Pennsylvania Newspaper Need Not Release Stabbing Defendant's Letter

By: A judge says prosecutors cannot force a newspaper in Easton to turn over a letter from a man accused of stabbing three people outside a party in Bethlehem Township last year.

Christopher Davis wrote that he was being attacked and stabbed the three in self-defense. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli says the letter may contain evidence about the stabbings. He argues it is not protected by state shield law because The Express-Times made no promise of confidentiality to Davis.

County Judge Emil Giordano agrees, but says in his Tuesday ruling the letter is not critical to the case. He says the press needs to be able to gather news without government interference, and only rarely may the government "use the press as an investigative arm."