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CNN Live Today
Important Announcement Today on Fate of Two Florida Boys
Aired November 14, 2002 - 11:14 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: An important announcement today on the fate of two Florida boys convicted of killing their father. A deal is expected to lead to a resolution in the case of Alex and Derek King.
For more on that now, let's go to CNN's Mark Potter, who's standing by in Pensacola, Florida.
MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After court-ordered mediation between the defense attorneys and the prosecutors, we're told that an agreement has been reached on the fate of Alex and Derek King, ages 13 and 14, who are accused of beating their father to death last year. We don't know officially what that agreement is, but we're expecting to find out in about three hours, when the settlement is to be unveiled before a Judge Frank Bell in the courthouse behind me.
Now, earlier this morning, the court appointed mediator, Bill Eddins, came before the cameras to say that indeed, a settlement had been reached, and that the case would not have to be retried.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL EDDINS, MEDIATOR: We had a mediation yesterday that resulted in a resolution of the case. We have had a meeting late yesterday with Judge Bell and have reported the resolution to him, discussed the matter, and Judge Bell instructed me to have a press conference this morning on behalf of myself and the other attorneys to announce that a resolution had occurred.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POTTER: Now, two months ago if you recall, the boys were convicted of second degree murder without a weapon and arson for the beating death of their father. But ultimately, that verdict was thrown out by the judge, who said they did not get a fair trial. Mediation was ordered, and as the mediator said, that wound up yesterday.
Here's what we're anticipating will happen in court, starting at 1:00 p.m. Central Time here in Pensacola, 2:00 p.m. Eastern. The boys, their attorneys, the prosecutor, most likely the mediator, and family members will appear in court with Judge Bell. It will be an open court proceeding. Cameras will be there, and we hope to be able to bring that to you live.
The boys, likely, will enter a plea to an agreed-upon charge. The judge will question them to make sure that this is, indeed, what they want to do, and if he's satisfied of that, he'll then impose the agreed-upon sentence. We, again, don't know exactly what's going to happen, but the expectation here is that the boys will remain in custody for some considerable period of time.
Now, an interesting twist is that their mother, Kelly Marino, who years ago gave the boys up for foster care, has now resurfaced. She did during the trial, and she has expressed her displeasure with the idea of her sons confessing to a crime that could lead to their incarceration. Her interest seems to be in retrying the case. But all indications are that that is not the way it's going to go. There has been a settlement. And in a few hours, we will learn the details.
Leon, back to you.
HARRIS: Thanks, Mark. Mark Potter, reporting live from Pensacola, Florida.
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 November 14, 2002 - 11:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: An important announcement today on the fate of two Florida boys convicted of killing their father. A deal is expected to lead to a resolution in the case of Alex and Derek King.
For more on that now, let's go to CNN's Mark Potter, who's standing by in Pensacola, Florida.
MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After court-ordered mediation between the defense attorneys and the prosecutors, we're told that an agreement has been reached on the fate of Alex and Derek King, ages 13 and 14, who are accused of beating their father to death last year. We don't know officially what that agreement is, but we're expecting to find out in about three hours, when the settlement is to be unveiled before a Judge Frank Bell in the courthouse behind me.
Now, earlier this morning, the court appointed mediator, Bill Eddins, came before the cameras to say that indeed, a settlement had been reached, and that the case would not have to be retried.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL EDDINS, MEDIATOR: We had a mediation yesterday that resulted in a resolution of the case. We have had a meeting late yesterday with Judge Bell and have reported the resolution to him, discussed the matter, and Judge Bell instructed me to have a press conference this morning on behalf of myself and the other attorneys to announce that a resolution had occurred.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POTTER: Now, two months ago if you recall, the boys were convicted of second degree murder without a weapon and arson for the beating death of their father. But ultimately, that verdict was thrown out by the judge, who said they did not get a fair trial. Mediation was ordered, and as the mediator said, that wound up yesterday.
Here's what we're anticipating will happen in court, starting at 1:00 p.m. Central Time here in Pensacola, 2:00 p.m. Eastern. The boys, their attorneys, the prosecutor, most likely the mediator, and family members will appear in court with Judge Bell. It will be an open court proceeding. Cameras will be there, and we hope to be able to bring that to you live.
The boys, likely, will enter a plea to an agreed-upon charge. The judge will question them to make sure that this is, indeed, what they want to do, and if he's satisfied of that, he'll then impose the agreed-upon sentence. We, again, don't know exactly what's going to happen, but the expectation here is that the boys will remain in custody for some considerable period of time.
Now, an interesting twist is that their mother, Kelly Marino, who years ago gave the boys up for foster care, has now resurfaced. She did during the trial, and she has expressed her displeasure with the idea of her sons confessing to a crime that could lead to their incarceration. Her interest seems to be in retrying the case. But all indications are that that is not the way it's going to go. There has been a settlement. And in a few hours, we will learn the details.
Leon, back to you.
HARRIS: Thanks, Mark. Mark Potter, reporting live from Pensacola, Florida.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
