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Judge Orders Change of Venue for Malvo Trial
Aired July 02, 2003 - 10:14 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to get back now to our lead story, and that is the judge in the alleged sniper case of Lee Boyd Malvo making a decision that there will be a change of venue, and it will move to Chesapeake, Virginia.
We have the phone with us right now the mayor of Chesapeake, Virginia, William Ward.
Mr. Mayor, good morning. Thanks for being with us.
MYR. WILLIAM WARD, CHESAPEAKE VIRGINIA: Good morning.
KAGAN: As I understand this, this is not exactly welcome news to your community. You did not want this trial moved to your city.
WARD: That's correct. I'm disappointed. However, I would say that in that the court has made a decision to move the venue to Chesapeake that we will work with the court in every possible way during this adjudication of the case and try to minimize as much as possible the disruption to the normal flow of activities here in Chesapeake.
KAGAN: Your city or perhaps your office went so far as to file some documents with this court, did you not, explaining why you didn't want the trial to come there?
WARD: Yes, I had a verbal communication with the judge about two weeks ago, and a follow-up with a letter after polling my council members. They all supported my position that we felt that this was not the best venue for the trial, because of costs and a few other reasons, and disruption to our own citizens and the normal flow of business. However, the court has made a decision.
KAGAN: And did the judge have any response when you talked to her and told her those concerns?
WARD: Well, she had business, and had looked at our jail and the court, a new jail, the tunnel that leads from the jail to the courtroom, and it's a large courtroom, and I guess she felt that logistically, this is one of the best facilities in the state.
KAGAN: It's kind of a back-handed compliment, isn't it, sir?
WARD: It certainly is. You know, I would much rather that the case was heard somewhere else, but as I said, it's coming to Chesapeake. We'll do our best, and we'll live with it.
KAGAN: Any help you can expect from the state to deal with some of the security matters and those extra costs involved?
WARD: I don't so. I would hope so. Certainly we are stressed as it is now with our homeland security issues, and tomorrow, we have a POW coming to our city, a native of the city, David Williams, and so we have other things going on. We're a young city, 207,000 population, but you know, I just don't want this to disrupt the tranquillity and the normal flow of activities, and not that it will be a circus-like atmosphere, and we will certainly work to prevent it from coming that, but I just have serious reservations.
KAGAN: Well, here it comes, ready or not. Sounds like you're going to do your best to be ready. Mayor William Ward, thank you, sir. We wish you well.
WARD: Thank you.
KAGAN: Change of venue, the Lee Boyd Malvo case will be moved to Chesapeake, Virginia.
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 July 2, 2003 - 10:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to get back now to our lead story, and that is the judge in the alleged sniper case of Lee Boyd Malvo making a decision that there will be a change of venue, and it will move to Chesapeake, Virginia.
We have the phone with us right now the mayor of Chesapeake, Virginia, William Ward.
Mr. Mayor, good morning. Thanks for being with us.
MYR. WILLIAM WARD, CHESAPEAKE VIRGINIA: Good morning.
KAGAN: As I understand this, this is not exactly welcome news to your community. You did not want this trial moved to your city.
WARD: That's correct. I'm disappointed. However, I would say that in that the court has made a decision to move the venue to Chesapeake that we will work with the court in every possible way during this adjudication of the case and try to minimize as much as possible the disruption to the normal flow of activities here in Chesapeake.
KAGAN: Your city or perhaps your office went so far as to file some documents with this court, did you not, explaining why you didn't want the trial to come there?
WARD: Yes, I had a verbal communication with the judge about two weeks ago, and a follow-up with a letter after polling my council members. They all supported my position that we felt that this was not the best venue for the trial, because of costs and a few other reasons, and disruption to our own citizens and the normal flow of business. However, the court has made a decision.
KAGAN: And did the judge have any response when you talked to her and told her those concerns?
WARD: Well, she had business, and had looked at our jail and the court, a new jail, the tunnel that leads from the jail to the courtroom, and it's a large courtroom, and I guess she felt that logistically, this is one of the best facilities in the state.
KAGAN: It's kind of a back-handed compliment, isn't it, sir?
WARD: It certainly is. You know, I would much rather that the case was heard somewhere else, but as I said, it's coming to Chesapeake. We'll do our best, and we'll live with it.
KAGAN: Any help you can expect from the state to deal with some of the security matters and those extra costs involved?
WARD: I don't so. I would hope so. Certainly we are stressed as it is now with our homeland security issues, and tomorrow, we have a POW coming to our city, a native of the city, David Williams, and so we have other things going on. We're a young city, 207,000 population, but you know, I just don't want this to disrupt the tranquillity and the normal flow of activities, and not that it will be a circus-like atmosphere, and we will certainly work to prevent it from coming that, but I just have serious reservations.
KAGAN: Well, here it comes, ready or not. Sounds like you're going to do your best to be ready. Mayor William Ward, thank you, sir. We wish you well.
WARD: Thank you.
KAGAN: Change of venue, the Lee Boyd Malvo case will be moved to Chesapeake, Virginia.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
