Wednesday, March 16, 2005

A crime the press doesn't care about

If you watch cable news you know that there is another Scott Peterson book out. This one is written is written by CourTV anchor Catherine Crier. Greta, Dan, Larry, et.al. are focusing on the juicy bits-- more evidence that Peterson was a jerk with women and an unconcerned husband of a missing wife.

This story in the Modesto Bee gets at the really interesting question.
Author Catherine Crier, boasting "unparalleled access I have had to the inner workings of this investigation and trial," based much of the 480-page crime novel on dozens of police reports and wiretap transcripts.

But most of those documents remain sealed from public view, by court order. And that suggests someone broke the law by leaking them to Crier or her associates.

How did she get them
?

Crier, of course, is not saying. Her commitment to law and order is situational. She is happy to be an accessory after the fact if that will let her write a best-selling book. Moreover, CourtTV had these documents while they were covering the trial. It is hard to believe that this did not color their coverage. (I wonder if Crier would have been worried about violations of the gag order if the material appeared to come from the defense side?)

I've discussed the unholy alliance of press, prosecutors, and leakers before.

On leaks, bias and truth

Perp Walk

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