From Tampa Bay Online:
Judge: Public Can See, Not Publish ‘D.C. Madam’ Photos
“A judge ruled today that it’s OK for the public to see but not publish crime scene photos from the Tarpon Springs mobile park where the woman known as the “D.C. Madam” hanged herself.
“While the photographs are public record and should be able to be reviewed … they should not be able to be duplicated or published,” Circuit Judge Linda R. Allen said in her ruling.
The decision followed a hearing on a motion by the mother of Deborah Jeane Palfrey to prevent release of the photos to news organizations. Palfrey committed suicide May 1 in a shed at the Tarpon Springs mobile home park where her mother lived.”
(snip)
“Testifying earlier today, Palfrey said, “This is the last thing I can do for my daughter. Please don’t let these pictures get out in public.”
Allen instructed Tarpon Springs police to allow anyone who requests a viewing to see and touch the photos but not to copy, publish or broadcast them. They will be available once the investigation into the death is complete.”
I completely disagree with Judge Allen’s decision and the actions of Palfrey’s mother. From all my reading about Palfrey and from talking to her I get the impression that she would have wanted the public to see these photos. Repeatedly she said that if it appeared that she committed suicide then people should assume she was murdered. These photos could give important clues to her death so therefore they should be open for viewing and publishing.
In related DC Madam news the story below comes from WTOP News:
Prosecutors ‘quite anguished’ over D.C. Madam’s suicide
“For the first time, D.C.’s top prosecutor is talking about what went on behind the scenes before Deborah Jeane Palfrey’s trial and about the D.C. Madam’s eventual suicide.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeff Taylor spoke on WTOP’s Ask the Chief program Thursday.
He says he and other prosecutors wanted to settle the case before it went to trial. He says they tried to do so repeatedly, without success.
(snip)
Taylor says Palfrey’s suicide was a shock.
“Prosecutors in the office who handled the case were quite anguished about how that turned out. Nobody was happy with that result,” he said.
Asked by a listener why the men who used the escort service weren’t prosecuted, Taylor says it was a judgment call.
“That’s always a tough issue. It’s a judgment call. We try to do what’s right and what’s fair and exercise our discretion in a responsible way.”"
So it was fair to prosecute Palfrey but it wouldn’t be fair to prosecute the male clients? I don’t think so.
Posted by Vixen as News, Sex Workers at 11:20 PM CST