Tulsa World: Kastner lawyer applies for gag order in slaying case

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Kastner lawyer applies for gag order in slaying case

Kastner

By BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer
Published: 7/31/2008 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 7/31/2008 2:41 AM

A lawyer for murder defendant John Robert Kastner applied Wednesday for a court order to "prevent the further dissemination of information" to the media and potential jurors in the case.

A filing by Assistant Public Defender Marny Hill asserts that "much of the media reports covering this case have been fueled by inappropriate extrajudicial statements to the media from law enforcement personnel."

An Aug. 25 preliminary hearing is scheduled for Kastner, 50. He is charged with the first-degree murder of his wife, Lori Kastner, 44.

Prosecutors allege that John Kastner, a Webster High School teacher, fatally shot Lori Kastner, a former Oklahoma Supreme Court attorney, on June 25 at their home in the 3800 block of South Union Avenue.

Police believe that he lied in claiming that his wife was killed by an intruder.

The document filed by Hill states that on June 27, police announced to the media at a news conference that Kastner "is a cold-blooded murderer" and that he had lied to a dispatcher and also lied to his friends and family members.

"Law enforcement has engaged in inappropriate character assassination" of the defendant, Hill asserts.

The defense lawyer seeks a court order "restraining all parties and agents of any party from any further public comment or statement regarding the facts or circumstances" surrounding the case.

In an e-mailed statement to the Tulsa World, Tulsa County First Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond wrote that the District

Attorney's Office has turned down requests for interviews from national news organizations and that "we have and will continue to advise witnesses to refrain from commenting on the case."

Drummond indicated that he needs to review the matter before he will know how the District Attorney's Office will respond.

It is extremely important for the defendant's rights to be protected, and there is a balancing act between that and the public's right to know, he said.

Bill Braun 581-8455
bill.braun@tulsaworld.com By BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Involved, (7/31/2008 5:37:58 AM) Way to go Ms Hill! Let's try this case in the courtroom, and not let the TPD try the case before the PreLim has been held!
	Report Comment Isaac Parker, Tulsa (7/31/2008 6:04:43 AM) Just what the public needs...another gag order. The judicial system is supposed to be OPEN for the protection of all. We should all be concerned about CLOSED court proceedings. Do you trust all judges, lawyers, and police to always do the right thing?...not me.
	Report Comment florence, tulsa (7/31/2008 7:32:04 AM) Parker! No one said anything about closing the courtroom. It's an order to keep BOTH sides from talking outside the confines of the courtroom. Prosecutors offen allow cops to make statements and the ever popular "perp walk" in an attempt to influence possible jurors. You might want to take a quick course in legal terms before resting digitals on keyboard again, it won'g be so embarrassing.
	Report Comment QLC, (7/31/2008 8:20:43 AM) well, i guess the guy needs a fair trial before they give him the needle.
	Report Comment RockBoston, (7/31/2008 9:39:41 AM) I suppose this is a good idea. We can all sit and judge him anyway. Whatever happens in the court will leak to the press anyway, so a gag order is of little real value, at least not for long.
	Report Comment florence, tulsa (7/31/2008 10:06:42 AM) RockBoston, do you and Parker have some kind of genetic link? Nothing is going to happen in court behind closed doors. The order is only to keep lawyers and cops from talking outside the proceedings.Court proceedings will be open to the public, as are all court proceedings, there will be no leak because it will all be public. Please learn to read.
	Report Comment 4738, (7/31/2008 12:56:53 PM) RockBoston: I would love to know what bank employs you. Obviously you have nothing to do all day except comment on the Tulsa World Stories. Perhaps you are the reason we have to sit 15-20 minutes in the drive thru lane, or spend an equal amount of time in the bank waiting to make 1 simple deposit. You are fortunate you do not work for me - you would have been fired for lack of anything to do or for ignoring your job while you share your opinions with everyone about everything in the paper.

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