DENVER—Citing the safety of witnesses, jurors and court staff members, a judge has barred reporters from Tweeting, blogging or posting any other online updates during proceedings in the trials of a man suspected of killing Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams.
A decorum order issued Tuesday by Denver District Judge Christina Habas also bars cameras and reporters from conducting interviews on the fourth floor of the Denver courthouse, where her courtroom is located.
Willie Clark faces 39 counts, including first-degree murder, in the New Year’s Day 2007 shooting death of Darrent Williams.
Willie Clark and two other defendants also face murder charges in the death of Kalonnian Clark, a witness killed in June 2005 the day before she was scheduled to testify in an attempted murder case.
Habas cited the slaying of Kalonnian Clark and the potential intimidation and threats to witnesses. She also noted that one of the witnesses in Williams’ case is under the protection of U.S. Marshals through the federal witness protection program.
All three suspects in the case involving Kalonnian Clark, who was not related to Willie Clark, are to be arraigned June 26.
Willie Clark’s trial in the Williams case is scheduled to begin July 6.
