Tuesday, January 13, 2009

What's different between Hilton and Anthony cases?

Here’s the part I don’t get in blocking public access to dicovery documents in the Gary Michael Hilton case under the argument that the court, prosecutors and defense attorneys are concerned about protecting the pool of potential jurors from public opinion:

What is different about publicity in the Hilton case and what is happening in Orlando in the Casey Anthony case?

Sure, Orlando is a bigger city than Tallahassee, and has a bigger jury pool, but it has way more media. And the Orlando story has attracted far more publicity. A single story among many on OrlandoSentinel.com has 2,531 comments. The site this morning featured a story about "Good Morning America" nationally broadcasting an interview with the man who may turn out to be a key witness.

Not familiar with the story? Here’s a link to the Sentinel’s outstanding coverage.

The short version is that Caylee Marie Anthony was reported missing July 15, a month after the toddler disappeared, according to the mother, Casey Anthony.

Eventually, the child’s body was found by a utility worker, who appeared on GMA today to criticize investigators' search for the child. The mother has been indicted on a number of charges related to her child’s murder.

On the Orlando Sentinel site you’ll find the very documents in that case the public is being denied in the Hilton case: discovery documents, witness lists, investigation reports, etc. So, again, what’s different?

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