2 days ago
Release of Steven Lawson proceedings temporarily prohibited by court
NELSON COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — The Nelson County Circuit Court has issued an order that temporarily prohibits media files from Steven Lawson's trial from being released.
After his guilty conviction and subsequent request for a new trial, the circuit court is preparing for the upcoming trials of Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson.
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Release of Steven Lawson proceedings temporarily prohibited by court
Court documents state that the news media and other parties have requested a copy of Steven's trial proceedings in connection with the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. While considering the request, the court noted it has remained mindful of the public's right to inspect and copy court records and documents.
With the trials of Houck and Joseph scheduled to begin on June 24 at the Warren County Justice Center, both the plaintiff and the defendants have gone on record stating they are opposed to the records from Steven's trial being released.
The circuit court noted that, if the records were released ahead of the trial, videos would be played on television stations across the Commonwealth, which would make it 'highly likely that many prospective jurors' would form an opinion on how the case should be decided.
The court also said that trial witnesses, some of whom had previously testified in Steven's trial, would also be able to access and view these recordings. Rule KRE 615 claims that witnesses from the trial are to be excluded to prevent them from hearing the testimony of other witnesses.
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Robert Lawson noted in 'The Kentucky Evidence Law Handbook' that this rule is designed 'to elicit the truth, unveil the false and promote the ends of justice.'
After taking all of these factors into account, the court ordered:
The video recordings from the defendant's trial proceedings shall be sealed until the completion of the co-defendants' jury trials.
That upon completion of the co-defendants' trials, the Nelson Circuit Clerk shall be allowed to release copies of the defendant's trial proceedings to the news media.
Houck and Joseph are the other two people accused in connection with the death of Rogers, who was last seen on July 3, 2015. She is presumed to be dead, but her body has not been found.
FOX 56 previously reported that Steven is scheduled to be sentenced in August.
Madylin Goins contributed to this story.
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