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American Morning
Grand Jury Will Resume Hearing Testimony About Nightclub Fire
Aired February 27, 2003 - 08:36 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to move to Rhode Island today. A grand jury will resume hearing testimony about the nightclub fire that killed 97 people. The grand jury started work yesterday behind closed doors. One important issue, whether the rock band, Great White, actually had permission to use the pyrotechnics that are being blamed for starting the fire.
Brian Cabell joins us from West Warwick, Rhode Island with more.
Good morning, Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
It was exactly a week ago today that The Station nightclub across the street from me was getting ready for a big concert. Three bands were to play, $15 tickets, and about 300 people, perhaps more, were getting ready to attend. Of course around 11:00 at night, the fire started, and within minutes, the entire building was consumed and what you have behind me now is a crime scene. The grand jury is getting ready for its second day of proceedings. That's about five miles from here, the National Guard complex, about 23 people, we understand, compromise that grand jury. The band Great White attended yesterday. They went to the National Guard complex, but apparently did not testify. They didn't say anything inside, and they had very little to say outside as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK RUSSELL, LEAD SINGER, GREAT WHITE: The most horrible experience of my life, man. The most horrible experience of my life, you know. That's all -- there's nothing else I can say.
MARK KENDRELL, GUITARIST, GREAT WHITE: I've had a little time to grieve at home. I don't feel like I've grieved properly yet, because it seems to be going so fast, but when I get home, I'm going to be praying with my pastor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABELL: Will they testify today? That's uncertain. They may testify today, and maybe sometime in the next couple of days.
As for the Derderian brothers, the ones who own the club behind me, they have not been subpoenaed yet, they have not been cooperating, according to the state attorney general. Their attorney says there's a very good reason for that. He says he thinks they are a target in this investigation -- Paula. ZAHN: Brian Cabell, thanks for the update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Fire>
Aired February 27, 2003 - 08:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to move to Rhode Island today. A grand jury will resume hearing testimony about the nightclub fire that killed 97 people. The grand jury started work yesterday behind closed doors. One important issue, whether the rock band, Great White, actually had permission to use the pyrotechnics that are being blamed for starting the fire.
Brian Cabell joins us from West Warwick, Rhode Island with more.
Good morning, Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
It was exactly a week ago today that The Station nightclub across the street from me was getting ready for a big concert. Three bands were to play, $15 tickets, and about 300 people, perhaps more, were getting ready to attend. Of course around 11:00 at night, the fire started, and within minutes, the entire building was consumed and what you have behind me now is a crime scene. The grand jury is getting ready for its second day of proceedings. That's about five miles from here, the National Guard complex, about 23 people, we understand, compromise that grand jury. The band Great White attended yesterday. They went to the National Guard complex, but apparently did not testify. They didn't say anything inside, and they had very little to say outside as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK RUSSELL, LEAD SINGER, GREAT WHITE: The most horrible experience of my life, man. The most horrible experience of my life, you know. That's all -- there's nothing else I can say.
MARK KENDRELL, GUITARIST, GREAT WHITE: I've had a little time to grieve at home. I don't feel like I've grieved properly yet, because it seems to be going so fast, but when I get home, I'm going to be praying with my pastor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABELL: Will they testify today? That's uncertain. They may testify today, and maybe sometime in the next couple of days.
As for the Derderian brothers, the ones who own the club behind me, they have not been subpoenaed yet, they have not been cooperating, according to the state attorney general. Their attorney says there's a very good reason for that. He says he thinks they are a target in this investigation -- Paula. ZAHN: Brian Cabell, thanks for the update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Fire>
