Excuse Us, But Is 1010 WINS Broadcasting Snuff?

Apparently we weren't the only one's pushing boundries today. While we only showed a photograph of the aftermath of an accident, a tipper points out that 1010 WINS has chosen to go full out snuff.

Here's the story: Earlier today Marlon Fann of Corona, Queens pled guilty to second degree murder, possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child and harrassment.

The DA says on June 18th Fann went to his ex-girlfriend's home in New Cassel at 2:35 in the morning. He plead guilty to shooting 23-year-old Merline Port-Louis on the driveway, while their three-year-old daughter was asleep in the house.

And here's where it gets gruesome: Not only was the murder recorded on tape, but for whatever reason 1010 WINS thought that it would be a good idea to run the audio, at least on their website. And, ew. Mostly it just sounds like muffled noises but then at the end a woman is heard screaming "Your daughter is in the house! Your daughter is in the house!" then you hear gunshots, and another scream, and then that's it. We're wondering, does anyone know if they actually played it on the air? And if they did, does that count as indecent to the FCC?

So, if snuff is your thing, the file is here, but we don't recommend it. And we say that seriously. It's there, and that it is there may be worth discussion, but really, you don't need to hear it. And it is DEFINITELY NSFW.

Marlon Fann

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Garth Johnston in News on March 29, 2006 4:20 PM

Comments [rss]

your sister's gay boyfriend

sick of apathy - the reason why people aren't expressing their outrage over the murder is because, well, what's there to argue about? For reasonable people, that's not up for debate.

But whether 1010 should have played the murder is up for debate, and that there is an audio recording of the incident is what makes it stand out (and newsworthy) from all the murders in the city.

sick of apathy

in true nyc fashion, everyone is concerned with esoteric civil liberties arguments rather than the fact that this sociopath murdered the mother of his child in her home, for the child to hear. this is why your city will always be a pretentious cesspool.

Mike

In the last analysis, its about choice.

As distributors of information, WINS, Gothamist, Fox News, NPR, Your School Newspaper, all have the right to print the information. The moral issue is up to the individual...you don't want it, don't take it ...very simple.

Pontification regarding what and what not should be presented as news or info is...well...

freaking lame!

To quote the little jewish kids at the beginning of "Snatch"...

"It's a free country innit???"

(of course they were in the UK, but that's hardly the point!!!)

bklynd

Sorry, I usually hate all the sniping here, but this criticism following so closely on the heels of the subway pic is just bizarre.

Neither are news. Sure, they have a place on the internet SOMEWHERE (what doesn't) but not here or 1010.

Meh

It seems to me that a liberal rag like the Gothamist, would be all for freedom of the press. 1010 WINS broadcast that audio tape so everyone could hear about the savage activity going on in our own backyards. If you want to turn a blind eye to crime, that's fine, but I think it's important that people see what animals lurk amongst us.

malatron

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people."

right. Ballsac.

ballsac

There are no stupid questions, only stupid people.

NSFW

means

Not safe for work

Gene

Glad you guys brought your moral compass to work today, just 24 hours after unnecessarily posting a picture of a man lying in a pool of his blood on a subway platform after getting hit by a train.

Are you trying to make yourself look better by pointing out 1010 Wins' lack of taste?

You're both pathetic to me, as is any "news" organization who airs/posts such things merely for shock value.

You suck.

raj

could someone hlep me out with this:

what does "DEFINITLY NSFW"

mean? thanks

Toby

WABC had an exclusive yesterday on this. I think at 11.

ricky

ABC had a commercial advertising that they were going to play parts of the tape (and even played some screaming during a commercial, then bragged that "only ABC" had the coverage.) This was yesterday, during...Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune (yeah I know.)

Original Tipper

They actually did play it on the air (though the newsperson was talking over most of it), but the kicker was when she brightly informed us that we could hear the uncut version "on our website, 1010wins.com!"

Tim Robins

Isn't it a little sad that we live in a country that you can play audio of a woman being murdered on the air with no consequences, but a little nipslip'll cost you hundreds of thousands of bucks?

David

That's technically not breaking any FCC regulations. Granted, someone could complain to the FCC, in which case it would be investigated, but I doubt anything would come of it.