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CNN Live Today

Jordan Stops Terror Attacks in Capital, Among Supposed Targets Were U.S. Embassy, Prime Minister's Office

Aired April 27, 2004 - 10:30   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: Let's take a look at the top stories "At This Hour." Spanish police have arrested a 24-year-old Moroccan in connection to last month's deadly train bombings. One hundred and ninety people were killed and more than 1,800 wounded in the coordinated explosions. Five other suspects are being sought.
A scene that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago played out today in Belgium. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi getting a warm welcome from European leaders during his first trip to the continent in 15 years. It's another reward about his recent about- face on terror and the payments that he's agreed to make to Pan Am Flight 103 victims.

The sisters of a Wisconsin National Guardsman killed in Iraq are due to announce their decision today on whether they'll return to their units in the war zone. Rachel and Charity Witmer can seek reassignment if they want. Their sister, 20-year-old Michelle, was killed in an ambush near Baghdad earlier this month.

In South Africa, a nation remembers its past and reaffirms its commitment to the future. Ten years ago today the country witnessed the end of racial oppression known as apartheid. South Africans of all races voted a decade ago and elected Nelson Mandela the country's first black president.

The government of Jordan says it could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks ever. Suspected al Qaeda operatives allegedly planned a major attack in the heart of the Jordanian capital. Among the supposed targets, the U.S. embassy and the Jordanian prime minister's office.

In a series of raids one week ago, security forces say they broke up the plot, killing three suspects and arresting several more.

Now as our John Vause reports from Amman, some of those in custody are talking.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jordanian special forces raiding an apartment house in Amman in the hunt for an al Qaeda cell. Some of the suspects are killed, others arrested, ending what Jordanian intelligence says was a bold plan to use chemical weapons and truck bombs in their capital; targets including Jordanian intelligence headquarters, the prime minister's office and the U.S. embassy. The Jordanian government fears the death toll could have run into the thousands, more deadly even than 9/11.

For the first time the alleged plotters were interviewed on videotape, aired on Jordanian TV. CNN obtained copies of the tapes from the Jordanians. This man revealing his orders came from a man named Azme Jayoussi, the cell's alleged ringleader.

HUSSEIN SHARIF (through translator): The aim of this operation was to strike Jordan and the Hashemite royal family, a war against the crusaders and infidels. Azme told me that this would be the first chemical suicide attack that al Qaeda would execute.

VAUSE: Also appearing on the tape, Azme Jayoussi, who says his orders came from this man, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the same man the U.S. says is behind many of the violent attacks in Iraq.

AZME JAYOUSSI, ACCUSED PLOTTER (through translator): I took advanced explosives course, poisons, high level, then I pledged allegiance to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, to obey him without any questioning, to be on his side. After this Afghanistan fell. I met Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq.

VAUSE: Al Jayoussi was only shown in profile. He had marks on his hand, neck and face. The Jordanians who taped the confessions say the suspect suffered the injuries during the arrest. CNN was not allowed access to any of those arrested. The Jordanian government says this plot is only the latest attempt by al Qaeda to destabilize this country.

ASMA KHADER, JORDANIAN MINISTER OF STATE: Jordan was fighting this type of plans years now, and the security forces were able to confront them.

VAUSE (on camera): The Jordanians say the alleged terrorist plot was just days away from execution. If successful, Jordan's King Abdullah told a U.S. newspaper it could have decapitated his government.

John Vause, CNN, Amman, Jordan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Now we take America's pulse. According the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, President Bush's favorable rating stands at 56 percent. His unfavorable rating is 42 percent. John Kerry's favorable rating is nearly the same at about 54 percent and his unfavorable rating is 37 percent.

You wouldn't know it from the rhetoric on the campaign trail but Democrats are beginning the second half of the parties primaries and caucuses. Kerry is all be assured the nomination and increased pressure from the GOP. The latest challenge, whether Kerry misled people about his role in a 1971 anti-war protest during which Vietnam veterans threw away their medals.

Earlier today on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," the Democrat's national chairman came out gunning. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: I find it fascinating that Dick Cheney, who had the opportunity to go to war in Vietnam, chose not to, that was his own decision, nor did President Bush go to Vietnam.

The issue will you stand up and fight for America? John Kerry has proven, he did it as a young man and continually fought to do that and he fought for weapons programs. And when Dick Cheney was secretary of defense, he tried to cut 81 weapons program. And hypocrisy of him coming out and trying to attack John Kerry yesterday...

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And we check in now at the White House which is responding this morning to the latest verbal volleys on the campaign trail. Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us with the latest on that. Suzanne, good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. White House Spokesman Scott McClellan just received some briefings and some questions from the reporters and the informal gaggle just moments ago. There were essentially two things that came out this.

First of all, it was Vice President Dick Cheney's speech yesterday he made at Westminster College. Since he has made that speech, he talked about Kerry, challenging his voting record as a senator on weapon systems. Also just his ability to lead the country when it comes to national security. Many questions about that.

The president of Westminster College, after Cheney made that speech, said that he was disappointed and surprised by the comments. He sent out an e-mail to the students and to the faculty, said that he called it Kerry bashing. He also said that he wanted Senator Kerry to go before the students and give him a chance to rebut some of these accusations in what he calls really was Kerry bashing or, you know, character assassination.

The White House taking issue with this. Scott McClellan asked numerous times whether or not the administration agreed with what Cheney was saying yesterday, how they would characterize it. McClellan saying, quite frankly, he called these discussions -- he said it was not a personal attack but, rather, that the vice president was outlining what he called the clear choices between the candidates. So clearly this White House trying to put that controversy to rest.

The other thing that came out of the gaggle was new details about the president and vice president going before the full commission. This is on Thursday. The full 9/11 Commission here at the White House. We've been told it's taking place at 9:30 in the morning here at the White House, that the president has been preparing for this testimony. That he and the vice president have been coffering with some of their staff. He has met with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, his Chief of Staff Andy Card. And of course his White House counsel Alberto Gonzalez. We are told that Gonzalez will be in the room with the commissioners, the president and vice president at that time.

We're also told there is not going to be any kind of recorder that will actually record the question and answer service. But it will be note-taking that he says because -- that is because a lot of the information is still classified in nature, but that the president and the vice president look forward to answering some of those questions on Thursday before the 9/11 Commission.

KAGAN: Suzanne, when it happens, all we'll know is that it's happening? We're not expecting anybody to come out afterwards and tell us what was said some.

MALVEAUX: We also asked Scott about that as well, whether or not we'll get any kind of debrief. He said if you take a look at what happened with Rice and her testimony, that you had statements from the commissioner and the vice commissioner, that they expect that to happen.

He also said as well, of course, they'll be available to make comments as well as take some questions. So we do expect that they'll have something to say after they answer those questions before the commission.

KAGAN: But there's a reason it's taking place behind closed doors for the interest of privacy there. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you for that.

Both sides have argued their case. Now it's up to jurors to decide Jayson Williams' fate. A live report from Somerville, New Jersey straight ahead with our Deborah Feyerick.

And news about Halle Berry. Find out what we're talking about when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: A Fresno, California man who is accused of killing nine of his children is due back in court today. Marcus Wesson is scheduled to be arraigned on nine counts of murder and 13 counts of sexual abuse. Yesterday, the presiding judge said that Wesson's attorneys will be able to see police search warrants in that case.

Jurors in the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial have heard the various versions of what happened the night that Williams limo driver was shot and killed. Now the jury must decide the fate of the former basketball star.

Our Deborah Feyerick joins us from Summerville, New Jersey, where deliberations begin today.

Deb, good morning.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Daryn.

Well, the judge is now reading the charges against Jayson Williams. He's been doing to for about an hour. He thought it would take about that long. Jayson Williams is in court. His wife, Tonya, sitting just behind him. Both of them following along, reading that charging document. The judge going over all eight counts against Williams, the most serious being of course being aggravated and reckless manslaughter.

Closing arguments were yesterday. During that time, William's Billy Martin, stressed that Williams never pulled that trigger.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLY MARTIN, JAYSON WILLIAM'S ATTY.: It was an accident. Try as they may to make this a crime, it was not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Prosecutors on the other hand saying it was no accident, that Williams knew what he was doing when he took that gun and aimed it at Gus Christofi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you have loaded weapons in your gun cabinet and you take one down in the presence of three or four guests, you'd better look -- you'd better look real hard and real carefully.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: It's been three long months. This trial has definitely had its shares of ups and downs. It's been very bitter at times, with the defense attorneys accusing prosecutors of everything from racial bias to misconduct. The jury very close to getting this case, and finally having a chance to talk about it all -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Deborah, what can you tell bus the makeup of this jury?

FEYERICK: It is a diverse jury. There are three African- Americans. There are 10 women. Also, there are four men, and, of course, several of those alternates will be excused.

The prosecution is pretty happy with the jury. The defense is not happy, because there were several African-American men who were stricken from the jury basically. The prosecutors just didn't want them on, and so those, they were taken off. So right now, it's anyone's guess. You can never know what a jury is thinking or how they're going to react.

KAGAN: You certainly have covered enough of these trials with shocking endings, to be able to say that. FEYERICK: We'll be checking back in Summerfield, New Jersey.

Deborah Feyerick, thank you for that.

Interesting question ahead, is the human male headed for extinction? There is a new book out saying the evidence is all around us. Men, you're going to be toast, like in the hundred thousand years. You're going to meet "Adam's Curse," and the author, Brian Sykes, he explains his theory in his new book. That's when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: He has conquered rap. He has his own apparel line, and last night, Sean Combs took his a first step toward becoming a big Diddy on Broadway. He made his on-stage debut at New York's Royale Theater, starring in the revival of "Raisin in the Sun." Combs plays Walter Lee Younger. That was a character, by the way, originally portrayed by Sidney Poitier. "The New York Times" panned last night's performance, but "The New York Post" said that, you know what, Combs was, quite, pretty damn good. You go, P. Diddy.

Halle Berry is about to become available again. Good news for men, not good news for Ms. Berry. The Oscar-winning actress has filed for divorce from R&B singer Eric Benet. The couple had been married almost three years before separating last October. The marriage had been dogged by tabloid questions over Benet's faithfulness.

Well, this might be something that Halle Berry would like to think about, a world without men? We're not quoting from some brochure in the old ERA movement. We are talking about a real scenario that is being forward by one of the top geneticist in the world. It's a new book. It's called "Adam's Curse." Professor Brian Sykes theorizes that human males are in the process of going extinct. Does it sound intriguing or scary? Professor Sykes is with us from New York to explain what he means.

Professor, good morning.

PROF. BRIAN SYKES, AUTHOR, "ADAM'S CURSE": Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: You know, you talk about men going extinct. There are a thousand jokes in there, but are you serious that there is something wrong with the y chromosome, as you see it.

SYKES: That's right. I mean, I wanted to have a genetic look at one of the most obvious facts about species, which is that we're divided into males and females, men and women. And basically, all geneticists know that men are basically genetically modified women, and the modification is this thing called the y chromosome. And I've been looking at this chromosome for a long time.

KAGAN: So you're just another version of us is what you're saying?

SYKES: Well, we are modified. In other words, if this y chromosome hadn't kicked in when we were in the embryo, everybody would turn out female. So the y chromosome in itself is rather dodgy. It's decaying rapidly. You can see this. It's the cause of a lot of male infertility, for example.

KAGAN: So you're basically saying it's wearing out over the years, and we should say, that even in your theory, you're talking about 125,000 years from now, so none of us women are off the hook quite yet of getting along without men?

You're going to be around for a long time to come.

SYKES: But the day will come. The day will come.

KAGAN: And will this mean ultimately the end of the human species?

SYKES: Well, I don't think it will. I mean, I think actually, as a really basic genetic point, all men do is introduce a sperm to an egg, and that introduces some DNA which could equally well come from another egg, as far as the genetics is concerned, so the day will come before very long when two women are able to have children by fusing one egg from each of them.

KAGAN: So if you -- well, go ahead.

SYKES: Yes. And, in fact, though I predict that that might be some years away in my book, "Adam's Curse," it was actually done last week in mice. A mouse was born from no father at all, from the infusion of two eggs and two moms. So the toasting is starting.

KAGAN: OK, well, let me ask you this, as a scientist and as a man and a member of the human species, does it concern you, the idea of human race without men?

SYKES: Well, if I was speaking on behalf of all my genes and in view of how much destruction men have caused the place and the planet over the last few thousand years, I think on behalf of most of my genes, they have a better long-term future if the world indeed was without men, or at least they should start behaving a lot better.

KAGAN: Well, is this something that actually, if you look at it, is this something the scientists should try to work on to keep from happening?

SYKES: Well, I don't know, you can only do so much. I suppose part of it, doing anything, is the realization. But in my book, I do uncover a very deeply embedded conflict between males and females, which I think...

KAGAN: Oh, we have some conflicts, professor. That is a different book, though.

SYKES: Some of it is in there.

KAGAN: That's all the "Men are From mars, Women Are From Venus." SYKES: Yes, but I've been studying Y chromosomes, and you can trace many of them back to historical figures, who were vicious, vicious war mongers, and their y chromosome, despite what they did to the planet and other people, their y chromosomes really benefited from those.

KAGAN: What kind of feedback are you getting from your scientific community?

SYKES: Well, a great deal of controversy, naturally, but -- and not everyone agrees that the y chromosome will eventually fizzle out. I think it will, and there is debate how long it's going to take. I mean, it's not going to be tomorrow or anything like that. But I think most think that will eventually disappear, and our species will go the way of many others and become extinct, unless we can do something about it.

KAGAN: On that upbeat note, I got to say, as a woman living today, I'm glad you guys are around, instead of living 125,000 years from now. Interesting things to think about, though.

Professor Brian Sykes, the book is called "Adam's Curse." Thanks for stopping by.

SYKES: Thank you.

KAGAN: And for all the latest on books, movies, television and music, you can point your Internet browser to CNN.com/entertainment. We will be back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER UPDATE)

Let's not wait another second, get started with the second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 27, 2004 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at the top stories "At This Hour." Spanish police have arrested a 24-year-old Moroccan in connection to last month's deadly train bombings. One hundred and ninety people were killed and more than 1,800 wounded in the coordinated explosions. Five other suspects are being sought.
A scene that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago played out today in Belgium. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi getting a warm welcome from European leaders during his first trip to the continent in 15 years. It's another reward about his recent about- face on terror and the payments that he's agreed to make to Pan Am Flight 103 victims.

The sisters of a Wisconsin National Guardsman killed in Iraq are due to announce their decision today on whether they'll return to their units in the war zone. Rachel and Charity Witmer can seek reassignment if they want. Their sister, 20-year-old Michelle, was killed in an ambush near Baghdad earlier this month.

In South Africa, a nation remembers its past and reaffirms its commitment to the future. Ten years ago today the country witnessed the end of racial oppression known as apartheid. South Africans of all races voted a decade ago and elected Nelson Mandela the country's first black president.

The government of Jordan says it could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks ever. Suspected al Qaeda operatives allegedly planned a major attack in the heart of the Jordanian capital. Among the supposed targets, the U.S. embassy and the Jordanian prime minister's office.

In a series of raids one week ago, security forces say they broke up the plot, killing three suspects and arresting several more.

Now as our John Vause reports from Amman, some of those in custody are talking.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jordanian special forces raiding an apartment house in Amman in the hunt for an al Qaeda cell. Some of the suspects are killed, others arrested, ending what Jordanian intelligence says was a bold plan to use chemical weapons and truck bombs in their capital; targets including Jordanian intelligence headquarters, the prime minister's office and the U.S. embassy. The Jordanian government fears the death toll could have run into the thousands, more deadly even than 9/11.

For the first time the alleged plotters were interviewed on videotape, aired on Jordanian TV. CNN obtained copies of the tapes from the Jordanians. This man revealing his orders came from a man named Azme Jayoussi, the cell's alleged ringleader.

HUSSEIN SHARIF (through translator): The aim of this operation was to strike Jordan and the Hashemite royal family, a war against the crusaders and infidels. Azme told me that this would be the first chemical suicide attack that al Qaeda would execute.

VAUSE: Also appearing on the tape, Azme Jayoussi, who says his orders came from this man, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the same man the U.S. says is behind many of the violent attacks in Iraq.

AZME JAYOUSSI, ACCUSED PLOTTER (through translator): I took advanced explosives course, poisons, high level, then I pledged allegiance to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, to obey him without any questioning, to be on his side. After this Afghanistan fell. I met Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq.

VAUSE: Al Jayoussi was only shown in profile. He had marks on his hand, neck and face. The Jordanians who taped the confessions say the suspect suffered the injuries during the arrest. CNN was not allowed access to any of those arrested. The Jordanian government says this plot is only the latest attempt by al Qaeda to destabilize this country.

ASMA KHADER, JORDANIAN MINISTER OF STATE: Jordan was fighting this type of plans years now, and the security forces were able to confront them.

VAUSE (on camera): The Jordanians say the alleged terrorist plot was just days away from execution. If successful, Jordan's King Abdullah told a U.S. newspaper it could have decapitated his government.

John Vause, CNN, Amman, Jordan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Now we take America's pulse. According the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, President Bush's favorable rating stands at 56 percent. His unfavorable rating is 42 percent. John Kerry's favorable rating is nearly the same at about 54 percent and his unfavorable rating is 37 percent.

You wouldn't know it from the rhetoric on the campaign trail but Democrats are beginning the second half of the parties primaries and caucuses. Kerry is all be assured the nomination and increased pressure from the GOP. The latest challenge, whether Kerry misled people about his role in a 1971 anti-war protest during which Vietnam veterans threw away their medals.

Earlier today on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," the Democrat's national chairman came out gunning. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: I find it fascinating that Dick Cheney, who had the opportunity to go to war in Vietnam, chose not to, that was his own decision, nor did President Bush go to Vietnam.

The issue will you stand up and fight for America? John Kerry has proven, he did it as a young man and continually fought to do that and he fought for weapons programs. And when Dick Cheney was secretary of defense, he tried to cut 81 weapons program. And hypocrisy of him coming out and trying to attack John Kerry yesterday...

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And we check in now at the White House which is responding this morning to the latest verbal volleys on the campaign trail. Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us with the latest on that. Suzanne, good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. White House Spokesman Scott McClellan just received some briefings and some questions from the reporters and the informal gaggle just moments ago. There were essentially two things that came out this.

First of all, it was Vice President Dick Cheney's speech yesterday he made at Westminster College. Since he has made that speech, he talked about Kerry, challenging his voting record as a senator on weapon systems. Also just his ability to lead the country when it comes to national security. Many questions about that.

The president of Westminster College, after Cheney made that speech, said that he was disappointed and surprised by the comments. He sent out an e-mail to the students and to the faculty, said that he called it Kerry bashing. He also said that he wanted Senator Kerry to go before the students and give him a chance to rebut some of these accusations in what he calls really was Kerry bashing or, you know, character assassination.

The White House taking issue with this. Scott McClellan asked numerous times whether or not the administration agreed with what Cheney was saying yesterday, how they would characterize it. McClellan saying, quite frankly, he called these discussions -- he said it was not a personal attack but, rather, that the vice president was outlining what he called the clear choices between the candidates. So clearly this White House trying to put that controversy to rest.

The other thing that came out of the gaggle was new details about the president and vice president going before the full commission. This is on Thursday. The full 9/11 Commission here at the White House. We've been told it's taking place at 9:30 in the morning here at the White House, that the president has been preparing for this testimony. That he and the vice president have been coffering with some of their staff. He has met with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, his Chief of Staff Andy Card. And of course his White House counsel Alberto Gonzalez. We are told that Gonzalez will be in the room with the commissioners, the president and vice president at that time.

We're also told there is not going to be any kind of recorder that will actually record the question and answer service. But it will be note-taking that he says because -- that is because a lot of the information is still classified in nature, but that the president and the vice president look forward to answering some of those questions on Thursday before the 9/11 Commission.

KAGAN: Suzanne, when it happens, all we'll know is that it's happening? We're not expecting anybody to come out afterwards and tell us what was said some.

MALVEAUX: We also asked Scott about that as well, whether or not we'll get any kind of debrief. He said if you take a look at what happened with Rice and her testimony, that you had statements from the commissioner and the vice commissioner, that they expect that to happen.

He also said as well, of course, they'll be available to make comments as well as take some questions. So we do expect that they'll have something to say after they answer those questions before the commission.

KAGAN: But there's a reason it's taking place behind closed doors for the interest of privacy there. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you for that.

Both sides have argued their case. Now it's up to jurors to decide Jayson Williams' fate. A live report from Somerville, New Jersey straight ahead with our Deborah Feyerick.

And news about Halle Berry. Find out what we're talking about when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: A Fresno, California man who is accused of killing nine of his children is due back in court today. Marcus Wesson is scheduled to be arraigned on nine counts of murder and 13 counts of sexual abuse. Yesterday, the presiding judge said that Wesson's attorneys will be able to see police search warrants in that case.

Jurors in the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial have heard the various versions of what happened the night that Williams limo driver was shot and killed. Now the jury must decide the fate of the former basketball star.

Our Deborah Feyerick joins us from Summerville, New Jersey, where deliberations begin today.

Deb, good morning.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Daryn.

Well, the judge is now reading the charges against Jayson Williams. He's been doing to for about an hour. He thought it would take about that long. Jayson Williams is in court. His wife, Tonya, sitting just behind him. Both of them following along, reading that charging document. The judge going over all eight counts against Williams, the most serious being of course being aggravated and reckless manslaughter.

Closing arguments were yesterday. During that time, William's Billy Martin, stressed that Williams never pulled that trigger.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLY MARTIN, JAYSON WILLIAM'S ATTY.: It was an accident. Try as they may to make this a crime, it was not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Prosecutors on the other hand saying it was no accident, that Williams knew what he was doing when he took that gun and aimed it at Gus Christofi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you have loaded weapons in your gun cabinet and you take one down in the presence of three or four guests, you'd better look -- you'd better look real hard and real carefully.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: It's been three long months. This trial has definitely had its shares of ups and downs. It's been very bitter at times, with the defense attorneys accusing prosecutors of everything from racial bias to misconduct. The jury very close to getting this case, and finally having a chance to talk about it all -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Deborah, what can you tell bus the makeup of this jury?

FEYERICK: It is a diverse jury. There are three African- Americans. There are 10 women. Also, there are four men, and, of course, several of those alternates will be excused.

The prosecution is pretty happy with the jury. The defense is not happy, because there were several African-American men who were stricken from the jury basically. The prosecutors just didn't want them on, and so those, they were taken off. So right now, it's anyone's guess. You can never know what a jury is thinking or how they're going to react.

KAGAN: You certainly have covered enough of these trials with shocking endings, to be able to say that. FEYERICK: We'll be checking back in Summerfield, New Jersey.

Deborah Feyerick, thank you for that.

Interesting question ahead, is the human male headed for extinction? There is a new book out saying the evidence is all around us. Men, you're going to be toast, like in the hundred thousand years. You're going to meet "Adam's Curse," and the author, Brian Sykes, he explains his theory in his new book. That's when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: He has conquered rap. He has his own apparel line, and last night, Sean Combs took his a first step toward becoming a big Diddy on Broadway. He made his on-stage debut at New York's Royale Theater, starring in the revival of "Raisin in the Sun." Combs plays Walter Lee Younger. That was a character, by the way, originally portrayed by Sidney Poitier. "The New York Times" panned last night's performance, but "The New York Post" said that, you know what, Combs was, quite, pretty damn good. You go, P. Diddy.

Halle Berry is about to become available again. Good news for men, not good news for Ms. Berry. The Oscar-winning actress has filed for divorce from R&B singer Eric Benet. The couple had been married almost three years before separating last October. The marriage had been dogged by tabloid questions over Benet's faithfulness.

Well, this might be something that Halle Berry would like to think about, a world without men? We're not quoting from some brochure in the old ERA movement. We are talking about a real scenario that is being forward by one of the top geneticist in the world. It's a new book. It's called "Adam's Curse." Professor Brian Sykes theorizes that human males are in the process of going extinct. Does it sound intriguing or scary? Professor Sykes is with us from New York to explain what he means.

Professor, good morning.

PROF. BRIAN SYKES, AUTHOR, "ADAM'S CURSE": Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: You know, you talk about men going extinct. There are a thousand jokes in there, but are you serious that there is something wrong with the y chromosome, as you see it.

SYKES: That's right. I mean, I wanted to have a genetic look at one of the most obvious facts about species, which is that we're divided into males and females, men and women. And basically, all geneticists know that men are basically genetically modified women, and the modification is this thing called the y chromosome. And I've been looking at this chromosome for a long time.

KAGAN: So you're just another version of us is what you're saying?

SYKES: Well, we are modified. In other words, if this y chromosome hadn't kicked in when we were in the embryo, everybody would turn out female. So the y chromosome in itself is rather dodgy. It's decaying rapidly. You can see this. It's the cause of a lot of male infertility, for example.

KAGAN: So you're basically saying it's wearing out over the years, and we should say, that even in your theory, you're talking about 125,000 years from now, so none of us women are off the hook quite yet of getting along without men?

You're going to be around for a long time to come.

SYKES: But the day will come. The day will come.

KAGAN: And will this mean ultimately the end of the human species?

SYKES: Well, I don't think it will. I mean, I think actually, as a really basic genetic point, all men do is introduce a sperm to an egg, and that introduces some DNA which could equally well come from another egg, as far as the genetics is concerned, so the day will come before very long when two women are able to have children by fusing one egg from each of them.

KAGAN: So if you -- well, go ahead.

SYKES: Yes. And, in fact, though I predict that that might be some years away in my book, "Adam's Curse," it was actually done last week in mice. A mouse was born from no father at all, from the infusion of two eggs and two moms. So the toasting is starting.

KAGAN: OK, well, let me ask you this, as a scientist and as a man and a member of the human species, does it concern you, the idea of human race without men?

SYKES: Well, if I was speaking on behalf of all my genes and in view of how much destruction men have caused the place and the planet over the last few thousand years, I think on behalf of most of my genes, they have a better long-term future if the world indeed was without men, or at least they should start behaving a lot better.

KAGAN: Well, is this something that actually, if you look at it, is this something the scientists should try to work on to keep from happening?

SYKES: Well, I don't know, you can only do so much. I suppose part of it, doing anything, is the realization. But in my book, I do uncover a very deeply embedded conflict between males and females, which I think...

KAGAN: Oh, we have some conflicts, professor. That is a different book, though.

SYKES: Some of it is in there.

KAGAN: That's all the "Men are From mars, Women Are From Venus." SYKES: Yes, but I've been studying Y chromosomes, and you can trace many of them back to historical figures, who were vicious, vicious war mongers, and their y chromosome, despite what they did to the planet and other people, their y chromosomes really benefited from those.

KAGAN: What kind of feedback are you getting from your scientific community?

SYKES: Well, a great deal of controversy, naturally, but -- and not everyone agrees that the y chromosome will eventually fizzle out. I think it will, and there is debate how long it's going to take. I mean, it's not going to be tomorrow or anything like that. But I think most think that will eventually disappear, and our species will go the way of many others and become extinct, unless we can do something about it.

KAGAN: On that upbeat note, I got to say, as a woman living today, I'm glad you guys are around, instead of living 125,000 years from now. Interesting things to think about, though.

Professor Brian Sykes, the book is called "Adam's Curse." Thanks for stopping by.

SYKES: Thank you.

KAGAN: And for all the latest on books, movies, television and music, you can point your Internet browser to CNN.com/entertainment. We will be back in a moment.

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