Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411180100
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LEWISBURG, W.VA. LENGTH: Medium
Stephanie Taylor, a reporter with television station WTKR of Norfolk, Va., said county Prosecutor Richard Lorensen agreed to stay out of the square so he does not block the one pool camera's view of the witness stand.
``I've never seen anything that cooperative,'' Taylor said.
Downstairs in the red brick courthouse built in 1837, a jury room has been turned over to a small group of television news staffers, who dubbed their video and audio from the one camera.
Outside on a narrow street are parked large, white satellite trucks from West Virginia, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
``A Current Affair,'' ``Inside Edition,'' People magazine and a host of others, including print reporters from West Virginia and Virginia, also are represented.
Only one still photographer is allowed in the trial.
When defendant Tracy Lippard walks across the street each morning from defense lawyer Paul Detch's office, cameras train on her as questions pop. It's the same thing when court ends about 5 p.m. She smiles and refuses to answer.
But reporters generally seem pleased with the assistance of Greenbrier County officials.
Greenbrier Circuit Judge Charles Lobban, a portly, Southern-style, gray-haired Democrat, opened the courtroom at lunch and had all the evidence, including a 9mm pistol and a 6-inch butcher knife, laid out on the prosecution table so cameras could videotape it.
``This judge is really nice,'' said Santina Leuci, associate producer for ``A Current Affair.''
John Henrehan, a reporter for television station WTTG in Washington, D.C., said he was irritated earlier when the prosecutor walked in front of a witness, ruining a crucial shot. But overall, he said, officials have been very helpful.
Circuit Court Clerk Ron Miller said the number of reporters has grown daily.
``It's kind of fed on itself,'' the clerk said, as he oversaw the evidence.
Lorensen, who gives interviews nightly in the courtroom, said the coverage has not affected him and seems not to have disturbed the witnesses.
His sole irritation has been the loud clicking of the still camera.
A class of ninth-graders from Eastern Greenbrier Junior High School also visited the trial.
Defense attorney Detch simply shook his head when asked about the coverage.
``I've never seen anything like it,'' he said.
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.