Newspaper challenges color-photo ban in murder case

By The Associated Press

12.14.01

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Editor's note: Superior Court Judge Jerald Lasarow on Dec. 20 amended his order barring the Tahoe Daily Tribune from publishing color photos of Lisa Platz and James Csucsai. Lasarow granted the defense's motion to allow the defendants to appear in street clothes while in court and said the Tribune would be allowed to publish color photos as long as the defendants were photographed in street clothes.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A newspaper claims a judge's order barring it from using color photographs of the defendants in a murder case is unconstitutional and tantamount to censorship.

The Tahoe Daily Tribune filed court papers this week challenging Judge Jerald Lasarow's order that the newspaper run only black-and-white photos of the defendants to avoid influencing the jury pool.

Lisa Ann Platz and James Csucsai face murder charges that include kidnapping and use of a knife. Platz's 9-year-old daughter was found dead with her throat slashed in a tent on Sept. 21.

The judge's order came after defense attorneys asked to have the defendants appear in court in street clothes, instead of orange jail jumpsuits, so potential jurors who saw the photos in the newspaper wouldn't presume Platz and Csucsai were guilty.

The judge denied the motion, but ordered the newspaper to run only black-and-white photos of the two. Lasarow also blocked the newspaper from running any photos of the defendants showing "jail-type insignia."

James Houpt, an attorney for the Tribune, said the order has "constitutional violations of the highest magnitude."

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