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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

DNA Match Puts Police on Trail of Suspected Serial Killer; Scott Peterson Appears in Court; Another Deadly Ambush in Iraq

Aired May 27, 2003 - 17:00   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.


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, HOST (voice-over): Manhunt: A DNA match puts police on the trail of a suspected serial killer.

Where is he now?

The victims' families want your help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the lookout, look at that photo, pay attention, get a license number, call it in 9-1-1 right away.

BLITZER: Accused of murdering his wife and unborn son, Scott Peterson appears in court.

Should the public also be allowed to see the autopsy reports?

Another deadly ambush in Iraq, but new equipment is bringing U.S. troops some battlefield miracles.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are surviving injuries that they shouldn't have survived.

BLITZER: And new risks for women.

Is there one more reason to think twice about hormone replacement?

We'll tell you about the latest research.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS live from the nations capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.

BLITZER: It's Tuesday, May 27, 2003. Hello from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.

We begin with a serial killer still at large. The search for a man suspected in at least five killings focusing on Atlanta. Investigators say Derrick Todd Lee was spotted there as recently as yesterday.

CNN investigative correspondent Art Harris is following this shocking story from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, home of four of those victims. Give us the latest -- Art.

ART HARRIS, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, police here at task force headquarters are concerned that stress could trigger more violence in the suspect and are urging the public to come forward with any information that could lead them to Derrick Todd Lee.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS (voice-over): Derrick Todd Lee, an accused serial killer, police say may be the key town locking the mysteries of other unsolved murders from Baton Rouge to Atlanta.

KEENAN VERNON, GBI DIRECTOR: GBI DNA unit is taking all their cases that have not been submitted to the national database and we're comparing those with the information we've got from Louisiana to see if any of the -- if any Mr. Lee's DNA matches any of the Georgia cases.

HARRIS: Lee disappeared, police believe shortly after they took samples of his DNA. Police say the state crime lab has linked it to five women killed over the last two years. The victims were either strangled, stabbed or beaten to death. All were raped, say police. Lee is described as polite. Someone able to charm his way into the home of a stranger. And that's how police say he did it.

LYNNE MARINO, MOTHER OF PAM KINAMORE: When I see that horrible face and I think of what that animal has done to at least five women, you know, we feel there are more than that, that's very difficult to deal with.

HARRIS: Lee is 34 years old, married with two young children and worked in construction. And investigators say, has unique DNA markers. So unique there's a one in four trillion chance it is anyone other than Lee.

EDWARD PIGLIA, BROTHER OF PAM KINAMORE: It closes one door and opens others. We have to deal with the trial eventually, the details. But we're prepared to do that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Authorities meet with Lee's mother here of Baton Rouge today, and say she wants her son to turn himself in -- Wolf.

BLITZER: So Art, they think he's in Atlanta.

What do they think he's doing there at least at this time?

HARRIS: Wolf, he worked construction and drove a truck here. They believe he may be working day labor jobs, trying to blend into the big city and earn a little extra cash. Back to you.

BLITZER: All right. Art Harris with the latest in Baton Rouge. Art We be standing by with more information. Thank you.

And if you have any information that you think might help police find this man, you are asked to call the task force hot line. This is the number, 1-866-389-3310. You can also call the FBI directly in Atlanta, that number, 404-679-9000.

Four of the five victims lived in the Baton Rouge area and although they varied in age and race, a local newspaper reporter who's been covering the story says there were some similarities.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSH NOEI, REPORTER, "THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE": The other common factors is that they were all really ambitious and smart women who were educated and middle class and had comfortable lifestyles.

BLITZER (voice-over): 41-year-old Gina Green is believed to be the first victim although police are looking at earlier cases that may be linked. Green was found strangled near the Louisiana State University campus in September 2001. In May 2002, the body of 22- year-old Charlotte Pace was found in her home near LSU. Two months later, 44-year-old Pam Kinamore was found 30 miles from Baton Rouge. 23-year-old Trinneisha Colomb was found in a wooded area in November. And the most recent victim, 26-year-old Carrie Yoder was found in March outside Baton Rouge.

NOEI: They're all attractive. They all had big smiles. A lot of similar personality traits and life the party kind of thing and that could also be coincidental.

BLITZER: DNA links Lee to all five killings, even though an FBI profile said the killer likely was white.

PIGLIA: We were told by many experts that when the victims are of multi -- of different races that generally it's not a Caucasian. So we questioned that back in December.

BLITZER: Five women, five violent deaths and five families seeking justice, hoping they're one step closer now that a suspect's been named.

MARINO: I talked to Anne Pace (ph), that's the mother of Maury Pace (ph) and a few of the other family members interviewed and they feel relief too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: For insight into the manhunt, I am joined now from Houston by former FBI Agent, Don Clark. Thank you very much for joining us.

Everyone in the country has seen his face now help how hard it will be to find this suspect?

DON CLARK, FORMER FBI AGENT: Well, they've still got a lot of work to be done, Wolf. And they've done a good job of getting through the DNA process and getting to this point in the investigation. Now the key is to find him. And they're going to have to, again, pull out one of the tools and one of the tools that will be key is exactly what we're doing right here is on the media and keep his face out in the public because somebody will eventually identify this person.

BLITZER: How dangerous of a person is he apparently right now?

We heard Art Harris say that given the pressure is on him, he could strike out even at this moment.

CLARK: You know, what, Wolf, that is exactly what law enforcement agents fear, that the person doing these types of crimes could be certainly become really disturbed and commit another crime. We went through the same thing in Texas with the rail car killer. And we were concern heed could commit another crime before we could catch him. But none the less, I think you've got to go with the risk of trying to get the information throughout. And hope to that you can get your hands on him before he does another crime because he is truly dangerous.

BLITZER: Perhaps one of our viewers might have spotted this individual.

What should they do besides certainly picking up the phone and calling the FBI, local law enforcement, that task force number?

Should they try to engage this individual in any kind of way?

That sounds pretty risky.

CLARK: Yes, it is very risky, Wolf.

And I would recommend and I think many law enforcement people would agree with me is that private citizens should not take that risk. If I they have the phones to call. They can perhaps look at things, such as cars, clothing that they are wearing, even a vehicle if they are driving and get the license tag. Take down all of that pertinent information. But remember, there is some evidence to suggest that this person has already killed five people that we know and you don't want to be adding to that list.

BLITZER: We heard Art Harris say the police have been speaking with his mother, presumably, other relatives.

Is there a way to negotiate his surrender, to get him to simply give up?

CLARK: Wolf, you maybe make a very good point and it is and it can be negotiated too. Again, I go back to the rail car killing and other crimes that we've been involved in Texas in my active time, and yes, you use any negotiating tool that's possible. If you do have a parent or relative that's cooperating with you, I suggest they use that and I think they probably are.

BLITZER: The local law enforcement in Louisiana, they're suggesting, now -- they're reviewing a whole bunch of other cases, unsolved cases, women who have been missing or dead to see if there may be a connection.

How are they going to go about seeing if there are more than five victims in this particular serial killer spree?

CLARK: Well, I think that they're going to be a lot of people in that department getting in touch with other departments. And I also think, Wolf, that has not been a case that's been closely held. It's been in the media and it's been out there. And I suspect that law enforcement agencies that follow a case like this and they will be calling the Baton Rouge people of the task force and trying to find out if they can get samples of this so that they can work with them to compare with any murders that they have.

BLITZER: All right. Let's hope one of our viewers spots this individual, calls the FBI or the law enforcement task force. We've put that number up on the screen.

Don Clark, as usual, thank you very much for your expertise.

BLITZER: Scott Peterson is playing defense.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S LAWYER: It's our fervent hope to find the actual perpetrators, whoever did this to Laci and baby Conner.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: His lawyers planting seeds of doubt. Who will he blame for the murders?

Plus, reefer madness: Canada moves to legalize the green stuff. Will it open the floodgates on this side of the border?

And important medical news that impacts millions of women. Find out what hormone replacement may do to your mind. There's new information that is just being released right now and it's not very pretty. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Accused of killing his pregnant wife and unborn son, Scott Peterson's fighting for a fair trial. But will hid defense drag his mistress among others through the mud? A closer look when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There's been another twist in the many twists and turns in the mystery over who killed Laci Peterson and her unborn son. The latest developments at a pretrial hearing earlier today in Modesto, California.

The judge overseeing the murder case this afternoon ordered the launch of telephone calls made by Laci Peterson's husband Scott be turned over to his new defense attorney. CNN's Elaine Quijano is in Modesto and she has much more -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Wolf.

Well today's hearing had the potential to play out in rather dramatic fashion before the cameras and before the public. Instead much of that hearing actually took place out of earshot, out of public view in the judge's chambers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO (voice-over): Scott Peterson entered Stanislaus County Superior Court sporting a short new haircut and none of the blond highlights from previous weeks. This was supposed to be a pretrial hearing in open court to discuss, among other things, whether to unseal search warrants and autopsy results on Laci Peterson and her unborn son Connor.

But shortly after the proceeding started, the hearing moved behind closed doors. A prosecution request to discuss 69 intercepted phone conversations between Scott Peterson and his defense team. When they emerged the judge made no decision on unsealing those documents. Instead, he ordered prosecutors to give Scott Peterson's attorneys any information related to the intercepted phone calls. At issue, whether they were confidential under attorney-client privilege.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: None of the prosecution is interested in actually getting privileged phone conversations. Our office was very quick to tell law enforcement to seal those to and not provide it to our attorneys. And you know we're interested in what's evidence. Something that goes on show somebody's guilty or innocent.

QUIJANO: For now the defense says it's not sure what its next move will be.

MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Once we've seen exactly what was taped, then we'll file whatever appropriate motions. Until we see what's there, we really don't know what we're going to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: What happens now? Well there are a couple of big dates on the calendar. One of those is July 9. That is when a hearing will take place to help decide whether or not cameras should be continued to be allowed in the courtroom.

The big date really is on July 16. That's when a preliminary hearing is set to take place. In essence, the prosecution will have a chance to layout more of its case, more of the details of it's case. The defense also says at that time that is when any discussions regarding change of venue might take place -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Elaine Quijano for us in Modesto. Thanks, Elaine, very much.

Let's get a little bit more insight into this case. Jeffrey Toobin, our legal analyst is joining us now live from New York. July 9 for this next preliminary hearing, but the actual pretrial hearing, the evidence showing hearing July 16. Does that mean the prosecution's not going to go with this grand jury strategy that some have mooted?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: That's right. One thing that's clear after today is that the prosecution is going to go forward in a preliminary hearing which is the usual way cases proceed in California, which is sort of a mini trial, where the government puts on enough evidence so that a judge can find that there is probable cause that the defendant committed the charged defenses.

The government never loses these preliminary hearings. It is essentially a formality. But it is an opportunity for the defense to test some of the prosecution's evidence, to see where some weaknesses might be in the case. That is what's going on happen when this preliminary hearing takes place. But certainly there is no chance this case is to be thrown out at that point.

BLITZER: But they haven't resolved the issue of venue, where this trial should actually take place yet. That's still up in the air.

TOOBIN: That is very much up in the air. And count me highly skeptical that this preliminary hearing will actually take place on July 16. These things are often delayed, especially complex in high- profile cases like. I would be surprised if this hearing actually did take place on July 16. There's a lot of evidence.

Remember, we've seen the police still looking for evidence in San Francisco Bay, just as early as you know a couple of days ago. That evidence all has to be analyzed and then turned over. You're not going to see a complete set of evidence available to both sides by July, for sure.

BLITZER: The ostensible reason for the hearing earlier today was to see if they would release the autopsy report, the search warrants, the documents. That hasn't been resolved definitely yet either, has it?

TOOBIN: What a surprise. The California judicial system decides on a little delay. This is how things work in California.

It seems that the judge is proceeding cautiously. He can always disclose the material later, but he went in chambers with the lawyers, listened to what they had to say, heard them make arguments based on the evidence itself arguing that it should remain secret even though he heard a very, I thought, persuasive, good argument from a newspaper lawyer.

The cautious course was to keep it secret for now. He can always decide to release it later.

BLITZER: What about Amber Frey, the woman, the mistress, acknowledged in this particular case? We see Mark Geragos coming out and sources close to the defense attorneys suggesting there could be something sinister going on here. What's that all about? TOOBIN: Well, it is important to say in fairness to Amber Frye that the police have completely ruled her out as a suspect in the murder. She is an important witness. It is acknowledged he was having an affair with her. That could be a motive for murder. So she is likely to be an important witness at least at the trial and perhaps also in the preliminary hearing.

But as for dark insinuations about the prosecution's case, I think in fairness, it's really important just to see what evidence comes out in court rather than sort of the suspicions that are cast by the defense, perhaps with no basis at all.

BLITZER: Finally, Jeffrey, whenever we see Mark Geragos come out to the microphones at those news conferences after these hearings, he is almost always joined by Scott Peterson's mother, the family. And he's always asking the public for help, for tips trying to raise this notion that the killer or killers are still at large. I assume that's a pretty good defense strategy.

TOOBIN: It's all a part of the process. And this is certainly fair game, of saying to the public, look, Scott Peterson's a human being, too. He's got a mother, he's got a father. They support him, they believe in his innocence.

And the defense strategy -- it's a rather bold one, we'll see if they can back it up -- is that we looking for the real killer. We want the public's help in getting evidence that someone else did it. Whether they come up with anything is another story.

It's a risk because if because if the day comes when this case goes to trial and they have nothing to show for it, that's going to be worse than if they'd said nothing at all.

BLITZER: All right, Jeffrey Toobin always providing us excellent legal analysis. Thanks, Jeffrey, very much.

And if you have questions about the Laci Peterson case, e-mail them to us at wolf@cnn.com. I'll be joined tomorrow at noon Eastern by a panel to discuss the case. They'll also try to answer some of your questions. Noon Eastern, 9:00 a.m. Pacific.

When we come back, we'll go north of the border where marijuana soon might be legal as long as the U.S. government doesn't have anything to say about that.

And then, a very lethal 24 hours for U.S. troops in Iraq. Two killed, many others wounded. Is there a way to make sure the troops stay alive?

Plus, what some think of as a lifesaver for millions of women, may be just the opposite. New information about hormone replacement therapy that could save your life.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Welcome back.

It's not at all unusual for Canadian police to turn a blind eye to those who light a joint. Things may get even easier if parliament passes a measure presented today aimed at easing Canada's marijuana laws. And that prospect has some U.S. officials hopping mad.

Ioanna Roumeliotis of CBC Canada has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IOANNA ROUMELIOTIS, CBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a pothead's paradise: a marijuana friendly cafe in Vancouver. On the menu: munchies. And in the smoking room, the freedom to puff on weed until hunger strikes.

To so-called reefer refugees from south of the border, it's also civilized.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's just really nice to be able to go some where and things be relaxed and not have to stress out about having a puff when you need it or want it.

ROUMELIOTIS: Hundreds of Americans are said to take advantage of Canada's relatively lax rules on smoking pot, and those are just the ones Tim Meehan knows about. A marijuana rights activist, he also runs a Web site, one that informs Americans on the virtues of what he calls the "True North."

TIM MEEHAN, MARIJUANA RIGHTS ACTIVIST: True North's strong and free in the real sense. You're allowed to do what you want as long as you're not bothering any one else.

ROUMELIOTIS: It's exactly the kind of cross-border trade American drug officials want to butt out. Marijuana has become a major sticking point in U.S.-Canadian relations and as Canada moves to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, the U.S.'s top drug policy official warns the strain could get even worse.

JOHN WALTERS, DIRECTOR, U.S. OFFICE OF NATL. DRUG CONTROL POLICY: The problem is the growth of this market is largely a market poisoning not only Canadians, but mostly Americans.

ROUMELIOTIS: But cutting pot consumption in the U.S., American officials say, is impossible without Canada's help.

Beyond the drug tourists, U.S. officials say marijuana is becoming a bigger problem on the border with estimates Canada exports anywhere between 5 and $9 billion worth of pot into the U.S. each year.

The fear is laxer rules will make marijuana more available in Canada and lead to even more smuggling. Canadian officials have already assured Washington the new legislation will crack down on cultivators and smugglers. That's all good, says the U.S., until it happens. But until it does, it warns this is what Canadians and Canadian goods will face more of at borders. The kind of restrictions drugs led to on the U.S.-Mexican border.

WALTERS: We don't want the border in Ontario and Detroit -- Windsor/Detroit -- we don't want the border in parts of our western states to begin to look like that.

ROUMELIOTIS: This drug policy analyst says it's not likely Washington will make good on its threats.

SANHO TREE, INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES: Particularly in this kind of economy we simply can't afford to do any thing more that will strangle the United States' economy.

ROUMELIOTIS: So it may just be a war of words for now. But if the U.S. is intent on waging a war on drugs, it won't be long before it's clear where there's smoke, there is fire.

Ioanna Roumeliotis, CBC News, Toronto.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: President Bush turns his sights on Iran while U.S. troops spend a bloody 24 hours in Iraq.

Plus, surviving the battlefield. New equipment and training that saves lives on the front lines.

And hormone replacement therapy -- does it mess with women's minds? Our Elizabeth Cohen has late-breaking medical news.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour: WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world.

Here now is Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN.

Iran in the crosshairs. Will U.S. pressure help or hurt the chances for reform there? We'll go live to the White House. Our John King is standing by. He has information.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: The Bush administration is keeping a close eye on Iran. Concerns range from Tehran's dealings with al Qaeda to its nuclear program, to what the United States sees as meddling in Iraq. Let's go live to our senior White House correspondent, John King. What's the latest on Iran, John? JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, officials stress the president has made no big decisions and they say here at the White House there is no change in policy, but there are some in the administration who believe that this administration should be much more aggressive in encouraging political opposition, efforts within Iran to overthrow the government.

Now, this is in sharp contrast, think back to the beginning of this administration and back to the Clinton administration, when many thought that President Khatami was a reformer and that the United States might ultimately do business with him.

Now, the administration is saying that, as you noted, that there is evidence that Iran is harboring al Qaeda terrorists. There is evidence the United States says that Iraq's nuclear program is not peaceful as Tehran insists, but is designed to develop nuclear weapons. And Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld yet again saying today that he sees evidence that Iran is trying to meddle in post-war Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Indeed, Iran should be on notice that efforts to try to remake Iraq in Iran's image will be aggressively put down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, officials here stress again no decision's made, but certainly there's a bit of a tug-of-war, Wolf, within the administration between those who believe to give President Khatami more time to perhaps quiet the rhetoric and see if he will do more, especially when it comes to cracking down on al Qaeda within Iran. There are others who say he's been president long enough and that there is no evidence that he will work with the United States, and that the United States should encourage students and others within Iran who might rise up and demand a new government -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John, as you know, the president has his hands full with al Qaeda, Afghanistan, Iraq, the situation with Iran, but he now wants to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well. What's he planning on doing in the coming days?

KING: He is planning, Wolf, one week from today to make the most dramatic personal investment in Middle East diplomacy that we have seen in the Bush administration. CNN is told that the president is making plans to travel first to the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. There, he will meet with key Arab leaders to try to get them to assist the reform process within the Palestinian Authority and to recognize, eventually recognize Israel, to encourage a peace process.

After stopping in Sharm el Sheikh, the president will travel on to Jordan, where he will have a dramatic three-way summit. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel, Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Bush personally getting involved in his effort to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Officials here stress all this could change because of security concerns, because of the potential for violence and other developments in the region. But on week from today, look for President Bush to be getting personally involved with stops in Egypt and Jordan, trying to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

BLITZER: And CNN, of course, will have extensive coverage. John King at the White House. Thanks, John, very much.

Here's your chance to weigh in on the story involving the debate over what to do as far as Iran is concerned. Our Web question of the day is this: Should the U.S. pursue regime change in Iran? We'll have the results later in this broadcast. You can vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. It's also where you can read my daily online column, once again, cnn.com/wolf.

Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld suggested today that Iraq may have gotten rid of its weapons of mass destruction before the U.S.-led invasion. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, Rumsfeld said he did not know why Iraq did not use chemical or biological weapons, saying the speedy U.S. advance may have caught the Iraqis by surprise. He add, and I'm quoting now, "it is also possible that they decided they would destroy them prior to a conflict."

Rumsfeld said there are still hundreds of suspected weapons sites in Iraq left to investigate.

U.N. nuclear inspectors will be going back to Iraq, but not to hunt for weapons programs. The IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the inspectors from that group will instead try to account for radioactive material at the sprawling Tuwaitha (ph) complex. The material was put under seal a decade ago, but much of it is said to have disappeared in the looting which followed the collapse of the Iraqi regime.

Zawad Amir's (ph) neighbors have welcomed him back to their village south of Baghdad. They hadn't seen him, for, get this, two decades, but he never left. Instead, he spent the entire time in a tiny hiding place between two walls in his parent's home. A radio and a peephole kept him in touch with the outside world. Amir (ph) was a young devote of an outspoken Shiite critic when Saddam Hussein's regime issued an order for his execution. Only after the regime collapsed did he dare leave his hideout.

Two American soldiers were killed and nine others wounded today in an attack at Fallujah west of Baghdad. That area is a hotbed of support for the former regime of Saddam Hussein, but there's been stepped up violence across the country. More now from CNN's Matthew Chance in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Major combat operations are over here, but Iraq is still dangerous for the troops who invaded it. In recent days, attacks on U.S. patrols across the country have increased. There are still scattered operation forces willing and able to strike.

The town of Fallujah has emerged at one deadly flash point. It was here on Tuesday morning U.S. officials say their men came under rocket attack and heavy machine gun fire. There's no independent verification that the U.S. says shots were fired at their patrol from a local mosque.

Outside the town, locals have been picking through the debris of an Army medevac helicopter. The military says it was struck by one of its own armored vehicles in the confusion of battle. Amid rumors that innocent Iraqis were killed, resentment is running high here.

Critics say the U.S. has so far failed to sufficiently win these hearts and minds.

CAPT. DAVID CONNOLLY, U.S. ARMY: These events were accidents. Some of them were planned attacks on our forces. However, it's important to note that these incidents alone yesterday did not in and of themselves show a trend.

CHANCE: But if it's not a trend, it is an upsurge. In the hours before the Fallujah attack, U.S. officials say this armored Humvee was blown up on the outskirts of Baghdad. A satchel (ph) bomb or mine was thrown beneath it as it passed. The soldier inside was killed.

This war may be won for the U.S. and its allies, but violence and bloodshed here endure.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Surviving the battlefield. What the United States military has done to make sure wounded troops stay alive.

Then, the Guatemalan twins that were joined at the head. They're back in the hospital, back in trouble. An update on their condition.

And later, hormone replacement therapy. New information, important information, and why it may stop.

First, let's take a look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Israel's prime minister backtracks. Ariel Sharon says he was misunderstood when he stunned the nation yesterday by calling Israel's presence in the Palestinian territories an occupation. Mr. Sharon says he was referring to the three and a half million Palestinians now under Israeli military control, not to the land which remains in dispute.

Extreme protest. An Iranian refugee in Britain has sown up his eyes, ears and mouth in a bid to prevent possible deportation. Abbas Ammini (ph), a poet and communist activist took the action after the government said it would appeal a decision to grant him asylum. Ammini (ph) says he faces torture if returned to Iran.

Everest (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Revelers packed the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the conquest of the world's tallest mountain. Leading the procession was Sir Edmund Hillary, the New Zealander who first scaled the rooftop of the world along with guide Tensing Norgay on May 29, 1953.

Three hundred and counting. St. Petersburg, the former capital of czarist Russia is celebrating its 300th birthday. Thousands turned out in Palace Square for the lavish celebration. President Vladimir Putin hailed his hometown founded by Peter the Great as a bridge to Europe.

Singing for Iraq. In Modena, Italy, tenor Luciano Pavarotti and friends held a charity concert for Iraqi refugees. Among those joining the maestro in his hometown are Eric Clapton, Bono, Queen, Lionel Ritchie and Andrea Bocelli. And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. The U.S. military has gone to great lengths to minimize combat casualties and those efforts are indeed paying off, saving Americans from wounds that would have been lethal just a few years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire!

BLITZER (voice-over): A fighting chance, the most basic need of troops in battle. Now Americans in combat have a better chance of surviving battlefield wounds than ever before.

CAPT. SANDRA REED, M.D., U.S NAVY: We are seeing casualties returning where it is acknowledged that in the first Gulf War they wouldn't have survived to get back the care.

BLITZER: Life saving begins at what's called the tip of the sphere. New advanced body armor, vests and helmets that change wounding patterns from more lethal chest and abdomen injure trees more survivable wounds of the extremities. If combatants are hit, their salvation can be unsnapped from their belts.

CAPT. DAVID FERGUSON, M.D., U.S. NAVY: We've also seen the use of some new types of coagulation dressings that can be applied in the field that can stem bleeding and hemorrhaging in the field much more effectively than was available five or 10 years ago.

BLITZER: For the Marines that comes in a belt pack that weighs less than one point. It's innocuously called an individual first aid kit, but its importance cannot be measured especially in that golden hour. The first hour after the wound occurs when immediate treatment makes the difference between life and death. Inside the kit, gauze bandages, burn dressings, elastic bandages and tourniquets with hooks on them so they can be applied one-hand in the heat of battle. And a packet of what looks and feels like kitty litter, an ingenious substance called quick clot.

REED: It works by absorbing the moisture so that the clotting agents that naturally occur in the body ever concentrated and can work to stop bleeding.

BLITZER: The training to apply field dressings is also crucial. Each man and woman in combat can act as their own medic if need be. Listen to what one Marine told Navy Surgeon David Ferguson about his injury.

FERGUSON: Gunshot wound to the neck, hit the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) artery, exited out of the back of the skull. He was able to apply some self-first aid to stop the bleeding.

BLITZER: That marine made it to a field hospital in time. Those facilities also make a huge difference. They are closer to action than ever before. Able to take on some of the most complicated surgeries. And just off shore, Navy officials say their hospital ship Comfort is an advance medical facility now equipped with an angrography sweep to treat blood vessel trauma and cat scanners. But the unsung heroes, one group of people highly trained, first on the scene, endlessly brave. They say a Marine never takes the hill out of sight of a navy corpsman.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They operate under the most off the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) circumstances. We they have to work with is what they can carry in with them. We have a young individual who has to make a life and death decision for many people at once and they decide what needs to be made. They make the intervention and as we've seen, do just a tremendous job.

BLITZER: Navy officials tell CNN the system's not perfect. They're still looking for faster ways to evacuate wounded Marines especially in bad weather, but the difference from just a couple of years ago sorry palpable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are surviving injuries they shouldn't have survived.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta with was with the U.S. Navy's devil docs out in the field during the war with Iraq, as all of our viewers remember. He saw firsthand how new equipment and new techniques are indeed saving lives on the battlefield.

Sanjay is joining us live from the CNN center in Atlanta.

This is remarkable stuff, but give our viewers your firsthand sense, how remarkable are these medical examples?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Really remarkable, Wolf. There's no question that when you talk about saving lives on the battlefield, there are two big obstacles, one is time and the other is bleeding. If you can get rid of both of those obstacles or knock them down a significant amount, you significantly improve the number of lives that you save.

Example, the mobile operating room which you referred to in that piece, that actually moved forward with the troops to get some of the injured frontline treatment, within hour, the golden hour, as they call it. Fully 50 percent of the people who die on the battlefield, die because they bleed to death. All of those agents that you were talking about, specially the quick clot and the one-man medic dressings can improve those odds as well. Some pretty impressive advances. They say a lot of medical advances are made at wartime and I think that's going to be the case here as well -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Sanjay, you're a neurosurgeon as our viewers well know. You spent a lot of time in emergency rooms. Compare the level of treatment these U.S. troops got out in the battlefield to what might exist in some of the finest hospitals inside the United States?

GUPTA: Emergency rooms all around the United States, they work on a mentality known as scoop and run. They get someone out of the dangerous situation as quickly as possible and get them to a hospital where they can have damage control. They can have their most significant wounds treated and they worry about the fine tuning of repairs later on. That's something they practice in emergency rooms and that's something they practice on the battlefields in Iraq as well.

Couple of things, one is that the caliber of weapons that was used in a war, obviously much more significant, much more significant than what you've seen in urban settings. So the wounds were significantly more as well. Also when you talk about the scoop and run mentality, the resources obviously in a bright hospital in an urban setting will still be more than a tent in the middle of a dusty desert. But still all the lives -- the people's lives are able to be saved because they were getting there quickly and getting that bleeding stopped -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He showed brilliant reporting for us during the war. Thank you very much for joining us today, Sanjay.

Possible trouble ahead for middle-aged women, hormone replacement previously considered a lifesaver for menopausal women. Now another new concern.

And then, our picture of the day you're not going to believe this one. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Here's a look at some important medical news we're tracking for you right now.

Showing signs of improvement. That's the word today from doctors at UCLA Medical Center caring for those Guatemalan twins who were separated last August. After suffering setbacks, Maria De Jesus and Maria Teresa are back in the United States for more treatment. One girl undergoes surgery Thursday to replace a valve that helps drain fluid from her brain. Good luck to her.

In Canada, health concerns of a different kind. Approximately 2,200 people in Toronto are now quarantined because of possible exposure to SARS. Healthcare workers are at the high of the risk. As evidence of the confusion around how to handle the disease, three hospital employees addressing reporters at this news conference each followed a different practice in deciding whether to wear a mask.

Hormone replacement therapy is already linked to a higher link of breast cancer, stroke and heart disease. Now comes more bad news. The most common form may also increase the chance of dementia.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is following this important story. She's joining us now with details -- Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this study will come as a surprise to many women who are taking hormones because they think it might stave off dementia.

Well, this new study of 4,500 women shows that that probably isn't a good reason for taking hormones.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice-over): When women over the age of 65 take a popular form of hormone replacement therapy, they double their risk of getting dementia. That's according a new study of the National Institutes of Health.

The news prompted this warning.

DR. SALLY SHUMAKER, STUDY CO-AUTHOR: For older women, the message is fairly clear. The bottom line is that older women shouldn't be taking combination hormone therapy.

COHEN: The drug is called prempro. Wyatt (ph), the company that makes it, points out that the study was only on women over the age of 65 so the studies don't pertain to younger menopausal women.

So what should women under age 65 do when facing menopause?

The answer from the National Institutes of Health, even in younger women, this same drug increases the risk of getting heart disease, stroke and breast cancer, according to a study last summer.

(on camera): Given all this bad news, the question surely comes up: Why would anyone want to take hormones? Well studies do show that they help fight osteoporosis and hot flashes.

(voice-over): The bottom line, according to the authors of the latest study:

SHUMAKER: A woman with very severe symptoms, we still recommend that they consider combination hormone therapy, but they take it for as short a for of time as possible and at the lowest dose possible.

COHEN: Menopause experts we talked to say the key is to think about why you're taking hormones. Whatever the reason might be, lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise might help. And if not, there could be another drugs out there that work better and are safer than hormones.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: Another way to express the findings of this study is that if you took 10,000 women and put them on hormones for a year, 23 of them would get dementia just because they were taking hormones -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Well, is the FDA, Elizabeth, going to do anything about this as a result of these new findings?

COHEN: Well, the FDA announced today that they will review the findings and they will determine whether or not they should change the labeling on these drugs because of this new study.

BLITZER: I assume since the first studies came about a year or so ago, a lot of women have had second thoughts, have stopped taking these hormone replacement therapy pills.

COHEN: Oh, many women have had second thoughts. In fact, before the study came out last year, about 9.5 million women were taking this combined progesterone and estrogen combined hormone replacement therapy. Now instead of 9.5, it's 5.5 million.

BLITZER: All right. Elizabeth Cohen, critically important information for millions of women out there. Thanks very much, Elizabeth.

Our hot "Web Question of the Day " is this: should the United States pursue regime change in Iran? You can still vote. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Turning now on our "Picture of the Day." Look at this. It was bound to happen sooner or later. In northwest England, a bull got loose in a china shop. The animal escaped from a cattle market and ran amok among the antiques. It injured a woman and destroyed several valuable pieces. After nerves and china were shattered, the animal was trapped and eventually destroyed.

Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day." Remember, we've been asking you this question: "Should the United States pursue regime change in Iran?" Look at this.: 33 percent of you say yes, 67 percent of you say no. You can find the exact vote tally, continue to vote, by the way on our Web site, cnn.com/wolf. As always, we tell you this: this is not a scientific poll.

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





Scott Peterson Appears in Court; Another Deadly Ambush in Iraq>


Aired May 27, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, HOST (voice-over): Manhunt: A DNA match puts police on the trail of a suspected serial killer.

Where is he now?

The victims' families want your help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the lookout, look at that photo, pay attention, get a license number, call it in 9-1-1 right away.

BLITZER: Accused of murdering his wife and unborn son, Scott Peterson appears in court.

Should the public also be allowed to see the autopsy reports?

Another deadly ambush in Iraq, but new equipment is bringing U.S. troops some battlefield miracles.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are surviving injuries that they shouldn't have survived.

BLITZER: And new risks for women.

Is there one more reason to think twice about hormone replacement?

We'll tell you about the latest research.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS live from the nations capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.

BLITZER: It's Tuesday, May 27, 2003. Hello from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.

We begin with a serial killer still at large. The search for a man suspected in at least five killings focusing on Atlanta. Investigators say Derrick Todd Lee was spotted there as recently as yesterday.

CNN investigative correspondent Art Harris is following this shocking story from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, home of four of those victims. Give us the latest -- Art.

ART HARRIS, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, police here at task force headquarters are concerned that stress could trigger more violence in the suspect and are urging the public to come forward with any information that could lead them to Derrick Todd Lee.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS (voice-over): Derrick Todd Lee, an accused serial killer, police say may be the key town locking the mysteries of other unsolved murders from Baton Rouge to Atlanta.

KEENAN VERNON, GBI DIRECTOR: GBI DNA unit is taking all their cases that have not been submitted to the national database and we're comparing those with the information we've got from Louisiana to see if any of the -- if any Mr. Lee's DNA matches any of the Georgia cases.

HARRIS: Lee disappeared, police believe shortly after they took samples of his DNA. Police say the state crime lab has linked it to five women killed over the last two years. The victims were either strangled, stabbed or beaten to death. All were raped, say police. Lee is described as polite. Someone able to charm his way into the home of a stranger. And that's how police say he did it.

LYNNE MARINO, MOTHER OF PAM KINAMORE: When I see that horrible face and I think of what that animal has done to at least five women, you know, we feel there are more than that, that's very difficult to deal with.

HARRIS: Lee is 34 years old, married with two young children and worked in construction. And investigators say, has unique DNA markers. So unique there's a one in four trillion chance it is anyone other than Lee.

EDWARD PIGLIA, BROTHER OF PAM KINAMORE: It closes one door and opens others. We have to deal with the trial eventually, the details. But we're prepared to do that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Authorities meet with Lee's mother here of Baton Rouge today, and say she wants her son to turn himself in -- Wolf.

BLITZER: So Art, they think he's in Atlanta.

What do they think he's doing there at least at this time?

HARRIS: Wolf, he worked construction and drove a truck here. They believe he may be working day labor jobs, trying to blend into the big city and earn a little extra cash. Back to you.

BLITZER: All right. Art Harris with the latest in Baton Rouge. Art We be standing by with more information. Thank you.

And if you have any information that you think might help police find this man, you are asked to call the task force hot line. This is the number, 1-866-389-3310. You can also call the FBI directly in Atlanta, that number, 404-679-9000.

Four of the five victims lived in the Baton Rouge area and although they varied in age and race, a local newspaper reporter who's been covering the story says there were some similarities.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSH NOEI, REPORTER, "THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE": The other common factors is that they were all really ambitious and smart women who were educated and middle class and had comfortable lifestyles.

BLITZER (voice-over): 41-year-old Gina Green is believed to be the first victim although police are looking at earlier cases that may be linked. Green was found strangled near the Louisiana State University campus in September 2001. In May 2002, the body of 22- year-old Charlotte Pace was found in her home near LSU. Two months later, 44-year-old Pam Kinamore was found 30 miles from Baton Rouge. 23-year-old Trinneisha Colomb was found in a wooded area in November. And the most recent victim, 26-year-old Carrie Yoder was found in March outside Baton Rouge.

NOEI: They're all attractive. They all had big smiles. A lot of similar personality traits and life the party kind of thing and that could also be coincidental.

BLITZER: DNA links Lee to all five killings, even though an FBI profile said the killer likely was white.

PIGLIA: We were told by many experts that when the victims are of multi -- of different races that generally it's not a Caucasian. So we questioned that back in December.

BLITZER: Five women, five violent deaths and five families seeking justice, hoping they're one step closer now that a suspect's been named.

MARINO: I talked to Anne Pace (ph), that's the mother of Maury Pace (ph) and a few of the other family members interviewed and they feel relief too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: For insight into the manhunt, I am joined now from Houston by former FBI Agent, Don Clark. Thank you very much for joining us.

Everyone in the country has seen his face now help how hard it will be to find this suspect?

DON CLARK, FORMER FBI AGENT: Well, they've still got a lot of work to be done, Wolf. And they've done a good job of getting through the DNA process and getting to this point in the investigation. Now the key is to find him. And they're going to have to, again, pull out one of the tools and one of the tools that will be key is exactly what we're doing right here is on the media and keep his face out in the public because somebody will eventually identify this person.

BLITZER: How dangerous of a person is he apparently right now?

We heard Art Harris say that given the pressure is on him, he could strike out even at this moment.

CLARK: You know, what, Wolf, that is exactly what law enforcement agents fear, that the person doing these types of crimes could be certainly become really disturbed and commit another crime. We went through the same thing in Texas with the rail car killer. And we were concern heed could commit another crime before we could catch him. But none the less, I think you've got to go with the risk of trying to get the information throughout. And hope to that you can get your hands on him before he does another crime because he is truly dangerous.

BLITZER: Perhaps one of our viewers might have spotted this individual.

What should they do besides certainly picking up the phone and calling the FBI, local law enforcement, that task force number?

Should they try to engage this individual in any kind of way?

That sounds pretty risky.

CLARK: Yes, it is very risky, Wolf.

And I would recommend and I think many law enforcement people would agree with me is that private citizens should not take that risk. If I they have the phones to call. They can perhaps look at things, such as cars, clothing that they are wearing, even a vehicle if they are driving and get the license tag. Take down all of that pertinent information. But remember, there is some evidence to suggest that this person has already killed five people that we know and you don't want to be adding to that list.

BLITZER: We heard Art Harris say the police have been speaking with his mother, presumably, other relatives.

Is there a way to negotiate his surrender, to get him to simply give up?

CLARK: Wolf, you maybe make a very good point and it is and it can be negotiated too. Again, I go back to the rail car killing and other crimes that we've been involved in Texas in my active time, and yes, you use any negotiating tool that's possible. If you do have a parent or relative that's cooperating with you, I suggest they use that and I think they probably are.

BLITZER: The local law enforcement in Louisiana, they're suggesting, now -- they're reviewing a whole bunch of other cases, unsolved cases, women who have been missing or dead to see if there may be a connection.

How are they going to go about seeing if there are more than five victims in this particular serial killer spree?

CLARK: Well, I think that they're going to be a lot of people in that department getting in touch with other departments. And I also think, Wolf, that has not been a case that's been closely held. It's been in the media and it's been out there. And I suspect that law enforcement agencies that follow a case like this and they will be calling the Baton Rouge people of the task force and trying to find out if they can get samples of this so that they can work with them to compare with any murders that they have.

BLITZER: All right. Let's hope one of our viewers spots this individual, calls the FBI or the law enforcement task force. We've put that number up on the screen.

Don Clark, as usual, thank you very much for your expertise.

BLITZER: Scott Peterson is playing defense.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S LAWYER: It's our fervent hope to find the actual perpetrators, whoever did this to Laci and baby Conner.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: His lawyers planting seeds of doubt. Who will he blame for the murders?

Plus, reefer madness: Canada moves to legalize the green stuff. Will it open the floodgates on this side of the border?

And important medical news that impacts millions of women. Find out what hormone replacement may do to your mind. There's new information that is just being released right now and it's not very pretty. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Accused of killing his pregnant wife and unborn son, Scott Peterson's fighting for a fair trial. But will hid defense drag his mistress among others through the mud? A closer look when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There's been another twist in the many twists and turns in the mystery over who killed Laci Peterson and her unborn son. The latest developments at a pretrial hearing earlier today in Modesto, California.

The judge overseeing the murder case this afternoon ordered the launch of telephone calls made by Laci Peterson's husband Scott be turned over to his new defense attorney. CNN's Elaine Quijano is in Modesto and she has much more -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Wolf.

Well today's hearing had the potential to play out in rather dramatic fashion before the cameras and before the public. Instead much of that hearing actually took place out of earshot, out of public view in the judge's chambers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO (voice-over): Scott Peterson entered Stanislaus County Superior Court sporting a short new haircut and none of the blond highlights from previous weeks. This was supposed to be a pretrial hearing in open court to discuss, among other things, whether to unseal search warrants and autopsy results on Laci Peterson and her unborn son Connor.

But shortly after the proceeding started, the hearing moved behind closed doors. A prosecution request to discuss 69 intercepted phone conversations between Scott Peterson and his defense team. When they emerged the judge made no decision on unsealing those documents. Instead, he ordered prosecutors to give Scott Peterson's attorneys any information related to the intercepted phone calls. At issue, whether they were confidential under attorney-client privilege.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: None of the prosecution is interested in actually getting privileged phone conversations. Our office was very quick to tell law enforcement to seal those to and not provide it to our attorneys. And you know we're interested in what's evidence. Something that goes on show somebody's guilty or innocent.

QUIJANO: For now the defense says it's not sure what its next move will be.

MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Once we've seen exactly what was taped, then we'll file whatever appropriate motions. Until we see what's there, we really don't know what we're going to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: What happens now? Well there are a couple of big dates on the calendar. One of those is July 9. That is when a hearing will take place to help decide whether or not cameras should be continued to be allowed in the courtroom.

The big date really is on July 16. That's when a preliminary hearing is set to take place. In essence, the prosecution will have a chance to layout more of its case, more of the details of it's case. The defense also says at that time that is when any discussions regarding change of venue might take place -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Elaine Quijano for us in Modesto. Thanks, Elaine, very much.

Let's get a little bit more insight into this case. Jeffrey Toobin, our legal analyst is joining us now live from New York. July 9 for this next preliminary hearing, but the actual pretrial hearing, the evidence showing hearing July 16. Does that mean the prosecution's not going to go with this grand jury strategy that some have mooted?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: That's right. One thing that's clear after today is that the prosecution is going to go forward in a preliminary hearing which is the usual way cases proceed in California, which is sort of a mini trial, where the government puts on enough evidence so that a judge can find that there is probable cause that the defendant committed the charged defenses.

The government never loses these preliminary hearings. It is essentially a formality. But it is an opportunity for the defense to test some of the prosecution's evidence, to see where some weaknesses might be in the case. That is what's going on happen when this preliminary hearing takes place. But certainly there is no chance this case is to be thrown out at that point.

BLITZER: But they haven't resolved the issue of venue, where this trial should actually take place yet. That's still up in the air.

TOOBIN: That is very much up in the air. And count me highly skeptical that this preliminary hearing will actually take place on July 16. These things are often delayed, especially complex in high- profile cases like. I would be surprised if this hearing actually did take place on July 16. There's a lot of evidence.

Remember, we've seen the police still looking for evidence in San Francisco Bay, just as early as you know a couple of days ago. That evidence all has to be analyzed and then turned over. You're not going to see a complete set of evidence available to both sides by July, for sure.

BLITZER: The ostensible reason for the hearing earlier today was to see if they would release the autopsy report, the search warrants, the documents. That hasn't been resolved definitely yet either, has it?

TOOBIN: What a surprise. The California judicial system decides on a little delay. This is how things work in California.

It seems that the judge is proceeding cautiously. He can always disclose the material later, but he went in chambers with the lawyers, listened to what they had to say, heard them make arguments based on the evidence itself arguing that it should remain secret even though he heard a very, I thought, persuasive, good argument from a newspaper lawyer.

The cautious course was to keep it secret for now. He can always decide to release it later.

BLITZER: What about Amber Frey, the woman, the mistress, acknowledged in this particular case? We see Mark Geragos coming out and sources close to the defense attorneys suggesting there could be something sinister going on here. What's that all about? TOOBIN: Well, it is important to say in fairness to Amber Frye that the police have completely ruled her out as a suspect in the murder. She is an important witness. It is acknowledged he was having an affair with her. That could be a motive for murder. So she is likely to be an important witness at least at the trial and perhaps also in the preliminary hearing.

But as for dark insinuations about the prosecution's case, I think in fairness, it's really important just to see what evidence comes out in court rather than sort of the suspicions that are cast by the defense, perhaps with no basis at all.

BLITZER: Finally, Jeffrey, whenever we see Mark Geragos come out to the microphones at those news conferences after these hearings, he is almost always joined by Scott Peterson's mother, the family. And he's always asking the public for help, for tips trying to raise this notion that the killer or killers are still at large. I assume that's a pretty good defense strategy.

TOOBIN: It's all a part of the process. And this is certainly fair game, of saying to the public, look, Scott Peterson's a human being, too. He's got a mother, he's got a father. They support him, they believe in his innocence.

And the defense strategy -- it's a rather bold one, we'll see if they can back it up -- is that we looking for the real killer. We want the public's help in getting evidence that someone else did it. Whether they come up with anything is another story.

It's a risk because if because if the day comes when this case goes to trial and they have nothing to show for it, that's going to be worse than if they'd said nothing at all.

BLITZER: All right, Jeffrey Toobin always providing us excellent legal analysis. Thanks, Jeffrey, very much.

And if you have questions about the Laci Peterson case, e-mail them to us at wolf@cnn.com. I'll be joined tomorrow at noon Eastern by a panel to discuss the case. They'll also try to answer some of your questions. Noon Eastern, 9:00 a.m. Pacific.

When we come back, we'll go north of the border where marijuana soon might be legal as long as the U.S. government doesn't have anything to say about that.

And then, a very lethal 24 hours for U.S. troops in Iraq. Two killed, many others wounded. Is there a way to make sure the troops stay alive?

Plus, what some think of as a lifesaver for millions of women, may be just the opposite. New information about hormone replacement therapy that could save your life.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Welcome back.

It's not at all unusual for Canadian police to turn a blind eye to those who light a joint. Things may get even easier if parliament passes a measure presented today aimed at easing Canada's marijuana laws. And that prospect has some U.S. officials hopping mad.

Ioanna Roumeliotis of CBC Canada has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IOANNA ROUMELIOTIS, CBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a pothead's paradise: a marijuana friendly cafe in Vancouver. On the menu: munchies. And in the smoking room, the freedom to puff on weed until hunger strikes.

To so-called reefer refugees from south of the border, it's also civilized.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's just really nice to be able to go some where and things be relaxed and not have to stress out about having a puff when you need it or want it.

ROUMELIOTIS: Hundreds of Americans are said to take advantage of Canada's relatively lax rules on smoking pot, and those are just the ones Tim Meehan knows about. A marijuana rights activist, he also runs a Web site, one that informs Americans on the virtues of what he calls the "True North."

TIM MEEHAN, MARIJUANA RIGHTS ACTIVIST: True North's strong and free in the real sense. You're allowed to do what you want as long as you're not bothering any one else.

ROUMELIOTIS: It's exactly the kind of cross-border trade American drug officials want to butt out. Marijuana has become a major sticking point in U.S.-Canadian relations and as Canada moves to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, the U.S.'s top drug policy official warns the strain could get even worse.

JOHN WALTERS, DIRECTOR, U.S. OFFICE OF NATL. DRUG CONTROL POLICY: The problem is the growth of this market is largely a market poisoning not only Canadians, but mostly Americans.

ROUMELIOTIS: But cutting pot consumption in the U.S., American officials say, is impossible without Canada's help.

Beyond the drug tourists, U.S. officials say marijuana is becoming a bigger problem on the border with estimates Canada exports anywhere between 5 and $9 billion worth of pot into the U.S. each year.

The fear is laxer rules will make marijuana more available in Canada and lead to even more smuggling. Canadian officials have already assured Washington the new legislation will crack down on cultivators and smugglers. That's all good, says the U.S., until it happens. But until it does, it warns this is what Canadians and Canadian goods will face more of at borders. The kind of restrictions drugs led to on the U.S.-Mexican border.

WALTERS: We don't want the border in Ontario and Detroit -- Windsor/Detroit -- we don't want the border in parts of our western states to begin to look like that.

ROUMELIOTIS: This drug policy analyst says it's not likely Washington will make good on its threats.

SANHO TREE, INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES: Particularly in this kind of economy we simply can't afford to do any thing more that will strangle the United States' economy.

ROUMELIOTIS: So it may just be a war of words for now. But if the U.S. is intent on waging a war on drugs, it won't be long before it's clear where there's smoke, there is fire.

Ioanna Roumeliotis, CBC News, Toronto.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: President Bush turns his sights on Iran while U.S. troops spend a bloody 24 hours in Iraq.

Plus, surviving the battlefield. New equipment and training that saves lives on the front lines.

And hormone replacement therapy -- does it mess with women's minds? Our Elizabeth Cohen has late-breaking medical news.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour: WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world.

Here now is Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN.

Iran in the crosshairs. Will U.S. pressure help or hurt the chances for reform there? We'll go live to the White House. Our John King is standing by. He has information.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: The Bush administration is keeping a close eye on Iran. Concerns range from Tehran's dealings with al Qaeda to its nuclear program, to what the United States sees as meddling in Iraq. Let's go live to our senior White House correspondent, John King. What's the latest on Iran, John? JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, officials stress the president has made no big decisions and they say here at the White House there is no change in policy, but there are some in the administration who believe that this administration should be much more aggressive in encouraging political opposition, efforts within Iran to overthrow the government.

Now, this is in sharp contrast, think back to the beginning of this administration and back to the Clinton administration, when many thought that President Khatami was a reformer and that the United States might ultimately do business with him.

Now, the administration is saying that, as you noted, that there is evidence that Iran is harboring al Qaeda terrorists. There is evidence the United States says that Iraq's nuclear program is not peaceful as Tehran insists, but is designed to develop nuclear weapons. And Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld yet again saying today that he sees evidence that Iran is trying to meddle in post-war Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Indeed, Iran should be on notice that efforts to try to remake Iraq in Iran's image will be aggressively put down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now, officials here stress again no decision's made, but certainly there's a bit of a tug-of-war, Wolf, within the administration between those who believe to give President Khatami more time to perhaps quiet the rhetoric and see if he will do more, especially when it comes to cracking down on al Qaeda within Iran. There are others who say he's been president long enough and that there is no evidence that he will work with the United States, and that the United States should encourage students and others within Iran who might rise up and demand a new government -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John, as you know, the president has his hands full with al Qaeda, Afghanistan, Iraq, the situation with Iran, but he now wants to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well. What's he planning on doing in the coming days?

KING: He is planning, Wolf, one week from today to make the most dramatic personal investment in Middle East diplomacy that we have seen in the Bush administration. CNN is told that the president is making plans to travel first to the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. There, he will meet with key Arab leaders to try to get them to assist the reform process within the Palestinian Authority and to recognize, eventually recognize Israel, to encourage a peace process.

After stopping in Sharm el Sheikh, the president will travel on to Jordan, where he will have a dramatic three-way summit. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel, Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Bush personally getting involved in his effort to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Officials here stress all this could change because of security concerns, because of the potential for violence and other developments in the region. But on week from today, look for President Bush to be getting personally involved with stops in Egypt and Jordan, trying to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

BLITZER: And CNN, of course, will have extensive coverage. John King at the White House. Thanks, John, very much.

Here's your chance to weigh in on the story involving the debate over what to do as far as Iran is concerned. Our Web question of the day is this: Should the U.S. pursue regime change in Iran? We'll have the results later in this broadcast. You can vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. It's also where you can read my daily online column, once again, cnn.com/wolf.

Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld suggested today that Iraq may have gotten rid of its weapons of mass destruction before the U.S.-led invasion. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, Rumsfeld said he did not know why Iraq did not use chemical or biological weapons, saying the speedy U.S. advance may have caught the Iraqis by surprise. He add, and I'm quoting now, "it is also possible that they decided they would destroy them prior to a conflict."

Rumsfeld said there are still hundreds of suspected weapons sites in Iraq left to investigate.

U.N. nuclear inspectors will be going back to Iraq, but not to hunt for weapons programs. The IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the inspectors from that group will instead try to account for radioactive material at the sprawling Tuwaitha (ph) complex. The material was put under seal a decade ago, but much of it is said to have disappeared in the looting which followed the collapse of the Iraqi regime.

Zawad Amir's (ph) neighbors have welcomed him back to their village south of Baghdad. They hadn't seen him, for, get this, two decades, but he never left. Instead, he spent the entire time in a tiny hiding place between two walls in his parent's home. A radio and a peephole kept him in touch with the outside world. Amir (ph) was a young devote of an outspoken Shiite critic when Saddam Hussein's regime issued an order for his execution. Only after the regime collapsed did he dare leave his hideout.

Two American soldiers were killed and nine others wounded today in an attack at Fallujah west of Baghdad. That area is a hotbed of support for the former regime of Saddam Hussein, but there's been stepped up violence across the country. More now from CNN's Matthew Chance in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Major combat operations are over here, but Iraq is still dangerous for the troops who invaded it. In recent days, attacks on U.S. patrols across the country have increased. There are still scattered operation forces willing and able to strike.

The town of Fallujah has emerged at one deadly flash point. It was here on Tuesday morning U.S. officials say their men came under rocket attack and heavy machine gun fire. There's no independent verification that the U.S. says shots were fired at their patrol from a local mosque.

Outside the town, locals have been picking through the debris of an Army medevac helicopter. The military says it was struck by one of its own armored vehicles in the confusion of battle. Amid rumors that innocent Iraqis were killed, resentment is running high here.

Critics say the U.S. has so far failed to sufficiently win these hearts and minds.

CAPT. DAVID CONNOLLY, U.S. ARMY: These events were accidents. Some of them were planned attacks on our forces. However, it's important to note that these incidents alone yesterday did not in and of themselves show a trend.

CHANCE: But if it's not a trend, it is an upsurge. In the hours before the Fallujah attack, U.S. officials say this armored Humvee was blown up on the outskirts of Baghdad. A satchel (ph) bomb or mine was thrown beneath it as it passed. The soldier inside was killed.

This war may be won for the U.S. and its allies, but violence and bloodshed here endure.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Surviving the battlefield. What the United States military has done to make sure wounded troops stay alive.

Then, the Guatemalan twins that were joined at the head. They're back in the hospital, back in trouble. An update on their condition.

And later, hormone replacement therapy. New information, important information, and why it may stop.

First, let's take a look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Israel's prime minister backtracks. Ariel Sharon says he was misunderstood when he stunned the nation yesterday by calling Israel's presence in the Palestinian territories an occupation. Mr. Sharon says he was referring to the three and a half million Palestinians now under Israeli military control, not to the land which remains in dispute.

Extreme protest. An Iranian refugee in Britain has sown up his eyes, ears and mouth in a bid to prevent possible deportation. Abbas Ammini (ph), a poet and communist activist took the action after the government said it would appeal a decision to grant him asylum. Ammini (ph) says he faces torture if returned to Iran.

Everest (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Revelers packed the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the conquest of the world's tallest mountain. Leading the procession was Sir Edmund Hillary, the New Zealander who first scaled the rooftop of the world along with guide Tensing Norgay on May 29, 1953.

Three hundred and counting. St. Petersburg, the former capital of czarist Russia is celebrating its 300th birthday. Thousands turned out in Palace Square for the lavish celebration. President Vladimir Putin hailed his hometown founded by Peter the Great as a bridge to Europe.

Singing for Iraq. In Modena, Italy, tenor Luciano Pavarotti and friends held a charity concert for Iraqi refugees. Among those joining the maestro in his hometown are Eric Clapton, Bono, Queen, Lionel Ritchie and Andrea Bocelli. And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. The U.S. military has gone to great lengths to minimize combat casualties and those efforts are indeed paying off, saving Americans from wounds that would have been lethal just a few years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire!

BLITZER (voice-over): A fighting chance, the most basic need of troops in battle. Now Americans in combat have a better chance of surviving battlefield wounds than ever before.

CAPT. SANDRA REED, M.D., U.S NAVY: We are seeing casualties returning where it is acknowledged that in the first Gulf War they wouldn't have survived to get back the care.

BLITZER: Life saving begins at what's called the tip of the sphere. New advanced body armor, vests and helmets that change wounding patterns from more lethal chest and abdomen injure trees more survivable wounds of the extremities. If combatants are hit, their salvation can be unsnapped from their belts.

CAPT. DAVID FERGUSON, M.D., U.S. NAVY: We've also seen the use of some new types of coagulation dressings that can be applied in the field that can stem bleeding and hemorrhaging in the field much more effectively than was available five or 10 years ago.

BLITZER: For the Marines that comes in a belt pack that weighs less than one point. It's innocuously called an individual first aid kit, but its importance cannot be measured especially in that golden hour. The first hour after the wound occurs when immediate treatment makes the difference between life and death. Inside the kit, gauze bandages, burn dressings, elastic bandages and tourniquets with hooks on them so they can be applied one-hand in the heat of battle. And a packet of what looks and feels like kitty litter, an ingenious substance called quick clot.

REED: It works by absorbing the moisture so that the clotting agents that naturally occur in the body ever concentrated and can work to stop bleeding.

BLITZER: The training to apply field dressings is also crucial. Each man and woman in combat can act as their own medic if need be. Listen to what one Marine told Navy Surgeon David Ferguson about his injury.

FERGUSON: Gunshot wound to the neck, hit the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) artery, exited out of the back of the skull. He was able to apply some self-first aid to stop the bleeding.

BLITZER: That marine made it to a field hospital in time. Those facilities also make a huge difference. They are closer to action than ever before. Able to take on some of the most complicated surgeries. And just off shore, Navy officials say their hospital ship Comfort is an advance medical facility now equipped with an angrography sweep to treat blood vessel trauma and cat scanners. But the unsung heroes, one group of people highly trained, first on the scene, endlessly brave. They say a Marine never takes the hill out of sight of a navy corpsman.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They operate under the most off the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) circumstances. We they have to work with is what they can carry in with them. We have a young individual who has to make a life and death decision for many people at once and they decide what needs to be made. They make the intervention and as we've seen, do just a tremendous job.

BLITZER: Navy officials tell CNN the system's not perfect. They're still looking for faster ways to evacuate wounded Marines especially in bad weather, but the difference from just a couple of years ago sorry palpable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are surviving injuries they shouldn't have survived.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta with was with the U.S. Navy's devil docs out in the field during the war with Iraq, as all of our viewers remember. He saw firsthand how new equipment and new techniques are indeed saving lives on the battlefield.

Sanjay is joining us live from the CNN center in Atlanta.

This is remarkable stuff, but give our viewers your firsthand sense, how remarkable are these medical examples?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Really remarkable, Wolf. There's no question that when you talk about saving lives on the battlefield, there are two big obstacles, one is time and the other is bleeding. If you can get rid of both of those obstacles or knock them down a significant amount, you significantly improve the number of lives that you save.

Example, the mobile operating room which you referred to in that piece, that actually moved forward with the troops to get some of the injured frontline treatment, within hour, the golden hour, as they call it. Fully 50 percent of the people who die on the battlefield, die because they bleed to death. All of those agents that you were talking about, specially the quick clot and the one-man medic dressings can improve those odds as well. Some pretty impressive advances. They say a lot of medical advances are made at wartime and I think that's going to be the case here as well -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Sanjay, you're a neurosurgeon as our viewers well know. You spent a lot of time in emergency rooms. Compare the level of treatment these U.S. troops got out in the battlefield to what might exist in some of the finest hospitals inside the United States?

GUPTA: Emergency rooms all around the United States, they work on a mentality known as scoop and run. They get someone out of the dangerous situation as quickly as possible and get them to a hospital where they can have damage control. They can have their most significant wounds treated and they worry about the fine tuning of repairs later on. That's something they practice in emergency rooms and that's something they practice on the battlefields in Iraq as well.

Couple of things, one is that the caliber of weapons that was used in a war, obviously much more significant, much more significant than what you've seen in urban settings. So the wounds were significantly more as well. Also when you talk about the scoop and run mentality, the resources obviously in a bright hospital in an urban setting will still be more than a tent in the middle of a dusty desert. But still all the lives -- the people's lives are able to be saved because they were getting there quickly and getting that bleeding stopped -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He showed brilliant reporting for us during the war. Thank you very much for joining us today, Sanjay.

Possible trouble ahead for middle-aged women, hormone replacement previously considered a lifesaver for menopausal women. Now another new concern.

And then, our picture of the day you're not going to believe this one. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Here's a look at some important medical news we're tracking for you right now.

Showing signs of improvement. That's the word today from doctors at UCLA Medical Center caring for those Guatemalan twins who were separated last August. After suffering setbacks, Maria De Jesus and Maria Teresa are back in the United States for more treatment. One girl undergoes surgery Thursday to replace a valve that helps drain fluid from her brain. Good luck to her.

In Canada, health concerns of a different kind. Approximately 2,200 people in Toronto are now quarantined because of possible exposure to SARS. Healthcare workers are at the high of the risk. As evidence of the confusion around how to handle the disease, three hospital employees addressing reporters at this news conference each followed a different practice in deciding whether to wear a mask.

Hormone replacement therapy is already linked to a higher link of breast cancer, stroke and heart disease. Now comes more bad news. The most common form may also increase the chance of dementia.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is following this important story. She's joining us now with details -- Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this study will come as a surprise to many women who are taking hormones because they think it might stave off dementia.

Well, this new study of 4,500 women shows that that probably isn't a good reason for taking hormones.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice-over): When women over the age of 65 take a popular form of hormone replacement therapy, they double their risk of getting dementia. That's according a new study of the National Institutes of Health.

The news prompted this warning.

DR. SALLY SHUMAKER, STUDY CO-AUTHOR: For older women, the message is fairly clear. The bottom line is that older women shouldn't be taking combination hormone therapy.

COHEN: The drug is called prempro. Wyatt (ph), the company that makes it, points out that the study was only on women over the age of 65 so the studies don't pertain to younger menopausal women.

So what should women under age 65 do when facing menopause?

The answer from the National Institutes of Health, even in younger women, this same drug increases the risk of getting heart disease, stroke and breast cancer, according to a study last summer.

(on camera): Given all this bad news, the question surely comes up: Why would anyone want to take hormones? Well studies do show that they help fight osteoporosis and hot flashes.

(voice-over): The bottom line, according to the authors of the latest study:

SHUMAKER: A woman with very severe symptoms, we still recommend that they consider combination hormone therapy, but they take it for as short a for of time as possible and at the lowest dose possible.

COHEN: Menopause experts we talked to say the key is to think about why you're taking hormones. Whatever the reason might be, lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise might help. And if not, there could be another drugs out there that work better and are safer than hormones.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: Another way to express the findings of this study is that if you took 10,000 women and put them on hormones for a year, 23 of them would get dementia just because they were taking hormones -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Well, is the FDA, Elizabeth, going to do anything about this as a result of these new findings?

COHEN: Well, the FDA announced today that they will review the findings and they will determine whether or not they should change the labeling on these drugs because of this new study.

BLITZER: I assume since the first studies came about a year or so ago, a lot of women have had second thoughts, have stopped taking these hormone replacement therapy pills.

COHEN: Oh, many women have had second thoughts. In fact, before the study came out last year, about 9.5 million women were taking this combined progesterone and estrogen combined hormone replacement therapy. Now instead of 9.5, it's 5.5 million.

BLITZER: All right. Elizabeth Cohen, critically important information for millions of women out there. Thanks very much, Elizabeth.

Our hot "Web Question of the Day " is this: should the United States pursue regime change in Iran? You can still vote. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Turning now on our "Picture of the Day." Look at this. It was bound to happen sooner or later. In northwest England, a bull got loose in a china shop. The animal escaped from a cattle market and ran amok among the antiques. It injured a woman and destroyed several valuable pieces. After nerves and china were shattered, the animal was trapped and eventually destroyed.

Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day." Remember, we've been asking you this question: "Should the United States pursue regime change in Iran?" Look at this.: 33 percent of you say yes, 67 percent of you say no. You can find the exact vote tally, continue to vote, by the way on our Web site, cnn.com/wolf. As always, we tell you this: this is not a scientific poll.

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