State destroyed key records in Kansas Planned Parenthood case

The country’s first criminal prosecution of Planned Parenthood was left teetering Friday when it was revealed the state of Kansas destroyed abortion records that prosecutors planned to use as evidence.

Johnson County prosecutors asked a judge to delay a Monday hearing to decide if there’s enough evidence to try Planned Parenthood on 23 felony counts of falsifying pregnancy termination reports.

Prosecutors say the records, which are central to making their case, were shredded sometime in 2005, roughly two years before charges were brought against Planned Parenthood by former Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment shredded the records as a “routine” destruction of state documents, court files said.

The prosecution’s request for a continuance drew a swift response from Planned Parenthood, which said any further delay is inexcusable.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/21/3222109/state-destroyed-key-records-in.html#ixzz1bWU59rfi