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Shoe Bomber Case Sentencing Hearing

Aired January 30, 2003 - 10:13   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A few hours from now, admitted shoe bomber Richard Reid is expected to sentence for trying to blow up an American jetliner. Prosecutors are pushing for a life sentence, but defense lawyers are looking to delay the judge's decisions on some of the charges.
CNN's Justice correspondent Kelli Arena is there, where today's sentencing is scheduled to take place -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, there is some last-minute maneuvering going on right. We're waiting for the judge to decide whether or not he will grant a postponement of sentencing on all, but one of the charges against Reid. The defense lawyers argue that they want certain classified information declassified before sentencing commences. The government says that the classified information is actually peripheral to the case and would delay this indefinitely and jeopardize Richard Reid's representation by the same lawyers, and may even mean a new judge presiding over sentencing, and they say that that would not be a good thing for any of the parties involved.

The sentencing is supposed to go forward at 2:00, if that request by the defense lawyers is rejected. Reid faces 60 years minimum in prison, or life in prison without parole. If you remember, he did plead guilty back in October. He pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda leader Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in open court, and the government contends that he is simply too dangerous to enter society again.

Back to you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Thanks very much, Kelli Arena from Boston.

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 January 30, 2003 - 10:13   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A few hours from now, admitted shoe bomber Richard Reid is expected to sentence for trying to blow up an American jetliner. Prosecutors are pushing for a life sentence, but defense lawyers are looking to delay the judge's decisions on some of the charges.
CNN's Justice correspondent Kelli Arena is there, where today's sentencing is scheduled to take place -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, there is some last-minute maneuvering going on right. We're waiting for the judge to decide whether or not he will grant a postponement of sentencing on all, but one of the charges against Reid. The defense lawyers argue that they want certain classified information declassified before sentencing commences. The government says that the classified information is actually peripheral to the case and would delay this indefinitely and jeopardize Richard Reid's representation by the same lawyers, and may even mean a new judge presiding over sentencing, and they say that that would not be a good thing for any of the parties involved.

The sentencing is supposed to go forward at 2:00, if that request by the defense lawyers is rejected. Reid faces 60 years minimum in prison, or life in prison without parole. If you remember, he did plead guilty back in October. He pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda leader Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in open court, and the government contends that he is simply too dangerous to enter society again.

Back to you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Thanks very much, Kelli Arena from Boston.

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