Judge Michael Toomin ruled Wednesday against a request by NBC5 and the Chicago Sun-Times and kept the special prosecutor’s report in the death of David Koschman sealed until the trial of R.J. Vanecko.
The report by Dan Webb was completed in September and sealed by Judge Toomin at Webb’s request.
Webb was asked to investigate the 2004 death of Koschman, who died from a single punch during an argument on Division Street.
Vanecko, the nephew of former mayor Richard M. Daley, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Two previous probes by police and prosecutors failed to produce any charge.
Attorneys for the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police earlier this month asked Judge Toomin to place a permanent seal on the Webb report, in part because the Sun-Times published a copy of a 2004 Vanecko lineup that included personal information of Chicago police officers who took part.
"Our concern is the professional reputations and personal safety of police officers," Attorney Sean Starr. "We feel like the Sun-Times compromised the lineup officer’s personal safety and professional reputation. And we are afraid that they will do the same with any officer named in the report."
