Earnhardt Widow Testifies at Photo Hearing
D A Y T O N A B E A C H, Fla., June 12 -- Dale Earnhardt's widow testified today she has tried to stop the public release of herhusband's autopsy photos to spare her family "painful emotionaldistress."
"The photographs are humiliating, disgusting and negative,"Teresa Earnhardt said. "That could be nothing but harmful andpainful to anyone involved with my family, my company, our fans,anyone."
A hearing into whether the photos can be made public wasexpected to continue Wednesday. A college newspaper, TheIndependent Florida Alligator, and a Deland-based Web site areseeking access to the autopsy photos.
Appearing slightly irritated under questioning from opposinglawyers, Earnhardt said she filed a lawsuit blocking the release ofthe photos to spare her family from "humiliation and harm."
NASCAR Conspiracy?
Lawyers for The Alligator have suggested that NASCAR influencedEarnhardt's decision since the images could raise questions aboutsafety at NASCAR races.
Earnhardt denied that NASCAR played a role in her decision.Under questioning, she also said she didn't think the photos wouldshow anything that could prevent driver deaths.
She added that her decision had nothing to do with her interestin protecting her company, Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Earnhardt'simage as a revenue source.
"I don't think it has anything to do with sales. I think it hasto do with personal feelings and privacy," Earnhardt said. "Itwould affect our state of minds because we would be personallyharmed."
For the Public Good
An attorney for The Alligator argued the images should bemade public to show whether investigators did an adequate job ofdetermining what killed him.
"We don't know if the photographs are consistent with theautopsy report or inconsistent with the autopsy report," saidattorney Tom Julin. "It's an important check on the medicalexaminer's office and an important check on the policedepartment."
The Alligator and Websitecity.com were rebuffed in their firstattempt to gain access to the photos.
