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CNN Live Today

Ira Einhorn to Take Stand

Aired October 14, 2002 - 11:20   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he'll finally tell his story. Accused killer Ira Einhorn is taking the stand today in his own behalf. Einhorn is accused of killing an ex-girlfriend, Holly Maddux, 25 years ago.
Our Jason Carroll joins us now from Philadelphia with a preview of some of what we might hear today from Einhorn.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Leon.

Ira Einhorn is expected to take the stand later on this afternoon. It should make for interesting testimony. As you said, Ira Einhorn is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Holly Maddux back in 1977, stuffing her body in a trunk, and then storing it in the apartment they once shared, all because she tried to end their relationship.

Right now, on the stand, we have a Dr. Jonathan Arden. He is testifying for the defense. He's actually the medical examiner from Washington D.C. He's reviewed some of the evidence. He says that Maddux died from blunt-force trauma to the head. He says given the number of blows and the nature of the blows to Holly Maddux, that there should have been an extreme amount of blood in the trunk where she was found. An extreme amount of blood was not found in the trunk. That goes along with what the defense is suggesting that perhaps Holly Maddux was killed somewhere else. And that's exactly what Ira Einhorn is going to say when he takes the stand. He's going to stay that she was killed somewhere else, by someone else.

In fact, he says that he was framed for her murder by the CIA, because he says he had some sort of information about some sort of a secret mind-control weapon that they were working on. Early today, we did have the opportunity to speak with Ira Einhorn's attorney, William Cannon, and he talked about what hoe hopes that Einhorn will accomplish when he ends up taking the stand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM CANNON, DEFENSE ATTY.: My hope is that Ira holds up under cross-examination, and maintains, you know, an even pace, doesn't argue with the prosecutor, and has some appeal to the jury, and convinces the jury that he truly loved Holly and would never have killed her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: And the defense has already admitted that the prosecution has put on a very strong case. In fact, that's why Ira Einhorn is going to end up taking the stand. The prosecution has presented a number of witnesses who say that Ira Einhorn was abusive in the past. In fact, one of the witnesses, one of his former girlfriends, claims that when she tried to end their relationship, he hit her over the head with a coke bottle and then tried to strangle her.

The prosecution also read from a poem that Ira Einhorn wrote called "An Act of Violence." He talked about that violent incident that he had with his ex-girlfriend. He said violence can be -- quote -- "destructive but freeing." Again, Ira Einhorn expected to take the stand later this afternoon -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, good deal, can't wait to talk to you tomorrow morning and find out what he said.

Jason Carroll, reporting live for us from Philadelphia.

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






Aired October 14, 2002 - 11:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he'll finally tell his story. Accused killer Ira Einhorn is taking the stand today in his own behalf. Einhorn is accused of killing an ex-girlfriend, Holly Maddux, 25 years ago.
Our Jason Carroll joins us now from Philadelphia with a preview of some of what we might hear today from Einhorn.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Leon.

Ira Einhorn is expected to take the stand later on this afternoon. It should make for interesting testimony. As you said, Ira Einhorn is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Holly Maddux back in 1977, stuffing her body in a trunk, and then storing it in the apartment they once shared, all because she tried to end their relationship.

Right now, on the stand, we have a Dr. Jonathan Arden. He is testifying for the defense. He's actually the medical examiner from Washington D.C. He's reviewed some of the evidence. He says that Maddux died from blunt-force trauma to the head. He says given the number of blows and the nature of the blows to Holly Maddux, that there should have been an extreme amount of blood in the trunk where she was found. An extreme amount of blood was not found in the trunk. That goes along with what the defense is suggesting that perhaps Holly Maddux was killed somewhere else. And that's exactly what Ira Einhorn is going to say when he takes the stand. He's going to stay that she was killed somewhere else, by someone else.

In fact, he says that he was framed for her murder by the CIA, because he says he had some sort of information about some sort of a secret mind-control weapon that they were working on. Early today, we did have the opportunity to speak with Ira Einhorn's attorney, William Cannon, and he talked about what hoe hopes that Einhorn will accomplish when he ends up taking the stand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM CANNON, DEFENSE ATTY.: My hope is that Ira holds up under cross-examination, and maintains, you know, an even pace, doesn't argue with the prosecutor, and has some appeal to the jury, and convinces the jury that he truly loved Holly and would never have killed her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: And the defense has already admitted that the prosecution has put on a very strong case. In fact, that's why Ira Einhorn is going to end up taking the stand. The prosecution has presented a number of witnesses who say that Ira Einhorn was abusive in the past. In fact, one of the witnesses, one of his former girlfriends, claims that when she tried to end their relationship, he hit her over the head with a coke bottle and then tried to strangle her.

The prosecution also read from a poem that Ira Einhorn wrote called "An Act of Violence." He talked about that violent incident that he had with his ex-girlfriend. He said violence can be -- quote -- "destructive but freeing." Again, Ira Einhorn expected to take the stand later this afternoon -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, good deal, can't wait to talk to you tomorrow morning and find out what he said.

Jason Carroll, reporting live for us from Philadelphia.

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