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Columbine student mentioned as intended victim seeks injunction
By Kevin McCullenDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
BOULDER -- A judge has temporarily barred the Jefferson County sheriff's department from releasing a videotape by the two Columbine High killers that mentions the name of an intended victim, her attorney said Thursday. The temporary restraining order granted Tuesday by District Judge Ruthanne Polidori would require the sheriff's department to edit out the name of the student if it releases the tape. The order is in effect until a hearing Jan. 31 for a preliminary injunction. Boulder attorney Andrew Rosen said his client, an 18-year-old student, feared the publication or airing of her name. Her name surfaced on a "hit list" of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who made a videotape shortly before they killed 13 people at the school April 20. There have been two threats made via the Internet against Columbine students since then, underscoring his client's concern for her safety, Rosen said. "We have a lot of crazies out there, and we learned that from this scenario," Rosen said. "We never know where it is going to come from." Rosen said the sheriff's department since last month has received over 300 requests -- mainly from media -- for copies of the videotapes. He praised media outlets that already have viewed the tapes for their restraint in not disclosing names on the hit list. "My client takes no position on whether or not the videotape or other physical evidence in the Columbine shooting cases should become public," Rosen said. "However, she strongly believes that she as well as the other persons identified in this evidence have a constitutional right to their privacy and to be free from the risk of physical harm." The sheriff's department supports the restraining order, said spokeswoman Kathi Greider. She also said the department expects that families of other students mentioned on the tape might seek injunctions against disclosure. Rosen said his client hopes that a judge permanently orders her name to be edited from the tapes. January 14, 2000
BOULDER -- A judge has temporarily barred the Jefferson County sheriff's department from releasing a videotape by the two Columbine High killers that mentions the name of an intended victim, her attorney said Thursday.
The temporary restraining order granted Tuesday by District Judge Ruthanne Polidori would require the sheriff's department to edit out the name of the student if it releases the tape. The order is in effect until a hearing Jan. 31 for a preliminary injunction.
Boulder attorney Andrew Rosen said his client, an 18-year-old student, feared the publication or airing of her name. Her name surfaced on a "hit list" of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who made a videotape shortly before they killed 13 people at the school April 20.
There have been two threats made via the Internet against Columbine students since then, underscoring his client's concern for her safety, Rosen said.
"We have a lot of crazies out there, and we learned that from this scenario," Rosen said. "We never know where it is going to come from."
Rosen said the sheriff's department since last month has received over 300 requests -- mainly from media -- for copies of the videotapes. He praised media outlets that already have viewed the tapes for their restraint in not disclosing names on the hit list.
"My client takes no position on whether or not the videotape or other physical evidence in the Columbine shooting cases should become public," Rosen said. "However, she strongly believes that she as well as the other persons identified in this evidence have a constitutional right to their privacy and to be free from the risk of physical harm."
The sheriff's department supports the restraining order, said spokeswoman Kathi Greider. She also said the department expects that families of other students mentioned on the tape might seek injunctions against disclosure.
Rosen said his client hopes that a judge permanently orders her name to be edited from the tapes.
January 14, 2000
