Former Mass. chemist gets trial date

BOSTON (AP) - The former state chemist who sent ripples through Massachusetts' criminal justice system after allegedly tampering with evidence in drug cases has a trial date.

A judge Friday in Boston scheduled a Jan. 6 trial date for Annie Dookhan.

Authorities say the trial will cover charges she faces out of Boston that were part of a 27-count indictment last year.

The 35-year-old Franklin resident previously pleaded not guilty to charges including obstruction of justice and perjury stemming from cases in six counties.

Authorities have said Dookhan tested more than 60,000 drug samples involving 34,000 defendants at Hinton state lab.

State police closed the lab last summer, months after Dookhan's resignation during an internal probe by public health officials.

She left court without commenting Friday.

Cox Media Group