Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast The sketchy future of the courtroom artist
May 12, 2025
Rocco Fazzari is a Sydney-based illustrator and courtroom artist, navigating the fascinating yet challenging world of courtroom sketches. He delves into the impact of the Erin Patterson murder trial, where visuals are vital due to camera bans. The discussion highlights the evolving art tools and techniques used to convey emotions, guilt, and innocence through illustrations. Fazzari also reflects on the unique challenges of capturing flamboyant courtroom figures and debates the role of camera presence in legal settings and its influence on trial dynamics.
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Rocco's Courtroom Artist Start
- Rocco Fazzari started courtroom illustration as a stand-in artist at the Herald when the primary artist was unavailable.
- After the original artist left, Rocco became the main courtroom illustrator despite newspapers using less court art.
First Trials and Challenges
- Rocco's first court drawing was the Andrew Klasich trial involving a hotel shooting.
- He also drew appeals for notorious criminals like Ivan Milat, finding it intimidating but essential.
Defendants' Interaction Anecdotes
- Defendants like Roger Rogerson sometimes interacted during sketches, making it entertaining.
- A gang rapist once drew Rocco while he was sketching him in court.