Opening statements appear to have finally begun in the murder trial of a Northern Kentucky mother.
Proceedings in the Cheryl McCafferty murder trial were delayed Monday, over an unusual and now continuing dispute over internet blogging about the trial.
McCafferty, a 44-year-old Fort Thomas mother of two, is charged with shooting her husband, Robert McCafferty, to death in their home in 2007.
Just as the trial was getting underway Monday morning, 9News and other news media challenged a ban on blogging or using comments in the courtroom on the internet. As a result, Campbell County Circuit Judge Julie Reinhardt Ward closed the trial to all cameras and computers, over fears of influencing witnesses.
That issue caused morning long delays in the start of the trial on Monday, leaving several dozen people anxiously waiting outside of the courtroom.
The ruling is now being appealed by attorneys. Unless a Kentucky Appeals Court intervenes, reporters covering the McCafferty trial at the Campbell County Courthouse will only be able to use a note pad and pen to cover the case.
The McCafferty trial is expected to continue Tuesday, with reporting slowed by the transcribing of hand-written notes.
The ruling also puts two national news crews in limbo. Both NBC's "Dateline" and "48 Hours" on CBS brought out-of-town crews in to cover the trial. Crews spent days setting up multiple cameras in the courtroom and built a separate viewing area in a third floor room above the second floor courtroom.
However, that won't stop continuing updates being posted on
WCPO.com and
KyPost.com, or reported throughout the day on 9News.
