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CNN Live Today

In Pearl Kidnapping and Murder Case, Earlier, Suspects Whisked Into Court

Aired March 22, 2002 - 10:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we are going to go to the latest on the Daniel Pearl kidnapping and murder case. Earlier today, suspects were whisked into court to face charges and be assigned a trial date.

CNN Islamabad bureau chief Ash-Har Quraishi is covering the case, and he joins us by video phone -- Ash-Har.

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Today, as you said, the suspects were brought to a Karachi court, two of those suspects at least, including the suspected mastermind of the kidnapping and murder of "Wall Street" journal reporter Daniel Pearl. That man, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, he was brought in amid heavy security, hundreds of police officers on guard.

Now, about a half hour after he went into the court, he came out, prosecutors announced the charges that were filed. Among those charges, kidnapping for ransom, as well as murder and terroristic acts.

The charge sheet had a total of 11 suspects. Of those, four are in custody, including Saeed. Now what we hear is that the evidence presented in court, was that one of the things was the videotaped recording of the murder of Daniel Pearl, as well as a confession made by Saeed in which he said that he did kidnap Daniel Pearl and another statement in that confession where he says that Daniel Pearl was dead.

Also coming out today, the list of witnesses by the prosecution. On that list, included on that list, the widow of Daniel Pearl, Marianne Pearl. Also on that list, the taxi driver, who claimed that he dropped Daniel Pearl off at the location he was last seen, when he was supposedly picked up by Saeed. Also what we are hearing today, the trial is set for a week from today that will occur in an anti- terrorist court.

Also, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh saying today he will defend himself during this trial. He says he did not trust his lawyers. According prosecutors, the maximum penalty in this case would be the death penalty -- Carol.

LIN: Thank you very much, Ash-Har Quraishi, reporting live from Karachi.

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