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CNN Live Today

Sniper Suspects

Aired July 24, 2003 - 10:00   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Virginia, police say Lee Malvo and John Allen Muhammed worked side by side on a cross country killing spree that killed 13 people. Today, the sniper suspects go to court separately, and possibly on opposite sides of a defense case.
CNN's Patty Davis is following this case for us. She joins us now with the very latest developments.

Good morning, Patty.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

Well, defense attorney for sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo want a Virginia judge to throw out a Montgomery County Police detective's interrogation of their client the day that he was arrested. Malvo would not talk. He simply used hand and facial gestures to communicate.

A detective told Malvo that police knew that something that had happened that caused him to leave things behind, along with a note after the killing of a bus driver in Maryland. Malvo nodded yes, his eyes swelling with tears.

The detectives also told Malvo that Massoponax (ph), Virginia was crazy with roadblocks after another victim was gunned down at a gas station. I bet you guys were surprised, the detective said. Malvo allegedly nodded in the affirmative and laughed. Prosecutors have agreed not to use that particular interrogation at trial. They say that it is ambiguous, but they do want to use statements that Malvo made to guards at Baltimore's Super Max prison the next day. Prosecutors had said that Malvo had asked to eat some of the guard's fish, and after they gave it to him, Malvo allegedly blurted that, quote, he always fasted before his missions.

Now prosecutors said Malvo's demeanor was of someone who was proud and comfortable with the brutal aftermath of his handiwork. Defense officials say Malvo's conversation should not be allowed at trial because it violated his Miranda rights. A judge to sort through all those today. Meanwhile, John Muhammad, Malvo's alleged accomplice, is also before a judge. Lawyers are expected to talk about questions for prospective jurors, among other matters.

Now will lawyers pit the two sniper suspects against one another? Malvo's attorneys are trying to show that he was controlled by the older man, Muhammad, raising the possibility of a possible false confession by Malvo -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thank you very much, Patty. Patty Davis in Washington, reporting for us on this. We appreciate that.

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Aired July 24, 2003 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Virginia, police say Lee Malvo and John Allen Muhammed worked side by side on a cross country killing spree that killed 13 people. Today, the sniper suspects go to court separately, and possibly on opposite sides of a defense case.
CNN's Patty Davis is following this case for us. She joins us now with the very latest developments.

Good morning, Patty.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

Well, defense attorney for sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo want a Virginia judge to throw out a Montgomery County Police detective's interrogation of their client the day that he was arrested. Malvo would not talk. He simply used hand and facial gestures to communicate.

A detective told Malvo that police knew that something that had happened that caused him to leave things behind, along with a note after the killing of a bus driver in Maryland. Malvo nodded yes, his eyes swelling with tears.

The detectives also told Malvo that Massoponax (ph), Virginia was crazy with roadblocks after another victim was gunned down at a gas station. I bet you guys were surprised, the detective said. Malvo allegedly nodded in the affirmative and laughed. Prosecutors have agreed not to use that particular interrogation at trial. They say that it is ambiguous, but they do want to use statements that Malvo made to guards at Baltimore's Super Max prison the next day. Prosecutors had said that Malvo had asked to eat some of the guard's fish, and after they gave it to him, Malvo allegedly blurted that, quote, he always fasted before his missions.

Now prosecutors said Malvo's demeanor was of someone who was proud and comfortable with the brutal aftermath of his handiwork. Defense officials say Malvo's conversation should not be allowed at trial because it violated his Miranda rights. A judge to sort through all those today. Meanwhile, John Muhammad, Malvo's alleged accomplice, is also before a judge. Lawyers are expected to talk about questions for prospective jurors, among other matters.

Now will lawyers pit the two sniper suspects against one another? Malvo's attorneys are trying to show that he was controlled by the older man, Muhammad, raising the possibility of a possible false confession by Malvo -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thank you very much, Patty. Patty Davis in Washington, reporting for us on this. We appreciate that.

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