Host found guilty in talk show murder

The defendants were Time-Warner and Telepictures, owners and producers of Chicago-based Jones8217; nationally-syndicated Jenny Jones Show, known for its racy and often explicit themes.

James Feeney, a lawyer for the defendants, called the verdict a 8220;disappointing result8221; but expressed confidence that 8220;there will be a different result8221; on appeal.

Geoffrey Fieger, the flamboyant lead attorney for the Amedure family who is best known for his defense of euthanasia guru Jack Kevorkian, hailed the verdict for 8220;striking a blow for justice andfreedom8221;.

He said the decision also sent a message 8220;implicitly to the entire television industry which abuses individuals, takes advantage of individuals and uses the emotions of individuals for entertainment8221;. 8220;That type of human exploitation needs to bee corralled,8221; he told a press conference.

But Feeney countered: 8220;From the standpoint of this being a statement about what reality-based shows should or should not do, anyone involved in the business of interviewing ordinary people8230; ought to be very concerned about the chilling effect this verdict could have.8221;

Schmitz, a heterosexual, was not told in advance that Amedure, a gay acquaintance, had a crush on him.

On his return to Michigan three days after the show8217;s taping, Schmitz shot Amedure at point blank range and later called authorities to say he had done it because he had felt humiliated by Amedure8217;s revelation.

In his fantasy described during the taping of a show segment in March, 1995 that never aired, Amedure had told how hewanted to tie Schmitz in a hammock, cover him with whipped cream and strawberries and lick it off.

8220;This murder was totally unforeseeable8230; We do not feel the show was to blame,8221; Zazi Pope, a senior vice president for Warner Brothers said. 8220;We think we will be vindicated by a higher court.8221;

During the trial, Jones was accused by Fieger of being insensitive, obsessed with ratings and careless in gathering information for her show.