By Sam Stanton
sstanton@sacbee.com
A judge today suspended phone calls between Phillip and Nancy Garrido after the El Dorado County counsel raised concerns that their monthly conversations may have veered into witness-tampering.
Ed Knapp told the judge in the Jaycee Lee Dugard kidnapping case that "our fears have been confirmed."
Knapp said later outside of court that he could not discuss the problem in detail but would address it in a legal motion to be filed later to prevent the husband and wife from speaking to each other.
Since last summer, the Garridos have been allowed a five-minute phone call between each other once a month, despite concerns by the Sheriff's Department that the calls could be used to influence testimony.
El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Douglas Phimister said he would make a decision next month on whether to cancel the calls altogether.
The development came the same day that Phimister indicated he was inclined to release to the media some documents and exhibits that have been sealed in the high-profile case.
He did not indicate what he was willing to release and whether it would include the grand jury transcripts that led to the Garridos indictment on new charges in September.
Call The Bee's Sam Stanton, (916) 321-1091.
KCRA: DA wants Garrido's taped interview
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