Posted on 05/19/2009 7:47:16 AM PDT by SmithL
A potentially key witness to a killing last month in San Francisco - a college journalism student - is invoking a state law aimed at protecting working journalists' sources and unpublished material in refusing to cooperate with police.
The 22-year-old student at San Francisco State University was present when Norris Bennett was shot on the street in Bayview-Hunters Point and took photos that police believe could help them find the killer.
But the student maintains that he was on the scene as part of a school project chronicling life in the community, and that his witness account and the photos he took are covered by California's shield law for journalists.
The case may be headed for a legal showdown that would help define, in an age of blurring boundaries in the media, who is a journalist and how far protections for the profession extend.
The San Francisco State student, who is not being named by The Chronicle out of concern for his safety, had been following the 21-year-old Bennett for several months as part of his senior project in photojournalism. He was with him the afternoon of April 17 when Bennett, a business student at City College of San Francisco, was shooting dice near Griffith Street and Navy Road in the neighborhood where he grew up.
Police will not reveal what they believe happened just before the slaying. They say, however, that the San Francisco State student soon phoned Bennett's family members and, crying, told them to come to the scene.
The first officers to arrive said the student had been taking photos while paramedics treated Bennett. Police investigators tried to interview him later, but he declined.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Well, for one thing no one can claim that this person has any less training or decency than today’s so-called “journalists”.
Journalistic egos have *always* been a part of the problem. They think that journalism and being a journalist is more important than fighting crime, in this case.
Makes him an accomplish to the crime/coverup, in my book. Jail him.
Someday this guy will be a victim of a crime.
What will he think of the “shield” law then?
Makes him an accomplish to the crime/coverup, in my book. Jail him.
YES!
The Decline and Fall of America: When Gangsters are Journalists
He is an eye witness..a material witness. Lock him up to await the trial.
Sorry dude. While the 9th circus might buy it, a college yearbook ‘assignment’ ( take some pictures man) hardly constitues anything that could be construed as journalism.
Accomplice...
Throw him in jail, General Pop. And as they are leading him down there, remind him that it’s always possible the shooter is in custody for another crime, and may well know that the student is a witness against him.
The purpose of the shield law was to enable journalists to protect sources who might otherwise be reluctant to talk to journalists, if their identities might be required to be revealed. I don’t think this situation covers it.
what a self important little dick....
documentary makers or filmers alwasys testify as to what they have seen
I remember Harlan County....that activist woman who made the film was on record telling who she saw shooting
what about the makers of COPs?
There’s no reason whatsoever to believe that he was NOT involved. He should have been hauled in earlier and put in the same lockup with some of Mr. Bennett’s “friends”.
regarding the state law aimed at protecting working journalists.
it doesn’t apply here
I’m going to guess that the student was sleeping during the class when this subject was discussed
Doctor-patient confidentiality does not apply when a pre-med student is studying organic chemistry in the library and witnesses a crime, not even if he administers first aid. The same for seminary students (even if a friend threatens to kill someone and the future minister says, “please don’t”) and for journalism students (even when working on a term paper). I hope this scum gets some quality time in prison, where he can decide based on first-hand observation whether murderers are worth protecting.
Is this a new requirement for business school If so that could explain a lot
Ah, yes. Another self-important journalist who believes in the neo-media credo of “the story is more important than justice”.
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