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Dec 21, 2006 3:56 pm US/Eastern
Judge: Release Jury Testimony In 'Station' Case
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
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Grand jury testimony normally is secret. Judge Rodgers cited the "unique circumstances" of the case in granting the attorney general's petition to disclose the testimony.
CBS
A Rhode Island judge directed the attorney general Thursday to release the grand jury testimony in the investigation of the 2003 fatal fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick.
Rhode Island Superior Court Presiding Justice Joseph F. Rodgers Jr. directed Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch to release the testimony.
Grand jury testimony normally is secret. Judge Rodgers cited the "unique circumstances" of the case in granting the attorney general's petition to disclose the testimony.
Rodgers limited the release to the materials sought in the attorney general's initial petition – the transcripts of the grand jury – and the instructions of law given the grand jury by the attorney general.
The presiding justice said he would not expand the scope of the petition beyond the transcripts of the grand jury testimony and he reserved judgment on disclosure of any additional materials related to the case.
He directed the attorney general to release the testimony and instructions of law "in a manner that accomplishes the intended purposes of assisting the parties to the pending federal civil litigation and of informing the public as to the scope and nature of the investigation of this most horrific tragedy."
No timeframe was set on the release.
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