JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The woman accused of kidnapping Kamiyah Mobley as a newborn in 1998 was back in a Duval County courtroom Monday in a dispute about what evidence will be made public in the case.
Mobley, who now goes by the name of Alexis Manigo, was taken from then-University Hospital 20 years ago this month. Gloria Williams was accused of taking the baby and raising the child as her own.
Williams' defense attorney wants to stop the media from getting access to evidence in the case before the trial, saying it could keep Williams from getting a fair trial.
News4Jax and First Coast News filed a public records request to the State Attorney's Office about the case, but Gloria Williams' attorney filed an order of protection to stop the media accessing the material.
“They are public records that are gathered by law enforcement and the State Attorney's Office and the law says they belong to the public,” said attorney Ed Birk, who represents News4Jax. “The public has a right to know what is in this evidence.”
An attorney for each television station, Williams, 52, and her attorney were all in court for the hearing as Judge Marianne Aho heard the arguments.
The attorneys have been able to agree on releasing some personal banking records, with the account numbers hidden, and to not use any medical records unless they are brought up during trial.
But the television stations' attorneys are arguing that information, including police reports and photos from the home where Williams raised Manigo, should be released.
Williams' attorney, Diana Johnson, argued that the community has already been "saturated" with news coverage of Williams' case. But the news media attorneys said there needs to be proof to make such a strong claim that could impact the public's right to information.
Aho will make a decision no later than Friday.
A final pretrial hearing is set for Feb. 6, with jury selection scheduled for Feb. 12.