KCTV News 5 recently reported that Greene County, Mo., authorities are trying to determine if the death of a court reporter will affect the trial of a man accused of kidnapping and murdering a 10-year-old Springfield girl. According to the news outlet, longtime court reporter Jeannette Freeman, who died of natural causes at her home on June 3, had been hired to take notes during the preliminary hearing for Craig Wood, who is accused of the murder, which took place in February. The issue is whether or not Freeman had completed her transcripts of the proceedings and if not, would the audio recording that exists suffice. Quoted in the story is Linda Dattilo, executive director for the Missouri Court Reporters Association, who argues that a tape does not provide the same accuracy as a court reporter. Freeman was also a member of NCRA.
