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CNN Live At Daybreak

Charges in Central Park Jogger Case Could Be Thrown Out

Aired December 09, 2002 - 06:25   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The charges for the five suspects in the 1989 New York Central Park jogger rape case could be thrown out today.
Legal Grounds CNN legal analyst Kendall Coffey joins us this morning for an in depth look at what happened -- good morning, Kendall.

KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: How could something like this happen?

COFFEY: Well, the key thing in something like this is that somebody finally stepped forward and confessions from people who are going to be in prison a long time anyway are not as uncommon as you might think. That's why it's been very, very carefully examined.

But this time the individual who confessed, Reyes, had so many specifics that really fit the actual details of the crime and...

COSTELLO: Oh, and what an ugly story it is.

Will they really throw out the convictions of the group of teenagers in jail for the brutal rape of the Central Park jogger?

COFFEY: Well, ironically, all five have finished serving the prison sentences that they originally received for the crime. That doesn't mean there won't be dramatic results if these convictions are reversed. And given the 58 page analysis filed by the district attorney's office, I think it's a certainty that the judge is going to throw out the convictions.

COSTELLO: The victim in this case, does she have any rights? Because I know that she has lasting health complications from this beating.

COFFEY: Well, in the sense that victims cannot determine whether or not this conviction will be thrown out or whether the prosecution can ask for them to be thrown out, no. But prosecutors consult very, very closely with victims, especially in something as momentous as this, and I'm sure that that consultation occurred.

Up to now, she's anonymous, but we may know her identity and her views on this if, indeed, as has been reported, her book comes out in April.

COSTELLO: Oh, it should be interesting. Kendall Coffey, thanks.

We appreciate your insight this morning.

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 December 9, 2002 - 06:25   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The charges for the five suspects in the 1989 New York Central Park jogger rape case could be thrown out today.
Legal Grounds CNN legal analyst Kendall Coffey joins us this morning for an in depth look at what happened -- good morning, Kendall.

KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: How could something like this happen?

COFFEY: Well, the key thing in something like this is that somebody finally stepped forward and confessions from people who are going to be in prison a long time anyway are not as uncommon as you might think. That's why it's been very, very carefully examined.

But this time the individual who confessed, Reyes, had so many specifics that really fit the actual details of the crime and...

COSTELLO: Oh, and what an ugly story it is.

Will they really throw out the convictions of the group of teenagers in jail for the brutal rape of the Central Park jogger?

COFFEY: Well, ironically, all five have finished serving the prison sentences that they originally received for the crime. That doesn't mean there won't be dramatic results if these convictions are reversed. And given the 58 page analysis filed by the district attorney's office, I think it's a certainty that the judge is going to throw out the convictions.

COSTELLO: The victim in this case, does she have any rights? Because I know that she has lasting health complications from this beating.

COFFEY: Well, in the sense that victims cannot determine whether or not this conviction will be thrown out or whether the prosecution can ask for them to be thrown out, no. But prosecutors consult very, very closely with victims, especially in something as momentous as this, and I'm sure that that consultation occurred.

Up to now, she's anonymous, but we may know her identity and her views on this if, indeed, as has been reported, her book comes out in April.

COSTELLO: Oh, it should be interesting. Kendall Coffey, thanks.

We appreciate your insight this morning.

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