MY BLOG: King's attorneys ask to move trial in murder of Denise Lee

Thursday, June 11, 2009

King's attorneys ask to move trial in murder of Denise Lee

By Todd Ruger

Published: Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 11:18 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 11:18 a.m.

SARASOTA COUNTY - The community reaction and publicity surrounding the kidnapping and murder of Denise Amber Lee mean extra preparations for the trial of her alleged attacker, which is scheduled to begin in August.

Related Links:
The legacy of Denise Amber Lee
Moving ceremony for Denise Lee
Denise Lee-inspired 911 law passes
King pleads not guilty in death of Lee
Sheriff standing by handling of 911 call
On night Lee died, chances were lost
Did 911 call slip through cracks?
An unsettling portrait of a suspect

External Links:
TOPICS: Slaying of Denise Amber Lee

Denise Amber Lee Jurors will be asked individually what they remember about media coverage of Michael King, 38, who is charged with kidnapping, rape and murder. Jurors will also be asked whether they discussed the case on the Internet through blogs or by posting to message boards, court records show.

King’s attorneys are asking that the trial be moved somewhere else in the state because of extensive publicity. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for King.

The case became the topic of a "Dr. Phil" show and hourlong national network shows, and became an impetus for improving emergency call centers across Florida.

If it stays in Sarasota County, the trial will be held in the largest courtroom to accommodate family, media and the public, as well as an extra large pool of potential jurors. It is expected to last three weeks.

Lee, 21, was reported missing from her North Port home on the afternoon of Jan. 17.

Her body was found two days later in a shallow grave six miles from her home.

King was arrested on a kidnapping charge the night of the abduction and was charged with murder after the body was found. He is being held in solitary confinement at the Sarasota County Jail.

A lab has matched King’s DNA to DNA found on Lee’s body, according to court documents filed by the prosecution.

My opinion

Well, we can't say this surprises us. Mostly my blog has been about 9-1-1 and, of course, Denise and our grief. sigh.

Attn: Cell Phone Users

I'm adapting this from a pamphlet Mark picked up from the California NENA conference out in San Diego.

When Dialing 9-1-1 From Your Cell Phone

1. Call only for immediate emergency assistance - medical, fire, or police.

2. Be prepared to provide your location and any essential information the dispatcher may need.

3. Stay on the line until told to hang up. You may be transferred to another agency.

added edit

Cell phones cannot "text" 9-1-1. During the Virginia Tech massacre, many students tried texting 9-1-1 because they were afraid the killer would hear them.

Do not assume 9-1-1 can find you when using a cell phone. Cell phone signals go to the nearest "available" tower.

IMO, always call 9-1-1 in an emergency unless you are sure others have already called.

And, IMO, if you are distraught, if possible have a neighbor or other family member call 9-1-1 for you. They will most likely be able to listen and give clearer instructions.

Help Reduce Unnecessary Calls

Use non-emergency numbers for your local law enforcement agency when you do not need immediate assistance.

If medical, fire or police are already on scene, it is not necessary to call 9-1-1 again. Instead, call a non-emergency number if you have additional information and witnessed the incident.

Do not call 9-1-1 for non-emergecy incidents (i.e., requesting road conditions, asking why traffic is backed up, requesting driving directions, or other similar reasons). Be prepared; contact your local FHP (Florida Highway Patrol) office directly, using a non-emergency number.

Use or maintain a landline at home and at work for 9-1-1 calls, as the dispatcher is more likely to get accurate location information from a landline.

Using 9-1-1 in non-emergency situations prevents critical emergencies from being attended to.

DID YOU KNOW?

Almost everyone in the U.S. owns a cell phone and some households do not use a landline at all. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of wireless 9-1-1 calls are made daily nationwide.

Far too many cellular 9-1-1 phone calls, both non-emergency and repeat calls for the same incident, are tying up the 9-1-1 phone system. This results in unnecessary busy signals, disconnects, and delays in dispatch time for ture 9-1-1 emergency calls.

Not every 9-1-1 call is answered by your local law enforcement agency. Cell phone providers try to calculate you approximate location using cell towers or satellite positioning. If they cannot, the call will likely default to the Florida Highway Patrol and then be transferred to the appropriate agency. This means that non-emergency or repeat calls are wasting critical minutes or dispatchers' time.

If you call 9-1-1 from you cell phone or an inactive phone, your phone number and location information may not be available to the dispatcher. Know your surroundings (street address, landmarks, mileposts) when calling 9-1-1. This will save valuable seconds in an emergency.

Avoid accidental 9-1-1 calls

Accidental cell phone calls can congest the 9-1-1 phone system. Accidental calls occur when the phone is placed in a pocket, belt clip, or purse, and a pre-programmed emergency button is bumped. Even a locked phone can dial 9-1-1.

Help Avoid Accidental Calls With the Following Tips

Do not hang up on an accidental 9-1-1 call. Inform the dispatcher that the call was an accident before you hang up.

Do not pre-program 9-1-1 into your or your child's cell phone's speed dial. This can lead to accidental calls.

Teach your child how and when to dial 9-1-1 from a cell phone. Train them to press 9-1-1 and the "send" button only in an emergency.

Even cell phones without active service can dial 9-1-1. Take batteries out of cell phones before recycling them or giving them to a child to play with.

Don't call 9-1-1 to check to see if you cell phone works. 9-1-1 is to be used for emergency calls only.

MY BLOG

Thursday, June 11, 2009

King's attorneys ask to move trial in murder of Denise Lee

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