Exam for man accused of killing girlfriend put on hold
Judge shuts down Zoom access to proceedings
In 37th District Court Thursday, Judge Suzanne Faunce adjourned preliminary examination proceedings in the case against Erik Edward Fry,
34, who is charged with first-degree homicide in the death of his live-in girlfriend Amanda Harvey.
The preliminary examination, which began May 11, is delayed until June 2 due to a violation of the court’s policy regarding photos being taken during court proceedings. Judge Faunce had allowed access to her courtroom via Zoom on the first day of the preliminary examination, during which time, Faunce said, someone took several screenshots of the courtroom proceedings and posted them to social media.
“The advent of Zoom has opened up a whole list of things we never had to think about addressing before,” said Faunce. “I did not specifically say that screenshots of court proceedings could not be posted on the Internet, but I never dreamed someone would do such a thing.”
Faunce said some of the pictures posted to social media showed the table where prosecuting and defense counsel was seated and where attorney-client privileged information was in view of the Zoom camera and could possibly be enlarged and read or viewed.
There will be no Zoom access for the June 2 continuation of the preliminary exam; anyone wishing to view the proceedings must come to Judge Faunce’s courtroom. She noted the court is required to provide Americans with Disabilities Act access in the courtroom, but not via Zoom.
The first day of the preliminary examination focused on testimony from American Sign Language Interpreter Christine Carter, who was called in by Warren police to act as Fry’s interpreter on the night of his arrest in Nov. 2021. Fry, who is deaf, is accused of bludgeoning Harvey to death with a hammer in their home on Julius Avenue in Warren.
Fry allegedly had an argument with her, then killed her Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, but waited four days until Nov. 29 to call police.
Carter testified she was the only interpreter present during Fry’s interrogation and was asked by defense attorney Joshua Jones if it was not standard practice to have two interpreters present during a police interrogation.
“Through all of my training I have never been told that you must have two interpreters present, but it was highly recommended,” said Carter, who has been a full-time interpreter for more than seven years.
Prior to becoming an interpreter, Carter was a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing for more than 30 years.