Drug lab scandal trial delayed

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) -- The trial for a Massachusetts man affected by the recent drug lab scandal, scheduled to start Monday, was taken off the court calendar.

A court clerk confirmed Nathan Martin's case was cleared from the calendar, and a motion to dismiss hearing was scheduled for Jan. 9.

Martin of New Bedford was originally charged with possession of heroin. His case is among 35,000 statewide and 4,000 in Bristol County affected by a scandal at a state drug lab.

The drugs in question were handled by alleged crooked chemist Annie Dookan. Dookan allegedly admitted to elevating drug weights, forging co-workers signatures and falsifying test results while working at the state's drug lab.

She has since resigned from her position. But now, Martin and others are hoping to get their cases thrown out.

Martin has been held in prison since his arrest in 2010. A judge declined to reduce his bail in September.