Justin Jett
I will do my Elvis impression
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2008
Attorneys for news organizations and the family of a SeaWorld Orlando trainer killed by a whale told a judge Wednesday that they are willing to try to reach an agreement on access to the videos and photographs depicting the death.
For now, they asked Circuit Judge Lawrence Kirkwood to extend a temporary restraining order that prevents the Orange County Sheriff's Office and Medical Examiner's Office from releasing the images.
Kirkwood has not ruled on their request.
At issue are photographs taken by Orange County deputy sheriffs and SeaWorld video turned over to the Sheriff's Office after the 6-ton orca Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by her ponytail and drowned her Feb. 24.
Under Florida law, all documents, including images, become public record once a law-enforcement investigation is concluded.
The family's attorney, Jon Mills, said he had seen the video and saw no reason to make it public.
"It is depiction of a human being dying," he said. "I believe that is probably illegal in some places. I don't think anybody wants to see that. ... We know Dawn Brancheau died in a tragic accident. It doesn't add anything to that."
The Orlando Sentinel and other media organizations seeking to inspect the images want to understand better what happened during and after the whale attack. They don't want to publish the images, said attorney Rachel Fugate, who appeared for the Sentinel and several media groups.
Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee, said it's an issue of independent oversight, ensuring that SeaWorld and sheriff's investigators did what they were supposed to do.
Brancheau's family says that release of the material would cause them severe pain. SeaWorld is supporting the family's request to withhold it.
At times during the hearing, Brancheau's mother, Marion Loverde, broke down in tears as lawyers talked about death-scene photos taken of her daughter. She attended the hearing with son Charles Loverde and her daughter's husband, Scott Brancheau.
Fugate said she is confident an arrangement can be made that would address the family's concerns and the media's interest in access to information.
For example, Fugate said, the media could be allowed to review the pictures and videos but not copy them. A similar arrangement was made in 1994 after the trial of Gainesville serial killer Danny Rolling. Mills was involved in that case, too.
Afterward, Mills said the family was glad that the media are willing to discuss a solution that would protect their privacy interests.
The family left the courtroom without talking to reporters.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...seaworld-death-video-20100324,0,1701679.story
For now, they asked Circuit Judge Lawrence Kirkwood to extend a temporary restraining order that prevents the Orange County Sheriff's Office and Medical Examiner's Office from releasing the images.
Kirkwood has not ruled on their request.
At issue are photographs taken by Orange County deputy sheriffs and SeaWorld video turned over to the Sheriff's Office after the 6-ton orca Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by her ponytail and drowned her Feb. 24.
Under Florida law, all documents, including images, become public record once a law-enforcement investigation is concluded.
The family's attorney, Jon Mills, said he had seen the video and saw no reason to make it public.
"It is depiction of a human being dying," he said. "I believe that is probably illegal in some places. I don't think anybody wants to see that. ... We know Dawn Brancheau died in a tragic accident. It doesn't add anything to that."
The Orlando Sentinel and other media organizations seeking to inspect the images want to understand better what happened during and after the whale attack. They don't want to publish the images, said attorney Rachel Fugate, who appeared for the Sentinel and several media groups.
Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee, said it's an issue of independent oversight, ensuring that SeaWorld and sheriff's investigators did what they were supposed to do.
Brancheau's family says that release of the material would cause them severe pain. SeaWorld is supporting the family's request to withhold it.
At times during the hearing, Brancheau's mother, Marion Loverde, broke down in tears as lawyers talked about death-scene photos taken of her daughter. She attended the hearing with son Charles Loverde and her daughter's husband, Scott Brancheau.
Fugate said she is confident an arrangement can be made that would address the family's concerns and the media's interest in access to information.
For example, Fugate said, the media could be allowed to review the pictures and videos but not copy them. A similar arrangement was made in 1994 after the trial of Gainesville serial killer Danny Rolling. Mills was involved in that case, too.
Afterward, Mills said the family was glad that the media are willing to discuss a solution that would protect their privacy interests.
The family left the courtroom without talking to reporters.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...seaworld-death-video-20100324,0,1701679.story
