(Speaking generally here and not about this specific case.) Keep in mind that in the early stages of a case, the prosecution often takes the information law enforcement provides at face value, even if it turns out not be accurate. It’s not that the prosecution lying; it’s the prosecution using the information that law enforcement provided them, believing it to be true. I have had numerous cases where assertions made by law enforcement, and echoed by prosecutors in court proceedings or pleadings, turn out to be false. Those assertions weren’t always intentionally falsified; sometimes law enforcement had a good faith belief the information was correct even though it was not.
Also, oftentimes during the early stages of the case (and sometimes during later stages), prosecutors are fairly clueless about the case. Sometimes when I seek a dismissal or reduced charges and I discuss the case with the prosecutor, I’m surprised at how little they know about the facts of the case and how much I have to educate them on what’s in discovery. I just got off the phone this morning with a prosecutor who apparently didn’t know anything about the case we were discussing and wanted my client to plead to a more serious charge that he’s not even charged with. He didn’t even realize my client’s not even charged with that offense.
In addition, many times prosecutors are reluctant to push back at law enforcement when they have doubts about something. I recently had a case where, after my investigation, it was pretty clear my guy was wrongfully accused. I met with the prosecutor and laid out all the facts that proved my client’s innocence. Upon my presentation, the prosecutor realized he didn’t have much of a case. (A few weeks prior to that meeting, he emailed me and told me my client really should take the plea he offered because he felt the evidence against him was strong (it wasn’t)). After that meeting, my client and I waited and waited for the prosecutor to dismiss the case. He finally dismissed it the day before he left the DA’s office for another job. I ran into him in court a couple months later and he apologized for taking so long to dismiss it, and told me he sat on it for so long because it’s easier not to upset law enforcement as more time passes.