Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
In Chicago, Outgoing Governor Plans to Let Some Death Row Inmates Out
Aired January 10, 2003 - 05:16 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: And we turn now to Chicago, where the outgoing governor plans to let some death row inmates out of prison. Governor George Ryan plans to pardon four death row inmates today. All four are part of the so-called Burge 10, 10 death row inmates who say their confessions were tortured out of them by police under the command of Chicago Police Commissioner John Burge.
Burge was fired after an internal police investigation found evidence of physical abuse of suspects. Governor Ryan will announce the pardons in a speech this afternoon, by the way. It caps his three year campaign to highlight flaws in the state's capital punishment system.
CNN's Jeff Flock has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. GEORGE RYAN (R), ILLINOIS: This morning I pardoned Paula Gray (ph) based on innocence.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a scene like this one from last month, Illinois Governor George Ryan today or tomorrow could erase dozens of names from death row here at the state prison in Pontiac. Ryan is considering pardoning and releasing some death row inmates or changing their death sentences to life in prison.
(on camera): If you don't, when you leave office, you could be their last hope.
RYAN: Well, no, there's still another governor that's going to be here.
FLOCK (voice-over): But no one is likely to put the system under a microscope like Ryan, who halted Illinois executions, had unprecedented mass clemency hearings and has been studying these briefing books on every death row case, looking for anyone who might be innocent.
MARY JO BERKERY, VICTIM'S SISTER: If he chooses to even commute one of these sentences, I truly hope that all the souls of the murder victims haunt him the rest of the days of his life.
FLOCK: Among those being considered for clemency, Aaron Patterson, who admitted to stabbing an elderly couple 34 times then scrawled with a paper clip under a police station bench, "I lied, suffocated with plastic bag." CNN has learned Ryan's team has inquired where Patterson may go to work if he's released. Also under consideration, Madison Hobley, who says he, too, was tortured into confessing to killing seven people in an arson fire. Leroy Orange claims police used electric shock torture on him to get him to admit to a bludgeoning he didn't do.
(on camera): Commuting your sentence to life, that's not what you're looking for, is that right?
LEROY ORANGE, DEATH ROW INMATE: It's what I'll settle for, though, so I can stay alive to fight the case.
FLOCK (voice-over): Ron Kliner, also on the possible list, doesn't want his sentence commuted from death to life. He told me in a phone interview from death row that he is innocent and should be free.
RON KLINER, DEATH ROW INMATE: We do not want a life sentence. I do not want a life sentence for something I didn't do.
FLOCK (on camera): Ron Kliner tells us the atmosphere on death row right now is tense with rumors flying about who might get clemency. The incoming governor says he will keep the ban on executions for now, but most believe if they are ever to get off death row, Governor Ryan is their best hope.
I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, in Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And in addition to Patterson, Hobley and Orange, the governor is expected to pardon Stanley Howard. All four men claim Chicago police tortured them into making confessions.
And CNN's Jeff Flock will be following this story throughout the day. Tune in next hour for his wake up call on the death penalty pardons.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Inmates Out>
Aired January 10, 2003 - 05:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And we turn now to Chicago, where the outgoing governor plans to let some death row inmates out of prison. Governor George Ryan plans to pardon four death row inmates today. All four are part of the so-called Burge 10, 10 death row inmates who say their confessions were tortured out of them by police under the command of Chicago Police Commissioner John Burge.
Burge was fired after an internal police investigation found evidence of physical abuse of suspects. Governor Ryan will announce the pardons in a speech this afternoon, by the way. It caps his three year campaign to highlight flaws in the state's capital punishment system.
CNN's Jeff Flock has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. GEORGE RYAN (R), ILLINOIS: This morning I pardoned Paula Gray (ph) based on innocence.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a scene like this one from last month, Illinois Governor George Ryan today or tomorrow could erase dozens of names from death row here at the state prison in Pontiac. Ryan is considering pardoning and releasing some death row inmates or changing their death sentences to life in prison.
(on camera): If you don't, when you leave office, you could be their last hope.
RYAN: Well, no, there's still another governor that's going to be here.
FLOCK (voice-over): But no one is likely to put the system under a microscope like Ryan, who halted Illinois executions, had unprecedented mass clemency hearings and has been studying these briefing books on every death row case, looking for anyone who might be innocent.
MARY JO BERKERY, VICTIM'S SISTER: If he chooses to even commute one of these sentences, I truly hope that all the souls of the murder victims haunt him the rest of the days of his life.
FLOCK: Among those being considered for clemency, Aaron Patterson, who admitted to stabbing an elderly couple 34 times then scrawled with a paper clip under a police station bench, "I lied, suffocated with plastic bag." CNN has learned Ryan's team has inquired where Patterson may go to work if he's released. Also under consideration, Madison Hobley, who says he, too, was tortured into confessing to killing seven people in an arson fire. Leroy Orange claims police used electric shock torture on him to get him to admit to a bludgeoning he didn't do.
(on camera): Commuting your sentence to life, that's not what you're looking for, is that right?
LEROY ORANGE, DEATH ROW INMATE: It's what I'll settle for, though, so I can stay alive to fight the case.
FLOCK (voice-over): Ron Kliner, also on the possible list, doesn't want his sentence commuted from death to life. He told me in a phone interview from death row that he is innocent and should be free.
RON KLINER, DEATH ROW INMATE: We do not want a life sentence. I do not want a life sentence for something I didn't do.
FLOCK (on camera): Ron Kliner tells us the atmosphere on death row right now is tense with rumors flying about who might get clemency. The incoming governor says he will keep the ban on executions for now, but most believe if they are ever to get off death row, Governor Ryan is their best hope.
I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, in Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And in addition to Patterson, Hobley and Orange, the governor is expected to pardon Stanley Howard. All four men claim Chicago police tortured them into making confessions.
And CNN's Jeff Flock will be following this story throughout the day. Tune in next hour for his wake up call on the death penalty pardons.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Inmates Out>
