Updated at 5:31 p.m., Thursday, August 2, 2007
Court: Publicity 'harmful' to child in starving case
Advertiser Staff
The welfare of a 12-year-old girl whose parents are accused of starving her would be harmed if state documents in her case are released, a family court order states.The order, issued by Judge Bode A. Uale, says the records release would generate "additional publicity and potentially be harmful to her and not in her best interests as she tries to live a normal and productive life for which she is entitled."
The order prevents the state child welfare agency from releasing "administrative" records regarding the girl and the girl's parents, Denise M. and Melvin Wright Jr. The parents were indicted July 3 on charges of attempted second-degree murder after the girl was taken into state custody, allegedly in a malnourished state.
Uale issued the order following a request filed on behalf of the child by a court-appointed lawyer. State Department of Human Services officials had said they would be releasing records this week related to a 2000 incident involving the family.
At that time, the Wrights pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge after being accused of locking the girl in a room for 12 hours a day. The state took custody of the girl at the time, but returned her to the Wrights after three days.
