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CNN Live At Daybreak
D.C. Area Sniper Trial Resumes Today
Aired October 28, 2003 - 05:22 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The D.C. area sniper trial resumes at 9:30 Eastern, just about four hours from now. There was some dramatic testimony on the fifth day of this trial. John Allen Muhammad watched as the widow of one victim testified about the impact on her family.
Our Jeanne Meserve has that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sobbing widow of sniper victim Premkumar Walekar had to be escorted out of court by her son as a witness described her husband's death. Her brother-in-law was asked later how she was doing.
VIJAY WALEKAR, VICTIM'S BROTHER: Not too good. It's like she's reliving the whole thing again.
MESERVE: Dr. Caroline Namrow described how Walekar staggered up to her van after he was hit with a look of shock, surprise, a very wide-eyed look and said to her, "Call an ambulance," before collapsing. She left her 22 month old child in the car to administer CPR. "I realized that he needed help and I am a doctor. I have to help." Namrow testified that she told Walekar he would be all right but didn't believe it herself.
Premkumar Walekar later died of his wound, a single high velocity rifle shot. He was one of five gunned down that day in the Washington area.
Dramatic testimony, too, from John Muhammad's first cousin, who told about a visit he made to her in Baton Rouge, Louisiana last year. Occasionally wiping her eyes, she testified Muhammad told her he was working undercover to find 500 pounds of C4 explosive stolen from the military. With him, she said, Lee Malvo, who Muhammad described as highly trained, and a rifle, which she said resembled a military weapon, though cross-examination from the defense cast doubt on whether it was the Bushmaster allegedly used in the sniper crimes.
(on camera): Judge LeRoy Millette today reaffirmed his decision not to allow any mental health testimony about possible early childhood trauma to Muhammad because Muhammad has refused to meet with prosecution experts. It is a major setback for the defense.
Jean Meserve, CNN, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
(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 28, 2003 - 05:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The D.C. area sniper trial resumes at 9:30 Eastern, just about four hours from now. There was some dramatic testimony on the fifth day of this trial. John Allen Muhammad watched as the widow of one victim testified about the impact on her family.
Our Jeanne Meserve has that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sobbing widow of sniper victim Premkumar Walekar had to be escorted out of court by her son as a witness described her husband's death. Her brother-in-law was asked later how she was doing.
VIJAY WALEKAR, VICTIM'S BROTHER: Not too good. It's like she's reliving the whole thing again.
MESERVE: Dr. Caroline Namrow described how Walekar staggered up to her van after he was hit with a look of shock, surprise, a very wide-eyed look and said to her, "Call an ambulance," before collapsing. She left her 22 month old child in the car to administer CPR. "I realized that he needed help and I am a doctor. I have to help." Namrow testified that she told Walekar he would be all right but didn't believe it herself.
Premkumar Walekar later died of his wound, a single high velocity rifle shot. He was one of five gunned down that day in the Washington area.
Dramatic testimony, too, from John Muhammad's first cousin, who told about a visit he made to her in Baton Rouge, Louisiana last year. Occasionally wiping her eyes, she testified Muhammad told her he was working undercover to find 500 pounds of C4 explosive stolen from the military. With him, she said, Lee Malvo, who Muhammad described as highly trained, and a rifle, which she said resembled a military weapon, though cross-examination from the defense cast doubt on whether it was the Bushmaster allegedly used in the sniper crimes.
(on camera): Judge LeRoy Millette today reaffirmed his decision not to allow any mental health testimony about possible early childhood trauma to Muhammad because Muhammad has refused to meet with prosecution experts. It is a major setback for the defense.
Jean Meserve, CNN, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
(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
