Radio Producer Kicked Out Of Westerfield Trial
Stillwood Would Not Identify Source Of Confidential Information
POSTED: 9:57 a.m. PDT August 8, 2002
UPDATED: 3:13 p.m. PDT August 8, 2002
SAN DIEGO -- The judge in the David Westerfield trial kicked a producer from the Rick Roberts Show out of the courtroom Thursday, after she failed to explain how the program aired information from a closed hearing.
"Goodbye," an irate Superior Court Judge William Mudd snapped at River Stillwood (pictured, left). "I will not tolerate this."
Before jurors were called in for the completion of closing arguments, Mudd announced that "there was a major breach of my agreement with all of you folks yesterday. Major to the point where somebody's going to answer questions today or be excluded from this courtroom."
Mudd said the court held a closed session "to discuss a security matter that was of grave concern to the court and the parties.
"This courtroom was closed," Mudd said. "No member of the public or press was here. The television had been turned off. The cameras were not in focus. Within 45 minutes of that hearing, on the radio, live, a complete description of what happened including my reaction was broadcast.
"So my question, Ms. Stillwood, is, will you voluntarily tell me the source of your information?"
" ... I do not know the source," Stillwood replied, explaining that she was driving to the Kearny Mesa studios at the time .
Mudd then dismissed Stillwood.
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"Goodbye," an irate Superior Court Judge William Mudd snapped at River Stillwood (pictured, left). "I will not tolerate this."
Before jurors were called in for the completion of closing arguments, Mudd announced that "there was a major breach of my agreement with all of you folks yesterday. Major to the point where somebody's going to answer questions today or be excluded from this courtroom."
Mudd said the court held a closed session "to discuss a security matter that was of grave concern to the court and the parties.
"This courtroom was closed," Mudd said. "No member of the public or press was here. The television had been turned off. The cameras were not in focus. Within 45 minutes of that hearing, on the radio, live, a complete description of what happened including my reaction was broadcast.
"So my question, Ms. Stillwood, is, will you voluntarily tell me the source of your information?"
" ... I do not know the source," Stillwood replied, explaining that she was driving to the Kearny Mesa studios at the time .
Mudd then dismissed Stillwood.
Back To Westerfield Trial Story
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