Family's plea to seal SeaWorld trainer's death video, photos rejected by federal judge

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge says there is no legal reason images of a SeaWorld trainer’s death should be kept from the public.

Dawn Brancheau died in 2010 during a show featuring Tilikum, a killer whale. Her family wanted to keep the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration from publicly releasing copies of videos or photographs depicting the death. Lawyers for the family have said releasing the images would serve no public purpose.

The family also didn’t want any images displayed in public during an OSHA hearing Monday. The agency has accused SeaWorld of recklessly putting trainers in danger and fined SeaWorld $75,000.
During the hearing, SeaWorld will challenge the agency’s findings.

The Orlando Sentinel reported the judge’s ruling Thursday.