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Judge says intended victim's name must be removed before release
By Sue LindsayDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
GOLDEN -- A Jefferson County judge Friday ordered Sheriff John Stone not to release videotapes made by the two Columbine High killers unless the name of an intended victim is removed. The order by Judge Ruthanne Polidori approves an agreement between Jefferson County attorney Bill Tuthill and attorney Andrew Rosen, who represents the 18-year-old student known only as Michelle "Doe" to protect her identity. The student's name surfaced on a "hit list" of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who made several videotapes in the weeks before they killed 13 people at the school April 20. She fears she may be targeted by others wanting to gain notoriety in connection with the Columbine massacre, Rosen said. "There are a lot of crazy people out there who would like nothing more than the right to brag that they were able to finish what these two wouldn't do," he said. Although the order doesn't flatly bar release of the videotapes, Tuthill said they wouldn't be released until other legal issues are resolved. Stone filed a federal lawsuit seeking clarification of whether the tapes belong to the Sheriff's Department, the school district or the families of the killers. Attorneys for the Klebold and Harris families also have filed motions to keep the tapes and other evidence from being disseminated. Those motions are in the lawsuit filed against them by the family of slain student Isaiah Shoels. "Until these matters are addressed, I do not anticipate the release of the videotapes," Tuthill said. Contact Sue Lindsay at (303) 892-5181 or at lindsays@RockyMountainNews.com. March 4, 2000
GOLDEN -- A Jefferson County judge Friday ordered Sheriff John Stone not to release videotapes made by the two Columbine High killers unless the name of an intended victim is removed.
The order by Judge Ruthanne Polidori approves an agreement between Jefferson County attorney Bill Tuthill and attorney Andrew Rosen, who represents the 18-year-old student known only as Michelle "Doe" to protect her identity.
The student's name surfaced on a "hit list" of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who made several videotapes in the weeks before they killed 13 people at the school April 20.
She fears she may be targeted by others wanting to gain notoriety in connection with the Columbine massacre, Rosen said.
"There are a lot of crazy people out there who would like nothing more than the right to brag that they were able to finish what these two wouldn't do," he said.
Although the order doesn't flatly bar release of the videotapes, Tuthill said they wouldn't be released until other legal issues are resolved.
Stone filed a federal lawsuit seeking clarification of whether the tapes belong to the Sheriff's Department, the school district or the families of the killers.
Attorneys for the Klebold and Harris families also have filed motions to keep the tapes and other evidence from being disseminated. Those motions are in the lawsuit filed against them by the family of slain student Isaiah Shoels.
"Until these matters are addressed, I do not anticipate the release of the videotapes," Tuthill said.
Contact Sue Lindsay at (303) 892-5181 or at lindsays@RockyMountainNews.com.
March 4, 2000