Columbine autopsy reports stay sealed
Updated 2:14 PM ET May 29, 1999
LITTLETON, Colo., May 29 (UPI) Autopsy reports on the Columbine High School shooting victims will not be made public.
Following a Friday hearing, Jefferson County Chief District Judge Henry Nieto opted to seal the records, ruling that releasing them would do "substantial injury" to the public interest.
The decision was a victory for relatives of 12 of the 13 victims, who joined an effort by the county coroner to have the reports sealed. The family of Dylan Klebold, one of the two assailants, also backed the move.
The Rocky Mountain News said six of the victims' relatives testified at Friday's hearing. Sue Townsend, stepmother of victim Lauren Townsend, said, "This tragedy has been in our faces for five weeks....Reopening the wounds with the gory details is not going to help us heal."
Attorneys for the News and the Denver Post opposed the motion, saying the public could learn valuable lessons from the reports.
Meanwhile, repair work at Columbine is expected to begin next week. Columbine students and parents will be allowed back inside the school Tuesday to pick up belongings left behind during the April 20 shooting.
The attack left a total of 15 dead, including 12 students, one teacher and the two gunmen, Klebold and Eric Harris.
OK... WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Through friends I've gotten reports that that suppressive fire was utilized by more than one of the responding SWAT / ES teams, and that word from "ground zero" several weeks ago was that the LE community was on pins and needles concerning the distinct possibility that some of the Columbine fatalities may have been as a result of "friendly fire."
The Klintons visit Littleton and now the parents want the autopsy reports sealed.. due to releasing them would do "substantial injury" to the public interest.
HELL YEAH IT WOULD. Especially if the victims were killed by the very people that people THINK are there to protect us (which is false by ruleing by the U.S. Surpreme Court).
Maybe the parents are suing the wrong people and have been promissed something by a high public official... NAAAAA couldn't happen... not in this country. Nudge Nudge Wink Wink.
Can anyone spell/say... COVER UP?
------------------
Schmit, GySgt, USMC(Ret)
NRA Life, Lodge 1201-UOSSS
"Si vis Pacem Para Bellum"
[This message has been edited by David Schmidbauer (edited May 29, 1999).]