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CNN Live At Daybreak
Capturing the Friedmans: Case Reexamined
Aired February 23, 2004 - 06:48 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: The Oscar nominated documentary "Capturing the Friedmans" portrays the real life experiences of a father and son convicted on numerous child molestation charges. Now in a strange turn of events, the film is being used as part of a legal battle to reopen the case.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Friedman's family's grim (ph) suburban home looks nothing like it did that dark night in 1987 when Arnold Friedman and his teenage son Jesse were taken into custody on accusations they sexually abused several children inside.
That contrast between the popular teacher and the convicted sex offender is the center of "Capturing the Friedmans," a summer movie nominated for an Oscar for best documentary feature that suggests this back-against-the-wall family was rushed into guilty pleas after children were coached into accusing them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a 19-year-old kid and he is now facing the most heinous charge known to man.
HINOJOSA: Investigators deny anyone was coached. But Jesse Friedman, released after serving 13 years in prison, has asked that his plea be overturned because he believes he was deceived by the strength of the evidence against him.
JESSE FRIEDMAN, CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER: And I always believed that the vast majority of the children who the police interviewed told the police that nothing happened.
HINOJOSA: That's not the way some of the kids remember it says a lawyer representing some of them.
SAL MARINELLO, VICTIMS' LAWYER: They know what the truth is in this case. And when they see something as biased as this, it has to affect them.
HINOJOSA: A complicated case, but not without merit says a columnist who covered the story.
ALVIN BESSENT, "NEWSDAY" EDITORIAL WRITER: It's hard to know for sure because there was no trial. But I am convinced that Arnold and Jesse were guilty of doing something untoward (ph) to children in that house on Piccadilly Road.
HINOJOSA (on camera): What convinces him is what the movie left out, that a third defendant pleaded guilty and told authorities he witnessed the crimes. And while Jesse Friedman denies it now, he has told reporters over the years that his father, who later died in prison, sexually abused him too.
Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.
(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 February 23, 2004 - 06:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Oscar nominated documentary "Capturing the Friedmans" portrays the real life experiences of a father and son convicted on numerous child molestation charges. Now in a strange turn of events, the film is being used as part of a legal battle to reopen the case.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Friedman's family's grim (ph) suburban home looks nothing like it did that dark night in 1987 when Arnold Friedman and his teenage son Jesse were taken into custody on accusations they sexually abused several children inside.
That contrast between the popular teacher and the convicted sex offender is the center of "Capturing the Friedmans," a summer movie nominated for an Oscar for best documentary feature that suggests this back-against-the-wall family was rushed into guilty pleas after children were coached into accusing them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a 19-year-old kid and he is now facing the most heinous charge known to man.
HINOJOSA: Investigators deny anyone was coached. But Jesse Friedman, released after serving 13 years in prison, has asked that his plea be overturned because he believes he was deceived by the strength of the evidence against him.
JESSE FRIEDMAN, CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER: And I always believed that the vast majority of the children who the police interviewed told the police that nothing happened.
HINOJOSA: That's not the way some of the kids remember it says a lawyer representing some of them.
SAL MARINELLO, VICTIMS' LAWYER: They know what the truth is in this case. And when they see something as biased as this, it has to affect them.
HINOJOSA: A complicated case, but not without merit says a columnist who covered the story.
ALVIN BESSENT, "NEWSDAY" EDITORIAL WRITER: It's hard to know for sure because there was no trial. But I am convinced that Arnold and Jesse were guilty of doing something untoward (ph) to children in that house on Piccadilly Road.
HINOJOSA (on camera): What convinces him is what the movie left out, that a third defendant pleaded guilty and told authorities he witnessed the crimes. And while Jesse Friedman denies it now, he has told reporters over the years that his father, who later died in prison, sexually abused him too.
Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.
(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
