Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Judge Sentences Knoller

Aired July 16, 2002 - 06:26   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In San Francisco, a woman convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the dog mauling death of a neighbor has now been sentenced to four years in prison.

Our Eric Horng has details from the case that shocked so many.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Saying Marjorie Knoller had committed perjury at trial and never shown remorse, Judge James Warren sentenced the San Francisco woman to the maximum four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Knoller offered no words during the proceeding, despite an appeal from prosecutor James Hammer to apologize for the brutal January 2001 dog attack that left neighbor Diane Whipple dead.

JAMES HAMMER, PROSECUTOR: The one thing that would bring, I think, some peace to everyone who knew Diane is if this woman here, this lawyer who lied at least 52 times, who mocked Diane Whipple and blamed her for her own death, would stand up as a human being and say I'm sorry.

HORNG: With time served and good behavior, Knoller could be released in less than two years, though she still faces one more legal hurdle. Last month, in a stunning move, Judge Warren tossed out Knoller's second degree murder conviction, saying there's no way she could have known her two dogs would kill Whipple that day. Prosecutors have appealed that ruling.

TERENCE HALLINAN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We do know that the appeal is going to be an uphill struggle, but this case has been an uphill struggle all the way.

HORNG: Last month, Knoller's husband, Robert Noel, was also sentenced to four years for involuntary manslaughter. The couple was also fined and ordered to pay restitution to Whipple's domestic partner, Sharon Smith.

After the sentencing hearing, Smith sharply criticized Knoller for showing no remorse.

SHARON SMITH, VICTIM'S PARTNER: She's not acted like a human, like any one of us hopefully would. And she'll be an attorney to the end. HORNG: Defense attorneys offered no comment following the hearing. Knoller was remanded to state prison to immediately begin serving her sentence.

Eric Horng, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com