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CNN Live At Daybreak

Judge Considering Fate of Four Islamic Militants Charged With Killing Pearl

Aired July 10, 2002 - 06:30   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Pakistan, a judge is now considering the fate of four Islamic militants charged with the kidnapping and killing of Daniel Pearl. "The Wall Street Journal" correspondent disappeared in Karachi in January. A videotape showing his killing was sent to U.S. officials a month later.

Joining us now with the latest, CNN's Tom Mintier, who is in Islamabad this morning. So it's almost over, right?

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, it's almost over, in a trial that was supposed to just last seven days. It is now 12 weeks, but no longer counting. The judge, indeed, has retired to his chambers to consider the verdict. Defense and prosecution attorneys today completed their summation of the case, and it is now up to the judge.

Now, just when this judge will issue his ruling is something that is being questioned. There are indications from inside the courtroom that he will deliver it on Monday. This is Wednesday, so it's going to be a bit of time. He is reserving his judgment and did not hand it down today in court. The proceedings have basically been completed for the day.

Before they did leave, the defense issued their summation before the prosecutor took the stand. The defense saying that much of the evidence against the four defendants was, indeed, fabricated, saying that the confessions that were not admissible in court, because they were coerced under torture, and saying the laptop computer that was seized by police did not match the one that this one individual owned, that the serial number was not correct. So there were a lot of alleged loopholes pointed out during the trial by the defense.

But all four men have pleaded not guilty. A verdict in this case will come probably on Monday -- Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Any guess on what that verdict might be?

MINTIER: There is really no way to tell, and anyone who would guess might guess wrong. So there has been speculation about how this trial has been going. But when I talked to a lot of people after the prosecution and defense had basically finished presenting their cases, everyone is saying, we have to wait and see what the judge does, and that will come probably on Monday. So speculation, you know, if you listen to what the defense said in their basic defense of their clients, the case looks like it's full of holes. But when you look at what the prosecution presented, fairly solid evidence of a computer with e-mails on it, belonging to one of the defendants that had been sent to journalists and news organizations demanding better treatment for the Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners being held by the U.S. military in Cuba.

So the evidence is, indeed, strong, not so much eyewitness testimony. The only person who saw Daniel Pearl was a taxi driver, who did testify before the court that he did take him to a restaurant in Karachi, but as far as anyone seeing the defendants meet with Daniel Pearl, that wasn't presented in court.

COSTELLO: All right. Tom Mintier reporting live from Islamabad this morning. We look forward to Monday and what the judge's decision might be.

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