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Mudd Threatens To Kick Cameras From Courtroom

Judge Concerned Member Of Media Followed Jurors

POSTED: 4:15 p.m. PDT July 25, 2002
UPDATED: 4:33 p.m. PDT July 25, 2002

The judge in the David Westerfield case said Thursday someone followed two jurors to their cars and wrote down their license plates in what he called a "breach of security."

Superior Court Judge William Mudd raised the possibility that the individual following the jurors may have been a member of the media.

While it was not clear that a member of the media was, in fact, responsible for the incident, Mudd threatened to end live broadcast coverage of the case if he believes there are any future difficulties with the media.

From the beginning of the trial, Mudd has promised anonymity to the 12 jurors and six alternates weighing evidence against the accused killer of Danielle van Dam.

Curiosity among members of the media and audience rose Thursday morning when a juror and two alternates were called into the courtroom for questioning behind closed doors, before testimony was taken. The entire jury then went inside without the public or media.

"I've been meeting with my jury to keep them fully apprised of what is going on and the concerns of this court," Mudd announced during a statement in open court.

Mudd immediately pointed blame at the media and gave an angry lecture to the media in the courtroom.

"If it happens again, the television camera goes, the still camera goes, and the live radio input is off," Mudd warned, in reference to any future incidents.

In the courtroom is a television camera used on a pool basis for live broadcasts and a closed circuit feed to a media center next door. There is also a pool photographer shooting stills for the print media. An audio hookup allows two local radio stations to broadcast the trial live.

"This is serious," Mudd said about the incident. "I will not tolerate it."

Wednesday, a freelance photographer attempted to get pictures of the defendant's son, Neal, in a hallway of the San Diego County Courthouse. That was after the judge ordered he not be photographed in the courtroom, and Mudd expressed his displeasure at that incident.


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