backTriple Murder
Attorney Mike Coco was lead defense counsel representing a military nurse accused
of killing three patients. The patients were all in an intensive care unit. The
defense persuaded the military judge to force the government to provide the defense
with necessary expert witnesses including an expert medical examiner, a forensic
psychologist, and an expert in palliative medicine. The defense used these various
experts to prove that their client did not go beyond the standard of care in using
medication to ease the pain of the suffering patients. The defense also pointed
out mistakes made by the attending physicians and residents in caring for these
patients. The defense discovered discrepancies within the medical records that
showed that the doctors had made the mistakes and not our client. The defense was
also able to show that alleged admissions made by her client to a law enforcement
undercover informant were not admissions at all. Instead, they were joking statements
made over a few drinks. Ultimately, the client was acquitted of all charges and
specifications against him.