David Berkowitz
PER
Berkowitz David Berkowitz Mr. Berkowitz
David Berkowitz, the man known as the Son of Sam, whose murder spree terrorized New York City during the long hot summer of 1977, appeared in court yesterday. He wanted to stop Hugo Harmatz, a New Jersey lawyer who once represented him, and who self-published a book, ''Dear David,'' about the serial killer, in June, from publishing a sequel or from making a movie based on the book as the so-called Son of Sam Law forbids Mr. Berkowitz from profiting from his crime. He is demanding that Mr. Harmatz return a large trove of personal items, including a bar mitzvah picture, a picture of his mother and, his lawyer said, letters from relatives of some of his victims. David Berkowitz, the man known as the Son of Sam, whose murder spree terrorized New York City during the long hot summer of 1977, appeared in court yesterday in a dispute over his memorabilia. Mr. Berkowitz, once a frightful symbol of the crime-filled '70s, the ''Son of Sam'' was back in court because he was fighting for the right to own his image. Mr. Berkowitz, 51, wanted to stop Hugo Harmatz, a New Jersey lawyer who once represented Mr. Berkowitz, and who self-published a book, ''Dear David,'' about the serial killer. Mr. Harmatz, who did appear in court, said he had gotten to know Mr. Berkowitz in the summer of 2002, after writing him a letter, saying he was interested in writing a book about ''high-profile defendants.'' Mr. Berkowitz agreed to meet him, where Mr. Berkowitz is serving six sentences of 25 years to life.