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AMERICAN MORNING
Interview With John Barnett
Aired July 30, 2003 - 09:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: John Barnett is the attorney for Jeremy Morse. He joins us from Orange, California this morning. Thank you for joining us. Appreciate your time this morning, sir. A hung jury. Do you read this as absolutely a big win for your side?
JOHN BARNETT, ATTORNEY FOR JEREMY MORSE: Well I don't think it's a big win for either side. I am disappointed that there wasn't a verdict, but I am not surprised. This is a very difficult case for both sides, and I believe that no matter how many times this case is tried, there will be no verdict.
O'BRIEN: It sounds as if the prosecution wants to try the case again. If they do decide to try this case again, what's your reaction to that?
BARNETT: Well, I hope that they choose not to do that, because I think it would be time and a waste of financial resources, because I think the result will be the same. I don't think 12 people are going to agree on this matter.
O'BRIEN: Some say that there's a pretty good chance, actually, that the case will be retried. Seven jurors, apparently, felt that your client was guilty. Will you change your strategy at all if this does go to another trial?
BARNETT: I don't think so. I think that 12 intelligent people worked very hard, and did the best that they could. And whether it was seven or six or five, that disagreed, I don't think that that matters much, because I think the point is that people just will not be able to agree on a jury -- a verdict on this case.
O'BRIEN: Are you representing Jeremy Morse in the civil lawsuits that are against him?
BARNETT: No, I don't. I don't represent him on anything other than the criminal matter.
O'BRIEN: So the focus you have said, and certainly in the trial, was that, what people saw in the videotape, there was more than that. Give us a sense of what was not seen on that videotape.
BARNETT: Well, what you don't see and hear is, for instance, the grabbing of my client's testicles by Donovan Jackson just prior to the punch. My client screamed, and said, Let go, and then punched. And that was testified to at -- during the course of the trial.
And Donovan Jackson did not deny that he grabbed Officer Morse's testicles just prior to the punch. And essentially, the prosecutor gave up on that portion of the case.
So when this video first aired, it seemed very brutal and unprovoked when he punched Donovan. But when the true facts were developed, even the prosecution had to conceive that the punch was justified.
O'BRIEN: Your client, in addition, is suing for racial discrimination. He is white, we should emphasize, and he says he's being treated and was treated more harshly than a black officer who was on the scene. Where does that stand? Do you know?
BARNETT: Well I don't represent him on those civil matters and I really can't speak to that. I didn't follow that lawsuit. That is being handled by others.
O'BRIEN: You have spoken to your client since the verdict came down? How's he doing?
BARNETT: Well, he's understandably upset that this matter is not yet concluded. But he's a very strong young man and he's going to do just fine.
O'BRIEN: Well John Barnett is Jeremy Morse's attorney. We will wait and see if there is actually a retrial in this case. Thank you for your time this morning.
BARNETT: Thank you.
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