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CNN Live At Daybreak
In Arizona, Verdict Death for Man Convicted of Hate Crime
Aired October 10, 2003 - 05:36 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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In Arizona, the verdict is death for a man convicted of a hate crime. Frank Roque was sentenced to die for killing an Indian immigrant four days after the September 11 attacks. Roque faces death by lethal injection for gunning down Balbir Sodhi. Roque's shooting rampage also targeted a Lebanese gas station clerk and an Afghan family's home.
For Sodhi's Indian family, it's a matter of tragedy striking twice.
CNN New Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two years after Balbir Sodhi's murder, his younger brother Jagjit Sodhi, a professional cook, says he's coming to terms with his grief.
JAGJIT SODHI, BROTHER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We know that Balbir can never come back, but with this sentence, our pain has been reduced.
BINDRA: That pain began just days after 9/11, when Frank Roque shot Balbir Sodhi outside his gas station in Mesa, Arizona. Balbir belonged to the Sikh faith, his religion requiring him to wear a turban and a long beard. But his unique dress code also made him a target for his attacker, who mistook him to be a Middle Eastern man.
Thousands turned out for Balbir's funeral and a memorial service, including his elderly parents.
INDERJIT KAUR, MOTHER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I respect the Americans because only one of them made the mistake of killing my son. The rest of them stood by us.
BINDRA (on camera): Just 10 months after Balbir Sodhi's murder, his family here received more bad news. This time, one of Sodhi's younger brothers, a cabby in San Francisco, had been shot dead. The Sodhi family's American dream was shattered, twice over.
(voice-over): Police are still looking for Sukhpal Sodhi's attacker. Meanwhile, his mother spends her days mourning the loss of two sons. The Sodhis show me the house Balbir built. He hoped to settle here. Now, all that remains are memories. The Sodhis also share with me their most treasured possession, sent by an unknown American. INDERJIT KAUR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): At Balbir's funeral, the Americans shed a lot of tears. I begged them not to cry so much. Even I didn't cry as much as they did.
BINDRA: The Sodhis say this portrait keeps their son's memories alive. It also reminds them, they say, their sons live on in many American hearts.
Satinder Bindra, CNN, Pasewa, North India.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 October 10, 2003 - 05:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In Arizona, the verdict is death for a man convicted of a hate crime. Frank Roque was sentenced to die for killing an Indian immigrant four days after the September 11 attacks. Roque faces death by lethal injection for gunning down Balbir Sodhi. Roque's shooting rampage also targeted a Lebanese gas station clerk and an Afghan family's home.
For Sodhi's Indian family, it's a matter of tragedy striking twice.
CNN New Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two years after Balbir Sodhi's murder, his younger brother Jagjit Sodhi, a professional cook, says he's coming to terms with his grief.
JAGJIT SODHI, BROTHER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We know that Balbir can never come back, but with this sentence, our pain has been reduced.
BINDRA: That pain began just days after 9/11, when Frank Roque shot Balbir Sodhi outside his gas station in Mesa, Arizona. Balbir belonged to the Sikh faith, his religion requiring him to wear a turban and a long beard. But his unique dress code also made him a target for his attacker, who mistook him to be a Middle Eastern man.
Thousands turned out for Balbir's funeral and a memorial service, including his elderly parents.
INDERJIT KAUR, MOTHER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I respect the Americans because only one of them made the mistake of killing my son. The rest of them stood by us.
BINDRA (on camera): Just 10 months after Balbir Sodhi's murder, his family here received more bad news. This time, one of Sodhi's younger brothers, a cabby in San Francisco, had been shot dead. The Sodhi family's American dream was shattered, twice over.
(voice-over): Police are still looking for Sukhpal Sodhi's attacker. Meanwhile, his mother spends her days mourning the loss of two sons. The Sodhis show me the house Balbir built. He hoped to settle here. Now, all that remains are memories. The Sodhis also share with me their most treasured possession, sent by an unknown American. INDERJIT KAUR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): At Balbir's funeral, the Americans shed a lot of tears. I begged them not to cry so much. Even I didn't cry as much as they did.
BINDRA: The Sodhis say this portrait keeps their son's memories alive. It also reminds them, they say, their sons live on in many American hearts.
Satinder Bindra, CNN, Pasewa, North India.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
