SARASOTA, Fla. – The father of an 11-year-old girl whose kidnapping was caught on a surveillance camera has asked a judge to restrict who gets to see photos of his slain daughter.
The crime scene photographs may become public record as part of the 2,000 pages of evidence in the case against Joseph P. Smith (search), who is accused of killing Carlie Brucia (search) in February.
Carlie's body was found Feb. 6 in a wooded area near a church in Sarasota.
Her father, Joseph Brucia (search), wants the photographs to be maintained by the medical examiner's office, and for a judge to decide who gets to see them.
Brucia, of New York, said that while he doesn't think most media would publish the photos, "it's worth it to me for my peace of mind to ensure that it doesn't happen," he said Wednesday.
Carlie was kidnapped Feb. 1 as she walked home from a friend's house. Her kidnapping drew worldwide attention after a video surveillance system captured images of a man leading her away, and her family made public appeals for her return.
Smith, an unemployed auto mechanic, faces first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Circuit Judge Andrew Owens is expected to hear Brucia's motion next week.
"We obviously share the family's concern about the privacy of rights of victims," said David McCraw, attorney for The New York Times Co., which publishes the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "We are concerned by the broad sweep of the proposed order. It reaches all photos without specification of what those photos may or may not contain."
Autopsy photos were once available to the Florida public. The Legislature made them confidential in 2001 after the widow of race car driver Dale Earnhardt, was killed in a race at the Daytona International Speedway, sought help in keeping his autopsy photos private.
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