Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview With Larry Meyers Jr.

Aired November 18, 2003 - 10:31   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It is coming down to a life or death decision in the D.C. area sniper case. The penalty phase of John Allen Muhammad's trial is underway in a Virginia Beach courtroom. And Muhammad's ex-wife is among the witnesses expected to testify.
A jury found Muhammad guilty of all four counts against him, including capital murder charges. Now attorneys will debate whether Muhammad should die or spend the rest of his life in prison.

Joining us to talk more about the case to us is Larry Myers Jr. He is the nephew of Dean Meyers. That is the man Muhammad is convicted of killing. Mr. Meyers, thank you for being with us today.

LARRY MEYERS JR., NEPHEW OF DEAN MEYERS: Good morning.

KAGAN: And I think important through all this not forget the victim and focus too much on the criminal. Please tell us a little bit about your uncle.

MEYERS: My uncle was a very giving man that took his responsibilities as a citizen and a Christian and a family man and friend very seriously. And I'm sure he'd be happy with the first step of the guilty verdict that came out.

KAGAN: I had a chance to talk with your dad and have him on a little bit ago, right before the trial started. And it does sound like your uncle is a special man, indeed.

Tell me what your reaction was when you heard the verdict against John Allen Muhammad.

MEYERS: Well obviously our family was elated. We do realize, though, that it's a long process, there'll be an appeal process, especially in any, you know, death penalty case.

So, you know, we're just still waiting to let the process wind its way through to completion.

KAGAN: And I think your dad had told us that he would speak at the penalty phase if it came to this?

MEYERS: Yes, he will. And I believe he's the only one at this point that is slated. But, again, any family member would obviously be happy to do so, if asked.

KAGAN: And if you had your chance, what would you have to say to that jury? MEYERS: Basically, I'd tell them what the world lost, you know, by these evil acts that these people did. And I mean my uncle, you know, made it through Vietnam, being a patriot, looking for snipers in the jungle, got shot, came back and saw, you know, that the world needed to take care of disadvantaged children.

So he gave to World Vision for 23 years for children in Africa. He became a nature conservationist. And basically the world lost a lot of good people. There were exceptionally good people that these people took.

And if the death penalty is an option it certainly would fit in this instance.

KAGAN: You think that would be the appropriate punishment?

MEYERS: Well, our family because of its religious background, it's a very touchy subject, as it is in America. And, you know, our way through it is that we believe in the elected government that was put in place by God. And so we're hoping that they will carry out the appropriate penalty.

KAGAN: Meanwhile, not that far away in Chesapeake, Virginia, an 18-year-old also stands trial. Lee Boyd Malvo. What do you think should happen to him if he's convicted?

MEYERS: Well, again, that's another touchy subject, because obviously he was molded by Muhammad. It's fairly obvious.

If he would have met someone like my Uncle Dean he may have took a different path. So, again, we're going to let the jury see all the evidence and decide what would be the appropriate penalty. I believe the verdict's obvious. The evidence is just so overwhelming.

KAGAN: And your uncle's legacy, what will that be?

MEYERS: Well, basically we picked up the children that he sponsored in Africa. We've set up our Dean Myers Memorial fund to carry on his contributions to the Habitat for Humanity, World Vision and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

That list goes on and on. He gave to over 30 or 40 charities. And so -- basically talked to all his co-workers and family and got them to understand the value of being a humanitarian. And the world will be at a loss for that.

KAGAN: Well he's not with us here, but it sounds, just from when I had a chance to talk with you and with your father, he was a special man, indeed. And his spirit does live on.

MEYERS: Well thank you for the time.

KAGAN: Thank you. Appreciate that. Larry Myers Jr., the nephew of Dean Myers who was murdered and was the subject of the trial where John Allen Muhammad was found guilty yesterday. The penalty phase goes on in Virginia Beach. 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 18, 2003 - 10:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It is coming down to a life or death decision in the D.C. area sniper case. The penalty phase of John Allen Muhammad's trial is underway in a Virginia Beach courtroom. And Muhammad's ex-wife is among the witnesses expected to testify.
A jury found Muhammad guilty of all four counts against him, including capital murder charges. Now attorneys will debate whether Muhammad should die or spend the rest of his life in prison.

Joining us to talk more about the case to us is Larry Myers Jr. He is the nephew of Dean Meyers. That is the man Muhammad is convicted of killing. Mr. Meyers, thank you for being with us today.

LARRY MEYERS JR., NEPHEW OF DEAN MEYERS: Good morning.

KAGAN: And I think important through all this not forget the victim and focus too much on the criminal. Please tell us a little bit about your uncle.

MEYERS: My uncle was a very giving man that took his responsibilities as a citizen and a Christian and a family man and friend very seriously. And I'm sure he'd be happy with the first step of the guilty verdict that came out.

KAGAN: I had a chance to talk with your dad and have him on a little bit ago, right before the trial started. And it does sound like your uncle is a special man, indeed.

Tell me what your reaction was when you heard the verdict against John Allen Muhammad.

MEYERS: Well obviously our family was elated. We do realize, though, that it's a long process, there'll be an appeal process, especially in any, you know, death penalty case.

So, you know, we're just still waiting to let the process wind its way through to completion.

KAGAN: And I think your dad had told us that he would speak at the penalty phase if it came to this?

MEYERS: Yes, he will. And I believe he's the only one at this point that is slated. But, again, any family member would obviously be happy to do so, if asked.

KAGAN: And if you had your chance, what would you have to say to that jury? MEYERS: Basically, I'd tell them what the world lost, you know, by these evil acts that these people did. And I mean my uncle, you know, made it through Vietnam, being a patriot, looking for snipers in the jungle, got shot, came back and saw, you know, that the world needed to take care of disadvantaged children.

So he gave to World Vision for 23 years for children in Africa. He became a nature conservationist. And basically the world lost a lot of good people. There were exceptionally good people that these people took.

And if the death penalty is an option it certainly would fit in this instance.

KAGAN: You think that would be the appropriate punishment?

MEYERS: Well, our family because of its religious background, it's a very touchy subject, as it is in America. And, you know, our way through it is that we believe in the elected government that was put in place by God. And so we're hoping that they will carry out the appropriate penalty.

KAGAN: Meanwhile, not that far away in Chesapeake, Virginia, an 18-year-old also stands trial. Lee Boyd Malvo. What do you think should happen to him if he's convicted?

MEYERS: Well, again, that's another touchy subject, because obviously he was molded by Muhammad. It's fairly obvious.

If he would have met someone like my Uncle Dean he may have took a different path. So, again, we're going to let the jury see all the evidence and decide what would be the appropriate penalty. I believe the verdict's obvious. The evidence is just so overwhelming.

KAGAN: And your uncle's legacy, what will that be?

MEYERS: Well, basically we picked up the children that he sponsored in Africa. We've set up our Dean Myers Memorial fund to carry on his contributions to the Habitat for Humanity, World Vision and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

That list goes on and on. He gave to over 30 or 40 charities. And so -- basically talked to all his co-workers and family and got them to understand the value of being a humanitarian. And the world will be at a loss for that.

KAGAN: Well he's not with us here, but it sounds, just from when I had a chance to talk with you and with your father, he was a special man, indeed. And his spirit does live on.

MEYERS: Well thank you for the time.

KAGAN: Thank you. Appreciate that. Larry Myers Jr., the nephew of Dean Myers who was murdered and was the subject of the trial where John Allen Muhammad was found guilty yesterday. The penalty phase goes on in Virginia Beach. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com