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CNN Live At Daybreak
Coffey Talk: D.C. Sniper Shootings
Aired May 29, 2003 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: To the D.C. sniper case now. Defense attorneys are trying to derail the case against one of the sniper suspects. John Allen Muhammad will be back in a Virginia courtroom this morning. In the past month, defense attorneys have filed a flurry of motions in the case.
It's time for a little "Coffey Talk" now. On the phone live from Miami, our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey.
Good morning -- Kendall.
Kendall, are you there?
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, I am, Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, I can hear you now.
Muhammad's lawyers are trying to keep the death penalty from becoming an option. Can they do that?
COFFEY: Well, they've got 11 motions on the docket, everything from gag order to getting more information about the prosecution's case. But the key thing is going to be one of the capital murder charges and whether it requires that the prosecutor show that Muhammad was the trigger man or whether it's enough to show that he was the instigator. And that's important, because remember, the juvenile accomplice may have said that he, Lee Boyd Malvo, was the actual trigger man in this shooting. So, it's a big issue from the defense standpoint.
COSTELLO: Yes, and he supposedly confessed to many of the shootings, but I believe he also said that John Allen Muhammad was a full partner.
COFFEY: A full partner and, according to the prosecutor, the instigator. That's good enough, they say, for the death penalty. And remember, if for some reason the judge ruled against the prosecution -- so far, he's indicated he is leaning toward the prosecution -- they still have another death penalty theory based on the fact that these crimes were, in effect, acts of terrorism.
COSTELLO: Understand. And this is taking place in Virginia, a state known for going for the death penalty quite a bit.
COFFEY: Tough death penalty laws and actually pretty -- relative to other states, a pretty fast process through the courts. Death penalties occur decisively there and quicker than in most states. COSTELLO: All right, Kendall Coffey live from Miami, many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired May 29, 2003 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: To the D.C. sniper case now. Defense attorneys are trying to derail the case against one of the sniper suspects. John Allen Muhammad will be back in a Virginia courtroom this morning. In the past month, defense attorneys have filed a flurry of motions in the case.
It's time for a little "Coffey Talk" now. On the phone live from Miami, our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey.
Good morning -- Kendall.
Kendall, are you there?
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, I am, Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, I can hear you now.
Muhammad's lawyers are trying to keep the death penalty from becoming an option. Can they do that?
COFFEY: Well, they've got 11 motions on the docket, everything from gag order to getting more information about the prosecution's case. But the key thing is going to be one of the capital murder charges and whether it requires that the prosecutor show that Muhammad was the trigger man or whether it's enough to show that he was the instigator. And that's important, because remember, the juvenile accomplice may have said that he, Lee Boyd Malvo, was the actual trigger man in this shooting. So, it's a big issue from the defense standpoint.
COSTELLO: Yes, and he supposedly confessed to many of the shootings, but I believe he also said that John Allen Muhammad was a full partner.
COFFEY: A full partner and, according to the prosecutor, the instigator. That's good enough, they say, for the death penalty. And remember, if for some reason the judge ruled against the prosecution -- so far, he's indicated he is leaning toward the prosecution -- they still have another death penalty theory based on the fact that these crimes were, in effect, acts of terrorism.
COSTELLO: Understand. And this is taking place in Virginia, a state known for going for the death penalty quite a bit.
COFFEY: Tough death penalty laws and actually pretty -- relative to other states, a pretty fast process through the courts. Death penalties occur decisively there and quicker than in most states. COSTELLO: All right, Kendall Coffey live from Miami, many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
