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American Morning

Pakistani Judge Convicts Four Islamic Militants in Killing Pearl

Aired July 15, 2002 - 09:02   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: "Up Front" this morning, a Pakistani judge convicts four Islamic militants in the kidnapping and killing of "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl. The mastermind on that Omar Saeed Sheikh, is sentenced to die, and his three accomplices each received life sentences. With more now, Tom Mintier joins us now on videophone live from Islamabad.

Good morning, Tom.

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Everyone is bracing here for the aftereffect of the verdict and the death sentence handed to Omar Sheikh. Security has been tightened at all the embassies here in Islamabad, and other key cities like Karachi have helicopters flying over. This because at the trial, after the judge handed down the guilty verdicts and the sentence for Omar Sheikh for death, he made a statement through his lawyer, basically seeking revenge, saying that who -- we'll see who dies first, whether the government who sentenced him to death or whether he hangs.

He is also wanted in the United States on a couple of charges, in addition to the Daniel Pearl kidnapping in Kashmir of an American citizen. So we'll have to wait and see if indeed the extradition is put forward. But in the murder case of Daniel Pearl, a very swift verdict this morning. The judge came in amid tight security in this prison complex where the court had been taken place for the better part of 12 weeks, he announced that all four were convicted and that three of them would be sentenced to what were timed life sentences. In reality, here in Pakistan,a life sentence is 14 years, but the irony is in 14 years, you get out in seven.

So in 25-year sentences, 12 1/2 years almost constitutes a double life sentence -- Paula.

ZAHN: Immediately after the verdict, you had mentioned, I think earlier this morning, an appeal was filed. Is that appeal expected to go anywhere?

MINTIER: That appeal is going to be pushed forward very quickly in the high court here in Pakistan. Sources tell me that the court was ordered to clear its docket and stand ready for this case once the verdict came down, and the sentencing. So it will go the high court, and then probably on to the Supreme Court, because a death sentence was involved here.

Sheikh Omar joins 79 other people on death row currently here in Pakistan.

Tom Mintier, thanks so much.

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