Court restricts camera coverage of torture-murder trial

Court restricts camera coverage of torture-murder trial

12/04/95

WISCONSIN–A trial court in Menomonie in mid-November reaffirmed its ban on still-photography of trial witnesses and four defendants charged with the torture and death of a 16-year-old boy.

The court will allow one television camera, whose operator must share the videotape with all interested media groups. Neither still nor video in-court photographs may be taken of the defendants or of witnesses while they are testifying. Audio coverage of court proceedings is allowed.

The court has not made any ruling upon whether jurors may be photographed.

In the court’s original mid-November ruling, the judge barred still photographers from the court. Dunn County Circuit Court Judge James Wendland did allow two television cameras access to the trial, however. (State v. Mshaal J. A. Al-Shammari)