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Former Atlanta-Area Sheriff Faces Trial in June for Ordering Hit On Successor

Aired March 27, 2002 - 11:14   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Here in Georgia, a former Atlanta-area sheriff faces trial in June. He is charged with ordering a hit on his successor. Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown was ambushed outside his home shortly before Christmas 2000. Brown defeated sheriff Sidney Dorsey in a bitter election weeks earlier.

Earlier this week, a jury acquitted two of Dorsey's alleged accomplices, one of them the accused trigger man.

We are going to talk with the sheriff-elect Derwin Brown's widow in a moment.

First, though, some background from our Atlanta affiliate WGCL.

Here's reporter Emily Stroud.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EMILY STROUD, WGCL REPORTER: When former Sheriff Sydney Dorsey goes on trial in June for the murder of his successor Derwin Brown, the prosecution once again will have no choice but to rely on the testimony of Patrick Cuffy and Paul Skiyer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not guilty of murder.

STROUD: But it didn't work for this jury, so will it work on a different one? Atlanta criminal defense attorney Drew Finling says probably not, even if a change of venue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be awfully difficult to find a juror throughout this state that is not going to know that these two defendants were found not guilty.

STROUD: Dekalb County district attorney Jay Tom Morgan says he takes full responsibility for the outcome of the Walker-Ramsey case. He says he had to grant immunity to Cuffy and Skiyer to get them to testify, because it was his only chance at winning the case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, now, the decision that I made, and no one else is responsible for that decision but me, so the four people who were there that night will never be held accountable for the murder of Derwin Brown.

STROUD: He says he stills believe Cuffy and Skyers, otherwise he wouldn't have put his career on the line.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before we ever started this case, it was discussed this was a career-ending case for a prosecutor. Just as (UNINTELLIGIBLE) he was held responsible for the O.J. verdict, and I'm sure I will be held responsible for this one.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Our thanks to affiliate WGCI reporter Emily Stroud for background on the Derwin Brown case.

Right now, we are joined by Philip brown, widow of Derwin Brown. She joined us to talk about the acquittal, also the upcoming trial of former sheriff Sydney Dorsey, and she's joined by her attorney Steven Leibel.

Good morning. Welcome to both of you.

Mrs. Brown, I want to start with you. First, I know you spent a lot of time in that courtroom watching that trial. Your reaction when the verdicts were read?

PHYLISS BROWN, SHERIFF-ELECT'S WIDOW: I was honestly shocked, because I know I went in thinking that they would be found guilty. But I used my resources as a former journalist and took intense notes, and I figured that if I heard it, the jury heard it, and they understood. So I was just totally shocked when they came back with the acquittals.

KAGAN: And what about your reaction as a wife?

BROWN: It hurts. I mean, it almost like, to me, you're killing Derwin all over again, and it's just horrible.

KAGAN: Also, for people not familiar with this story and with your husband, he ran for election based on the idea that he wanted to clean up that sheriff's department. He wasn't just running to run for office. He really believed in doing something.

BROWN Right.

KAGAN: And you can say he died for a cause.

BROWN Right. But it -- because he never had the opportunity to take office, the -- not only are we suffering as a family, you know, but we feel that the citizens of Dekalb County have been robbed at their choice for sheriff.

KAGAN: Steven, let's bring you in here. As a lawyer, what went wrong in this case, so far?

STEVEN LEIBEL, PHYLISS BROWN'S ATTORNEY: Well I can't comment about the criminal side of the case, because I don't handle any criminal type of issues in this matter.

But in looking at the civil case, I don't think this will hurt us or help us at all. We did not give immunity to anyone in this case. The Brown family is determined to go after the individuals who are responsible for this death of the sheriff-elect, and we will do so.

KAGAN: And those are the other legal options here and there is a civil case pending.

LEIBEL: The civil case -- the county has already been placed on notice that we will file a lawsuit against the county, Dekalb County, for their responsibility in this case. Their sheriff, their sheriff's deputies, murdered in cold blood the sheriff-elect. They have culpability. For over 20 years in Dekalb County, Georgia, every sheriff who has been elected, with the exception of the sheriff-elect Derwin Brown has been indicted on charges of corruption, relating to corruption in the jail.

So the case involving sheriff Dorsey will not only include the murder of the sheriff-elect, but the corruption that led to the murder of sheriff-elect Derwin Brown.

KAGAN: When I was looking at this, think to the O.J. Simpson case where acquittal on the criminal case, but on the civil side, the family found some justice. Is what you're hoping works out here?

LEIBEL: Absolutely. Absolutely. This family is bound and determined to bring justice. It's a terrible tragedy that the people who were actually involved in the murder, that is the people who were present at the scene, will walk. They will not spend a day or not a lot of time in jail. Two of the defendants were acquitted.

KAGAN: We have to say and they were acquitted, and that does stand there. The big fish in this is Sydney Dorsey, and as we said, his trial is going to start in June. Does it concern you that if his trial goes as the first two did, that it's possible that nobody will be held accountable for your husband's death?

BROWN: The -- I believe that with the evidence and because he's also been indicted on 18 counts of corruption...

KAGAN: They will get him on something is what your hope is.

BROWN: Right. Right.

KAGAN: Meanwhile, besides the lawsuit and besides watching all these criminal cases, how do your carrying on your husband's legacy, Mrs. Brown.

BROWN: Well, we have started Derwin Brown Sheriff's Ranch Foundation. We have 14 1/2 acres in land in Lethonia, Georgia. and we are in the process now of beginning to raise funds to put together the type of program that will supplement the educational system. We know a lot of kids fall through the cracks. We will offer job training and recreation, and help children to understand that they can be positive successful people in this lifetime.

KAGAN: We wish you well with your efforts. Philip Brown and Steven Leibel, thank you. The trial of Sydney Dorsey still to happen in June.

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