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CNN Live Event/Special

Mallard Found Guilty

Aired June 26, 2003 - 20:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go now to Ed Lavandera. He's been following this case for us. He's been standing by live in Fort Worth, Texas. And, before you tell us about what the next step is, Ed, describe to us the reaction of those sitting in the courtroom to Ms. Mallard's testimony.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a very emotional part from her family and also slightly more emotional as well from the Biggs' family, his son and girlfriend that are in the courtroom as well.

You know, before Chante Mallard took the witness stand this afternoon there were about a dozen family and friends that took the witness stand and they almost seemed ready to accept the fact that she's going to spend some time in prison.

The question is how much because a lot of the defense questioning centered around the fact when she gets out of prison will her support group and family and friends be there to welcome her back in there and get her back into society and help her with that transition?

And, that's why a lot of these family and friends were called to the witness stand to say that they will be there for her to help her through that process as she transitions back into society and, like I said, almost resigned to the fact that she will spend at least some time in prison.

ZAHN: Walk us through what the next phase of this trial will entail.

LAVANDERA: Well, it's still, this part of the sentencing phase isn't quite over just yet. The defense, Chante Mallard is now done with her part of the testimony. She spent about two hours on the witness stand this afternoon. Everyone will come back to the courtroom tomorrow morning.

The defense can still call some more witnesses in the sentencing phase and then they will present their closing arguments to the jury and it will be the jury that decides what her fate will be and it's a wide range of punishment that she could face.

ZAHN: Ed Lavandera, thanks for the update.

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






Aired June 26, 2003 - 20:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go now to Ed Lavandera. He's been following this case for us. He's been standing by live in Fort Worth, Texas. And, before you tell us about what the next step is, Ed, describe to us the reaction of those sitting in the courtroom to Ms. Mallard's testimony.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a very emotional part from her family and also slightly more emotional as well from the Biggs' family, his son and girlfriend that are in the courtroom as well.

You know, before Chante Mallard took the witness stand this afternoon there were about a dozen family and friends that took the witness stand and they almost seemed ready to accept the fact that she's going to spend some time in prison.

The question is how much because a lot of the defense questioning centered around the fact when she gets out of prison will her support group and family and friends be there to welcome her back in there and get her back into society and help her with that transition?

And, that's why a lot of these family and friends were called to the witness stand to say that they will be there for her to help her through that process as she transitions back into society and, like I said, almost resigned to the fact that she will spend at least some time in prison.

ZAHN: Walk us through what the next phase of this trial will entail.

LAVANDERA: Well, it's still, this part of the sentencing phase isn't quite over just yet. The defense, Chante Mallard is now done with her part of the testimony. She spent about two hours on the witness stand this afternoon. Everyone will come back to the courtroom tomorrow morning.

The defense can still call some more witnesses in the sentencing phase and then they will present their closing arguments to the jury and it will be the jury that decides what her fate will be and it's a wide range of punishment that she could face.

ZAHN: Ed Lavandera, thanks for the update.

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