SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 22 – Eric Lyle
Williams is on death row in Texas, following conviction
twelve years ago for killing Kaufman County District
Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife. His subpoena to NBC
Universal for information for his ongoing appeal had
landed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York and soon the Second Circuit Court of
Appeals, both of which Inner City Press closely
covers.
Back on February 27, 2015 NBC brought case
an episode of Dateline about the case, entitled
"Vendetta." McClelland had prosecuted Williams, a lawyer
elected Justice of the Peace, for theft and burglary,
resulting on his loss of office, law licence, and
"discharge from his position with the Texas State Guard."
The murders followed. So did a second
Dateline episode, entitled "Bad Intentions."
Williams lawyers, still appealing,
want the full footage of interviews. NBC opposed the
subpoena, citing the journalist's privilege. Williams'
lawyers replied, limiting their request to outtakes of
nine interviewees. Judge Liman granted the
subpoena, the motion to compel, in part - as to Kim
Williams, who was "offered lesser punishment in exchange
for her testimony." NBC moved to certify
for interlocutory appeal - and got denied, on April
13.
Now its next round of papers are due,
it was on April 20 agreed very civilly, in both senses of
the word.
On April 22 Williams' lawyer filed a motion to hold NBC in contempt for not complying with the subpoena or the order. Inner City Press will continue to follow and report on the case.
More on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here
It is Williams v. NBC Universal Media
LLC, 1:25-mc-122 (Liman)
