01-29-2008, 01:51 PM
Ruling on gag order in Michael King case coming Tuesday
(Last updated: January 28, 2008 11:56 AM)
Circuit Judge Deno Economou said today he will issue a decision Tuesday afternoon on a motion for a gag order in the case against Michael King.
King is accused of kidnapping and murdering Denise Amber Lee, a 21-year-old North Port mother of two who was found dead in the woods off Interstate 75 on Dec. 19. King is currently in the Sarasota County Jail.
The gag order would cover any person employed by state, county or local governments, attorneys, parties, witnesses, law enforcement and court personnel from disclosing information to the news media concerning this proceeding. The public defenders represeting King asked for the gag order Thursday, saying further media coverage could prejudice King's right to a fair trial.
One media attorney argued against the case. However, the 12th circuit judge said he would issue his ruling Tuesday afternoon from his courtroom in the Sarasota County Courthouse on Ringling Boulevard.
In another move during the motion hearing this morning, Economou ruled the defense cannot individually question grand jurors and prospective grand jurors in the case against King. The defense asked the court to allow the public defenders to assure the prospective jurors were unbiased.
Alternatively, the judge could question those jurors hmself. Economou, however, said assuring the grand jury is unbiased and impartial is a normal part of the state's role in assembling the grand jury, and ruled neither the defense nor the judge will separately question those jurors.
The judge did, however, say the state's attorney will ask the whole group of jurors about any possible bias, and any individual juror may speak privately with the state's attorney if there is any question.
For more on this story, come back later to this Web site or pick up a Tuesday edition of the Sun.
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© 2008 All rights reserved.
Your Local Internet Service Provider
A division of Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
Publishers of the Sun newspapers.
(Last updated: January 28, 2008 11:56 AM)
Circuit Judge Deno Economou said today he will issue a decision Tuesday afternoon on a motion for a gag order in the case against Michael King.
King is accused of kidnapping and murdering Denise Amber Lee, a 21-year-old North Port mother of two who was found dead in the woods off Interstate 75 on Dec. 19. King is currently in the Sarasota County Jail.
The gag order would cover any person employed by state, county or local governments, attorneys, parties, witnesses, law enforcement and court personnel from disclosing information to the news media concerning this proceeding. The public defenders represeting King asked for the gag order Thursday, saying further media coverage could prejudice King's right to a fair trial.
One media attorney argued against the case. However, the 12th circuit judge said he would issue his ruling Tuesday afternoon from his courtroom in the Sarasota County Courthouse on Ringling Boulevard.
In another move during the motion hearing this morning, Economou ruled the defense cannot individually question grand jurors and prospective grand jurors in the case against King. The defense asked the court to allow the public defenders to assure the prospective jurors were unbiased.
Alternatively, the judge could question those jurors hmself. Economou, however, said assuring the grand jury is unbiased and impartial is a normal part of the state's role in assembling the grand jury, and ruled neither the defense nor the judge will separately question those jurors.
The judge did, however, say the state's attorney will ask the whole group of jurors about any possible bias, and any individual juror may speak privately with the state's attorney if there is any question.
For more on this story, come back later to this Web site or pick up a Tuesday edition of the Sun.
Return to Top of story
© 2008 All rights reserved.
Your Local Internet Service Provider
A division of Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
Publishers of the Sun newspapers.