The State - News from July 23, 1986

Photos of the three mutilated victims of the “Twilight Zone” movie helicopter crash will not be shown to a jury because of their possible prejudicial effect, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Roger Boren ruled. The photos “very graphically depict the magnitude of the power and destructive force (of the crash),” Boren said. “On the other hand, I’ve seen numerous photos of murders . . . these photos are among the more gruesome this court has ever seen.” Boren made the ruling on the first day of trial motions in the manslaughter case of film director John Landis and four associates. Actor Vic Morrow and child actors Renee Chen, 6, and Myca Dihn, 7, were killed four years ago today when a helicopter crashed on top of them amid special effects explosions on the movie set. Deputy Dist. Atty. Lea Purwin D’Agostino, who was granted permission to show the jury pictures of the children prior to the fatal crash, said Boren’s rulings “won’t impact my case.” Jury selection is expected to begin Thursday.