Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Coffey Talk: In Court Today
Aired November 13, 2003 - 06:06 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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Virginia, one sniper is nearing an end while another is just getting under way. In Virginia Beach, attorneys will present closing arguments in the trial of 42-year-old John Muhammad. And in Chesapeake, Virginia, opening statements are set in the trial of 18-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo.
In Eagle, Colorado, Kobe Bryant will make his first appearance before the judge who will preside over his trial. Bryant's attorneys are not expected to enter a plea.
We want to delve a little deeper, and what better way to do that than to partake in some "Coffey Talk."
Live to Miami now and our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey.
Good morning -- Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Let's start with Kobe Bryant. He has an opportunity to enter a plea. Nobody thinks he will. Why?
COFFEY: Well, one of the reasons is no one wants to start the six-month clock running on his speedy trial rights. That would land the trial in June, still the NBA season ongoing. So, it's expected that they'll deal with procedural scheduling matters today, make sure the trial takes place obviously sometimes after June, and maybe schedule some of the critical court issues and court motions that will be heard before Kobe Bryant's case actually goes to trial.
COSTELLO: And this time cameras will be allowed in the courtroom, right?
COFFEY: For these kinds of procedural things, yes. The important stuff, maybe not.
COSTELLO: And this is just a procedural hearing, but the media is turning out in force. I understand there is a big heated tent nearby so the media can stay warm during the proceedings.
COFFEY: Don't want cold reporters looking chilled in this kind of thing. The bottom line is everything about this case is going to be micro-analyzed and torn apart. Even though there will be a huge amount of media interest outside, not much happening today. But this will be the first time this judge sees the case, Carol. So, there is going to be a lot to talk about whether a lot of issues happen inside the courtroom or not. COSTELLO: You talk about micro-analyzing. Let's talk about the Scott Peterson preliminary hearing. It is still going on. What's to be expected today?
COFFEY: Four days on just mitochondrial DNA. But as the hearing continues, the big question remains: Will Amber Frey appear? And if so, when will she? She's critical, Carol, not only to motive, but apparently she heard Scott Peterson say some pretty horrible things, including that he was a widower and would be facing his first holiday season without his dead wife. That kind of stuff could be devastating. And sooner or later, that evidence is going to be heard in this preliminary hearing.
COSTELLO: Yes, and that was before Laci Peterson's body was found. You know, it's all over. "People" magazine has a big article out in the current issue about Amber Frey and details many of the things that she told police, and it's amazing how this information continues to leak out.
COFFEY: It keeps pouring out, and it underscores that while there are some gaps missing in the physical evidence, Scott Peterson's own statements to Amber Frey, statements to police, filled with inconsistencies, filled with strange, sometime false comments, may end up being the most important evidence of all when Scott Peterson's case goes to trial.
COSTELLO: Kendall Coffey live from Miami, thank you.
COFFEY: Thanks, Carol.
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 November 13, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Virginia, one sniper is nearing an end while another is just getting under way. In Virginia Beach, attorneys will present closing arguments in the trial of 42-year-old John Muhammad. And in Chesapeake, Virginia, opening statements are set in the trial of 18-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo.
In Eagle, Colorado, Kobe Bryant will make his first appearance before the judge who will preside over his trial. Bryant's attorneys are not expected to enter a plea.
We want to delve a little deeper, and what better way to do that than to partake in some "Coffey Talk."
Live to Miami now and our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey.
Good morning -- Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Let's start with Kobe Bryant. He has an opportunity to enter a plea. Nobody thinks he will. Why?
COFFEY: Well, one of the reasons is no one wants to start the six-month clock running on his speedy trial rights. That would land the trial in June, still the NBA season ongoing. So, it's expected that they'll deal with procedural scheduling matters today, make sure the trial takes place obviously sometimes after June, and maybe schedule some of the critical court issues and court motions that will be heard before Kobe Bryant's case actually goes to trial.
COSTELLO: And this time cameras will be allowed in the courtroom, right?
COFFEY: For these kinds of procedural things, yes. The important stuff, maybe not.
COSTELLO: And this is just a procedural hearing, but the media is turning out in force. I understand there is a big heated tent nearby so the media can stay warm during the proceedings.
COFFEY: Don't want cold reporters looking chilled in this kind of thing. The bottom line is everything about this case is going to be micro-analyzed and torn apart. Even though there will be a huge amount of media interest outside, not much happening today. But this will be the first time this judge sees the case, Carol. So, there is going to be a lot to talk about whether a lot of issues happen inside the courtroom or not. COSTELLO: You talk about micro-analyzing. Let's talk about the Scott Peterson preliminary hearing. It is still going on. What's to be expected today?
COFFEY: Four days on just mitochondrial DNA. But as the hearing continues, the big question remains: Will Amber Frey appear? And if so, when will she? She's critical, Carol, not only to motive, but apparently she heard Scott Peterson say some pretty horrible things, including that he was a widower and would be facing his first holiday season without his dead wife. That kind of stuff could be devastating. And sooner or later, that evidence is going to be heard in this preliminary hearing.
COSTELLO: Yes, and that was before Laci Peterson's body was found. You know, it's all over. "People" magazine has a big article out in the current issue about Amber Frey and details many of the things that she told police, and it's amazing how this information continues to leak out.
COFFEY: It keeps pouring out, and it underscores that while there are some gaps missing in the physical evidence, Scott Peterson's own statements to Amber Frey, statements to police, filled with inconsistencies, filled with strange, sometime false comments, may end up being the most important evidence of all when Scott Peterson's case goes to trial.
COSTELLO: Kendall Coffey live from Miami, thank you.
COFFEY: Thanks, Carol.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
