants To See The Evidence
Friday, Sept. 25
• Warrant In Annie Le Murder To Stay Sealed
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, 2009
• City Cops Join Search For Annie Le; $10,000 Reward Posted
