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Alabama Authorities Announce Plans to File Capital Murder Charges

Aired October 25, 2002 - 11:05   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: Now one of the biggest breaks of the sniper investigation came from a case in Montgomery, Alabama, not Montgomery County. And this morning authorities announced plans to file capital murder charges against the D.C. suspects in that Alabama case.
And our Brian Cabell is standing by live in Montgomery, Alabama, and he's got that part of the story for us this morning.

Hi, Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon. I talked to the police chief before the press conference this morning. I said, are you going to be able to tell us a little bit more than you told us yesterday, because he wasn't terribly forthcoming? He said, yes, Brian, I gave you some potatoes yesterday, I'll give you some meat today. And indeed he did.

And he gave us one major surprise, as well. We had thought yesterday, we were led to believe that it was John Malvo, the 17-year- old, who was seen at the scene of the crime or perhaps could be identified as being at the scene of the crime at this liquor store. Today, he said, no, it was actually John Muhammad, the older man. He had been chased by a police officer here, and he said the police officer positively identified John Muhammad as the man at the scene here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF JOHN WILSON, MONT. ALA. POLICE: Our officer made no hesitation whatsoever when he was shown the picture. He had no access to the media, so it couldn't be tainted. The detectives tell me that he actually shuddered when he saw the picture and went straight to him and said, that's the guy I saw.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABELL: So the question is, where was John Malvo, if, in fact, he was in this area? According to the police chief, he was at a gas station about 100 yards away. He has been tentatively identified by a patron at that gas station. As to fingerprints, those are still not being discussed here. We have heard from a Washington D.C., from federal officials that, in fact, there are positive I.D.s with Malvo here. The chief would not go into that. But he says he's very confident they can place Malvo at the scene, and as Carol had mentioned, they are now signing capital murder warrants for both of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILSON: We're going to seek the death penalty. We want to send a very strong message to not only this community and the state, but the country, that this is not the kind of conduct, this is not what we expect out of civilized society. And we're going to send a message. We will make an example out of somebody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABELL: So when might these men be tried here? We don't know. Yesterday, the chief had said we're probably last in line. This is the least notorious of the cases. But they would certainly like to have both of those men back here.

Why were they here in the Montgomery area? they have said right now they think they were probably just passing through. They're still investigating. Why did that make that call, if, in fact, they made that call? Probably just to boast is more or less what the chief is saying.

Leon, they're trying to wrap up the case here. They're excited about the case. They think they have good, solid evidence, witnesses, physical evidence, and they are just about wrapped up, they think, in terms of getting this case together.

HARRIS: And what's amazing is that they have these guys in custody and we have even more questions now than we did yesterday. Amazing.

CABELL: Indeed, we do.

HARRIS: Brian Cabell. Thanks, man, take care. Brian Cabell in Montgomery, Alabama.

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




Charges>


Aired October 25, 2002 - 11:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now one of the biggest breaks of the sniper investigation came from a case in Montgomery, Alabama, not Montgomery County. And this morning authorities announced plans to file capital murder charges against the D.C. suspects in that Alabama case.
And our Brian Cabell is standing by live in Montgomery, Alabama, and he's got that part of the story for us this morning.

Hi, Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon. I talked to the police chief before the press conference this morning. I said, are you going to be able to tell us a little bit more than you told us yesterday, because he wasn't terribly forthcoming? He said, yes, Brian, I gave you some potatoes yesterday, I'll give you some meat today. And indeed he did.

And he gave us one major surprise, as well. We had thought yesterday, we were led to believe that it was John Malvo, the 17-year- old, who was seen at the scene of the crime or perhaps could be identified as being at the scene of the crime at this liquor store. Today, he said, no, it was actually John Muhammad, the older man. He had been chased by a police officer here, and he said the police officer positively identified John Muhammad as the man at the scene here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF JOHN WILSON, MONT. ALA. POLICE: Our officer made no hesitation whatsoever when he was shown the picture. He had no access to the media, so it couldn't be tainted. The detectives tell me that he actually shuddered when he saw the picture and went straight to him and said, that's the guy I saw.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABELL: So the question is, where was John Malvo, if, in fact, he was in this area? According to the police chief, he was at a gas station about 100 yards away. He has been tentatively identified by a patron at that gas station. As to fingerprints, those are still not being discussed here. We have heard from a Washington D.C., from federal officials that, in fact, there are positive I.D.s with Malvo here. The chief would not go into that. But he says he's very confident they can place Malvo at the scene, and as Carol had mentioned, they are now signing capital murder warrants for both of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILSON: We're going to seek the death penalty. We want to send a very strong message to not only this community and the state, but the country, that this is not the kind of conduct, this is not what we expect out of civilized society. And we're going to send a message. We will make an example out of somebody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABELL: So when might these men be tried here? We don't know. Yesterday, the chief had said we're probably last in line. This is the least notorious of the cases. But they would certainly like to have both of those men back here.

Why were they here in the Montgomery area? they have said right now they think they were probably just passing through. They're still investigating. Why did that make that call, if, in fact, they made that call? Probably just to boast is more or less what the chief is saying.

Leon, they're trying to wrap up the case here. They're excited about the case. They think they have good, solid evidence, witnesses, physical evidence, and they are just about wrapped up, they think, in terms of getting this case together.

HARRIS: And what's amazing is that they have these guys in custody and we have even more questions now than we did yesterday. Amazing.

CABELL: Indeed, we do.

HARRIS: Brian Cabell. Thanks, man, take care. Brian Cabell in Montgomery, Alabama.

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




Charges>