Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Scott Peterson Sentenced to Death; Two Marines Killed in Baghdad
Aired December 14, 2004 - 05:30 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
"Now In The News": Same area, same method: For the second straight day a car bomb goes off near checkpoint near Baghdad's U.S.- run green zone. Two people have been killed. More than a dozen others wounded. No reports of U.S. casualties.
Also in Iraq, more U.S. troops killed in action. Two Marines were killed in Baghdad's province. The military says they were conducting security operations but that is all the military is saying about this.
Israel has a plan for the upcoming Palestinian presidential election: Get out of town. Israel says it plans to pull its troops from Palestinian areas for 72 hours during next months' vote.
Oh, you can hear them cheer outside of a California courthouse after a jury recommends the death penalty for Scott Peterson. The same jury convicted him of killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
To the Forecast Center now and Rob Marciano.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
COSTELLO: Scott Peterson will go to death row at San Quentin on the shore of the same bay where he dumped the body of his pregnant wife Laci. That is if the judge accepts the jury's death sentence recommendation. Our Ted Rowlands reports on jurors say they reached their conclusion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Following the reading of the verdict three of the jurors talked with the media at length. For more than an hour, they talked about the evidence that they heard. They talked about their decision process. Coming a verdict of guilty and then the decision to sentence Peterson to death.
One thing is for sure, this group did not like Scott Peterson.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We, the jury, in the above and title cause fix the penalty at death. ROWLANDS (voice over): After hearing five and a half months of testimony and deliberating for 11 hours and 30 minutes, the jury had found Scott Peterson guilty of murder, decided his fate should be death.
MICHELLE NICE, JUROR: Scott Peterson was Laci's husband, Connor's daddy. Some one should have -- the one person that should have protected them.
STEVE CARDON, JURY FOREMAN: It just seemed to be the appropriate justice, for the crime, given the nature. And how personal it really was against his wife and his child.
ROWLANDS: Scott Peterson had no visible reaction. When the verdict was read his family sat silently behind him seeming expecting what was to come.
Afterwards, juror said the fact that the bodies of Laci Peterson and her unborn son were found where Peterson was fishing was a key part of he case.
GREG BERATLIS, JUROR: For her to be where she was found and to go through what seemed to be, in the end to me a charade, it just wasn't -- it wasn't fair.
RON GRANTSKI, LACI'S STEPFATHER: They had no reason to doubt that is was Scott who did what he did. And he got what he deserved.
ROWLANDS (on camera): Peterson will remain here in Redwood City until the sentence if finalized on February 25. The judge in the case does have the option of reducing the sentence from death down to life without parole. That decision will be announced on the 25. If the judge makes no change, Peterson will then be shipped off to San Quentin, presumably for the rest of his life -- Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Let's head live to Miami now, to talk to our legal analyst Kendall Coffey.
Good morning, Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: You know a lot is being made of how long it will take to lead to an appeal for Scott Peterson. And a lot has been made that only 10 people have been put to death in California since 1978. Is it likely that Scott Peterson will receive a lethal injection?
COFFEY: Well, it is certainly more likely than not it could be a very long time, Carol. When you are talking about this duration, 18 to 20 years, think of the different possibilities, including natural death, including changes in the law. Including revisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, enacted about a month ago. There was a case that the U.S. Supreme Court heard about the change in the law that had taken place, that another California inmate was sentenced to death in 1982.
So, all kinds of things could happen here for the amount of years that are going to be passing.
COSTELLO: We're soliciting e-mails this morning, Kendall. This is from Tabernacle, New Jersey. This man says, "When the judge concurs, the penalty should be administered the next day. Scott Peterson does not deserve to live any longer than needed."
Why isn't the punishment administered faster?
COFFEY: Because we're the society we are. And it is a punishment that is so qualitatively different than anything else. We want as much certainty that the law can provide, which means in addition to all the issues, that are going to be raised in this basic appeal in the state court system, it will go straight supreme court after the judge imposes sentence.
You are going to have years in the federal court where, Carol, one of the big issues, once you get into the federal court side, is in effect assistance of counsel. Did Mark Geragos blow it, one way or another, either in the sentencing phase or in the guilt or innocence phase?
COSTELLO: Let's talk about Mark Geragos, Peterson's attorney. Will he be around for the appeal?
COFFEY: Almost assuredly not. I think at this point that you'll see a different team take over, possibly even public defenders, in effect, at the expense of the taxpayers and the people of California.
COSTELLO: Kendall Coffey, live in Miami this morning. Thank you.
That again, leads us to our e-mail question of the morning. Did the Scott Peterson jury return the correct verdict? We want to hear from you this morning. E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
As we go into our "War Room" this morning, a top U.S. military official goes to the war zone. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers is in Baghdad and he brought along with him some very special guests.
Our Senior International Editor David Clinch joins us live from Atlanta with details.
And I kind of smiled on the guest part, because they're fun guests.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: It is one of our favorite people, Robin Williams accompanying General Myers. Actually, I think you'll remember that almost this exact time last year, if I remember, just after Saddam Hussein's capture, Robin Williams went with one of these USO groups and General Myers to visit the troops in Baghdad. They are there again today at Camp Victory, just outside of Baghdad. Our camera crews shooting that video, that video making its way back to our Baghdad bureau now. And we'll see that within the next hour or so.
That should be a big cheering up for the U.S. troops there in Baghdad. Many of them seeing combat everyday of the week. We're a couple of weeks 'til Christmas, they're a long way from home. This is exactly the kind of thing they need to boost their morale.
COSTELLO: What will Richard Myers be doing? I take it he won't be conducting any question and answer sessions?
CLINCH: Well, that is a good question. Not as far as we know. He did have a brief press conference with the journalists that were there. Not taking any questions from the troops. Of course, you're referring to Donald Rumsfeld's efforts at that last week in Kuwait.
What we have heard from Myers in the press conference -- and again, we will be feeding this video shortly -- is that he's telling the troops, and he's telling us, that the level of U.S. troops there, 150,000 or so in the region at the moment, that level was set during the Falluja offensive recently. But that will remain at that level through the elections in January.
And Myers saying that from his point of view, from the U.S. point of view, those elections must happen in January, as scheduled, but again, no clear timetable of when that troop level can come down. Shortly after the elections, he says, but it will depend on events on the ground.
But Robin Williams, in the meantime, expected to cheer the troops up. He's also apparently got John Elway with him, the former Broncos quarterback there. And a model by the name of Lee Ann Tweedin (ph), I think. I had to do some research on the Internet to find out who she was, purely for newsgathering purposes. But that will undoubtedly put those troops in a better mood as they're out there fighting the war as Christmas and the holidays approach.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's for sure. David Clinch, thanks very much.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, how e-mail kept a mother and son in touch during the war in Iraq. We'll have that story for you in 15 minutes.
Plus, at 55 minutes past the hour, good news for Botox users in Florida. Oh, that's hard to watch in the morning. We'll explain. And we want to hear from you.
Our e-mail question of the morning.
Let's get off this picture shall we? Thank you.
Did the Scott Peterson jury reach the correct verdict. Daybreak@cnn.com.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(GRAPHIC WITH HEADLINES)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports it is 5:44 Eastern. Here's what is all new this morning.
For the second day in a row insurgents target a checkpoint at Baghdad's green zone. At least two people have been killed, 13 others injured.
In Los Angeles, attorneys for Michael Jackson have filed a motion seeking to delay his January trial on child molestation charges. They also want evidence seized during searches at his home to be suppressed.
In money news, execs at ABC are grinning from ear-to-ear over the success of "Desperate Housewives". The network has decided to extend the program into the spring instead of replacing it with the spy drama, "Alias".
In culture, the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame announces its latest inductees. They include Irish rockers U2, R&B singers, The OJs, Soul Man Percy Sledge, The Pretenders, and blues guitarist Buddy Guy.
In sports, what a night at Nashville. Kansas City beat Tennessee 48-38. The teams combined for 925 yards. QB Billy Volick (ph) threw for 426 yards. There was a trick play or two, some controversial calls, but all in all, one exciting game.
To the Forecast Center now and Rob.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
To say its tough to have a loved on in the war zone would be a huge understatement. Christmas is almost here, Hanukkah has arrived and so many are on the battlefield.
E-mail has made it easier, and more difficult for wives and husbands, mothers and fathers to stay in touch with their loved ones in Iraq. We wanted to explore this electronic way of keep in touch on the battlefield. With an interesting perspective Vicki Woods, a contributing editor to "Vogue" magazine, and a mother, whose son Seb, is a freelance journalist and he's also worked for Reuters. He's worked in Iraq, e-mailing his mom to say he is still alive. They join us both from London this morning.
Good morning to both of you.
VICKI WOODS: Good morning, Carol.
SEB WOODS, FREELANCE JOURNALIST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Seb, I see you are back in London. Is this temporary? Will you go back to Iraq?
S. WOODS: I'm hoping to go back, yes. I had to leave the country because the security situation deteriorated quite badly recently. But I'm hoping to get back in time for elections.
COSTELLO: And look at your mom, beside you, shaking her head.
Vicki, I want to read our viewer an excerpt from your article in "Vogue". You write, "Iraq is the first Internet war. In earlier conflicts you waived off your loved ones and waited stoically for news, which came slowly, maybe weeks or months old. But in the 21 century the horrors of war are delivered to you minute by minute. You can actually see them in real-time, on the screen in news and videos."
Tell us what that is like for a mother.
V WOODS: I'm sure it has never been like this before and it occurred to me, really quite late on, that it wasn't just me who was feeling like this. It is everybody with access to a computer. And it wasn't really until I was writing the piece that I realized that all the emotions that I have.
You watch the news. If you've got somebody out there, you not only watch the news you obsessed by watching the news. You watch every news flash, you read every newspaper; and what you're looking for, you realize in the end, what you're looking for is news about the person who is dear to you, who is actually out there.
So, what you're looking for is anything, in my case, that says Britain killed. And you think, could that be my Britain? And you look at it and this is what actually is very difficult. You think, oh, no, no, Basra. Whew (ph), great. He's not in Basra. Oh, what a relief. And then you think, you have to think, because we're all human. You think, but it's somebody's son ...
COSTELLO: Oh, definitely so.
V. WOODS: ... in Basra.
COSTELLO: Seb, I want ...
V. WOODS: And the same -- sorry.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's OK. I just wanted to get Seb's perspective. Because Seb you were working journalist in the middle of a war zone in Iraq. You have to find a place to send an e-mail. You find someplace. How do you decide what to write to your mom, and how much to tell her?
S. WOODS: Yes, that is a good question.
I mean, you certainly can't detail everything that you've been doing everyday, because you're very conscious that there are people back home who are worried about your safety in a situation like that. You have to water I down a little bit. In a way, it makes it more stressful for you on the ground. Because you know that if a big explosion takes place or if there is a British national killed, they're going to be people assuming the worst. So, you have to just kind of make sure that you send that e- mail back home saying that its not you. Saying that...
V. WOODS: We did -- we did -- you kind of grow used to it. We adopt a sort of, grown up tone about things. I mean, he would send me an e-mail, if he had something that had happened that was near his area. We go very acute about his areas. So, he sent me an e-mail one morning saying, Britain killed driving from Arbil (ph) to Mosul. It is not me. Arbil (ph) is where he was based. Mosul is where he had been based previously.
And so, I get this e-mail, and all I can write back is, whew, that's a relief. And hope that he smiles when he gets it. Because what he's doing is saying, I'm saving you as much emotion as I can. And what I'm doing is saying I'm grateful for that, kind of jokingly. I mean, it might be slightly British, but I'm sure Americans families have their own ways of working it.
COSTELLO: Oh, my goodness, black humor works so well sometimes. Just to, I don't know, get to laughing about something so grim.
Vicki Woods, Seb Woods, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning. We appreciate it.
Still ahead on DAYBREAK, want to live past 100? We'll tell you where you should be living after the break.
And today's history question: What film staring a young Elizabeth Taylor opened on this day in 1944? Get your thinking caps on, we'll tell you the answer after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: All right. Our history trivia question for the day is: What film staring a young Elizabeth Taylor opened on this day in 1944?
I know you knew the answer to this one. It was simple. Of course, it was "National Velvet". It opened on this day, as I said, about eight times, in 1944.
In "Health Headlines" for you this morning. A research study suggests that people in developed countries could expect to live to be 100 years old in the next several decades. Worldwide life expectancy has doubled over the last two centuries.
Japan and Switzerland top the list. How come? Well, researchers say an improved standard of living, plus better health care and better nutrition.
The safety of an experimental SARS vaccine is being tested in humans. The National Institutes of Health is starting the human trial of 10 people to see if they develop the necessary antibodies. SARS killed more than 750 people worldwide when it was first discovered in 2002.
Botox maker, Allergan, says its product is not responsible for several people becoming sick in Florida. Four patients became ill after being treated by an unlicensed doctor. Allergan says they were given large doses of an unapproved and unlicensed botulinium (ph) toxin.
For more on this or any other health story, head to our web site, the address, CNN.com/health.
Here's what's all new in the 6 o'clock hour of DAYBREAK.
'Tis the season to network at holiday parties. We have some tips for you ahead.
Plus, more on Scott Peterson and the hometown reaction to the verdict.
You are watching DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: All right. Time to read some of your e-mails right now. We're asking the question: Do you think that the Peterson jury returned the right sentence? That is, death for Scott Peterson? And you have been writing in, in droves.
I'm going to read this one right off the computer. This is from Ray in North Carolina. He says, "I think the jury in the Scott Peterson case reached the correct verdict, but I wonder what would have had happened had the bodies of Laci and Connor not washed up on shore?"
This is from Linda in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. "No one except Peterson and anyone else involved is 100 percent sure who killed Laci and Connor. I think the death penalty in this case is wrong. Life without parole would have been best."
This one is from Elizabeth. She says, "Yes, he was totally without conscience to be searching for his wife and attending a prayer vigil, but calling a girlfriend and romancing her with lies at the same time."
And this one, from Holly. She says, "I think they let him off too easy. I think that he should have been made to suffer and rot in prison for the rest of his natural life."
Thank you for e-mails this morning. And the next hour of DAYBREAK begins right now.
Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, the jury has spoken. Scott Peterson faces the harshest penalty.
And new questions about Bernard Kerik's past. They are not just about his nanny.
Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's beautiful. There's nothing like this back home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: You've got that right. Surf's up, dude. You will not believe these gnarly waves.
It is Tuesday, December 14. You are watching DAYBREAK.
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 December 14, 2004 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
"Now In The News": Same area, same method: For the second straight day a car bomb goes off near checkpoint near Baghdad's U.S.- run green zone. Two people have been killed. More than a dozen others wounded. No reports of U.S. casualties.
Also in Iraq, more U.S. troops killed in action. Two Marines were killed in Baghdad's province. The military says they were conducting security operations but that is all the military is saying about this.
Israel has a plan for the upcoming Palestinian presidential election: Get out of town. Israel says it plans to pull its troops from Palestinian areas for 72 hours during next months' vote.
Oh, you can hear them cheer outside of a California courthouse after a jury recommends the death penalty for Scott Peterson. The same jury convicted him of killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
To the Forecast Center now and Rob Marciano.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
COSTELLO: Scott Peterson will go to death row at San Quentin on the shore of the same bay where he dumped the body of his pregnant wife Laci. That is if the judge accepts the jury's death sentence recommendation. Our Ted Rowlands reports on jurors say they reached their conclusion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Following the reading of the verdict three of the jurors talked with the media at length. For more than an hour, they talked about the evidence that they heard. They talked about their decision process. Coming a verdict of guilty and then the decision to sentence Peterson to death.
One thing is for sure, this group did not like Scott Peterson.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We, the jury, in the above and title cause fix the penalty at death. ROWLANDS (voice over): After hearing five and a half months of testimony and deliberating for 11 hours and 30 minutes, the jury had found Scott Peterson guilty of murder, decided his fate should be death.
MICHELLE NICE, JUROR: Scott Peterson was Laci's husband, Connor's daddy. Some one should have -- the one person that should have protected them.
STEVE CARDON, JURY FOREMAN: It just seemed to be the appropriate justice, for the crime, given the nature. And how personal it really was against his wife and his child.
ROWLANDS: Scott Peterson had no visible reaction. When the verdict was read his family sat silently behind him seeming expecting what was to come.
Afterwards, juror said the fact that the bodies of Laci Peterson and her unborn son were found where Peterson was fishing was a key part of he case.
GREG BERATLIS, JUROR: For her to be where she was found and to go through what seemed to be, in the end to me a charade, it just wasn't -- it wasn't fair.
RON GRANTSKI, LACI'S STEPFATHER: They had no reason to doubt that is was Scott who did what he did. And he got what he deserved.
ROWLANDS (on camera): Peterson will remain here in Redwood City until the sentence if finalized on February 25. The judge in the case does have the option of reducing the sentence from death down to life without parole. That decision will be announced on the 25. If the judge makes no change, Peterson will then be shipped off to San Quentin, presumably for the rest of his life -- Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Let's head live to Miami now, to talk to our legal analyst Kendall Coffey.
Good morning, Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: You know a lot is being made of how long it will take to lead to an appeal for Scott Peterson. And a lot has been made that only 10 people have been put to death in California since 1978. Is it likely that Scott Peterson will receive a lethal injection?
COFFEY: Well, it is certainly more likely than not it could be a very long time, Carol. When you are talking about this duration, 18 to 20 years, think of the different possibilities, including natural death, including changes in the law. Including revisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, enacted about a month ago. There was a case that the U.S. Supreme Court heard about the change in the law that had taken place, that another California inmate was sentenced to death in 1982.
So, all kinds of things could happen here for the amount of years that are going to be passing.
COSTELLO: We're soliciting e-mails this morning, Kendall. This is from Tabernacle, New Jersey. This man says, "When the judge concurs, the penalty should be administered the next day. Scott Peterson does not deserve to live any longer than needed."
Why isn't the punishment administered faster?
COFFEY: Because we're the society we are. And it is a punishment that is so qualitatively different than anything else. We want as much certainty that the law can provide, which means in addition to all the issues, that are going to be raised in this basic appeal in the state court system, it will go straight supreme court after the judge imposes sentence.
You are going to have years in the federal court where, Carol, one of the big issues, once you get into the federal court side, is in effect assistance of counsel. Did Mark Geragos blow it, one way or another, either in the sentencing phase or in the guilt or innocence phase?
COSTELLO: Let's talk about Mark Geragos, Peterson's attorney. Will he be around for the appeal?
COFFEY: Almost assuredly not. I think at this point that you'll see a different team take over, possibly even public defenders, in effect, at the expense of the taxpayers and the people of California.
COSTELLO: Kendall Coffey, live in Miami this morning. Thank you.
That again, leads us to our e-mail question of the morning. Did the Scott Peterson jury return the correct verdict? We want to hear from you this morning. E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
As we go into our "War Room" this morning, a top U.S. military official goes to the war zone. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers is in Baghdad and he brought along with him some very special guests.
Our Senior International Editor David Clinch joins us live from Atlanta with details.
And I kind of smiled on the guest part, because they're fun guests.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: It is one of our favorite people, Robin Williams accompanying General Myers. Actually, I think you'll remember that almost this exact time last year, if I remember, just after Saddam Hussein's capture, Robin Williams went with one of these USO groups and General Myers to visit the troops in Baghdad. They are there again today at Camp Victory, just outside of Baghdad. Our camera crews shooting that video, that video making its way back to our Baghdad bureau now. And we'll see that within the next hour or so.
That should be a big cheering up for the U.S. troops there in Baghdad. Many of them seeing combat everyday of the week. We're a couple of weeks 'til Christmas, they're a long way from home. This is exactly the kind of thing they need to boost their morale.
COSTELLO: What will Richard Myers be doing? I take it he won't be conducting any question and answer sessions?
CLINCH: Well, that is a good question. Not as far as we know. He did have a brief press conference with the journalists that were there. Not taking any questions from the troops. Of course, you're referring to Donald Rumsfeld's efforts at that last week in Kuwait.
What we have heard from Myers in the press conference -- and again, we will be feeding this video shortly -- is that he's telling the troops, and he's telling us, that the level of U.S. troops there, 150,000 or so in the region at the moment, that level was set during the Falluja offensive recently. But that will remain at that level through the elections in January.
And Myers saying that from his point of view, from the U.S. point of view, those elections must happen in January, as scheduled, but again, no clear timetable of when that troop level can come down. Shortly after the elections, he says, but it will depend on events on the ground.
But Robin Williams, in the meantime, expected to cheer the troops up. He's also apparently got John Elway with him, the former Broncos quarterback there. And a model by the name of Lee Ann Tweedin (ph), I think. I had to do some research on the Internet to find out who she was, purely for newsgathering purposes. But that will undoubtedly put those troops in a better mood as they're out there fighting the war as Christmas and the holidays approach.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's for sure. David Clinch, thanks very much.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, how e-mail kept a mother and son in touch during the war in Iraq. We'll have that story for you in 15 minutes.
Plus, at 55 minutes past the hour, good news for Botox users in Florida. Oh, that's hard to watch in the morning. We'll explain. And we want to hear from you.
Our e-mail question of the morning.
Let's get off this picture shall we? Thank you.
Did the Scott Peterson jury reach the correct verdict. Daybreak@cnn.com.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(GRAPHIC WITH HEADLINES)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports it is 5:44 Eastern. Here's what is all new this morning.
For the second day in a row insurgents target a checkpoint at Baghdad's green zone. At least two people have been killed, 13 others injured.
In Los Angeles, attorneys for Michael Jackson have filed a motion seeking to delay his January trial on child molestation charges. They also want evidence seized during searches at his home to be suppressed.
In money news, execs at ABC are grinning from ear-to-ear over the success of "Desperate Housewives". The network has decided to extend the program into the spring instead of replacing it with the spy drama, "Alias".
In culture, the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame announces its latest inductees. They include Irish rockers U2, R&B singers, The OJs, Soul Man Percy Sledge, The Pretenders, and blues guitarist Buddy Guy.
In sports, what a night at Nashville. Kansas City beat Tennessee 48-38. The teams combined for 925 yards. QB Billy Volick (ph) threw for 426 yards. There was a trick play or two, some controversial calls, but all in all, one exciting game.
To the Forecast Center now and Rob.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
To say its tough to have a loved on in the war zone would be a huge understatement. Christmas is almost here, Hanukkah has arrived and so many are on the battlefield.
E-mail has made it easier, and more difficult for wives and husbands, mothers and fathers to stay in touch with their loved ones in Iraq. We wanted to explore this electronic way of keep in touch on the battlefield. With an interesting perspective Vicki Woods, a contributing editor to "Vogue" magazine, and a mother, whose son Seb, is a freelance journalist and he's also worked for Reuters. He's worked in Iraq, e-mailing his mom to say he is still alive. They join us both from London this morning.
Good morning to both of you.
VICKI WOODS: Good morning, Carol.
SEB WOODS, FREELANCE JOURNALIST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Seb, I see you are back in London. Is this temporary? Will you go back to Iraq?
S. WOODS: I'm hoping to go back, yes. I had to leave the country because the security situation deteriorated quite badly recently. But I'm hoping to get back in time for elections.
COSTELLO: And look at your mom, beside you, shaking her head.
Vicki, I want to read our viewer an excerpt from your article in "Vogue". You write, "Iraq is the first Internet war. In earlier conflicts you waived off your loved ones and waited stoically for news, which came slowly, maybe weeks or months old. But in the 21 century the horrors of war are delivered to you minute by minute. You can actually see them in real-time, on the screen in news and videos."
Tell us what that is like for a mother.
V WOODS: I'm sure it has never been like this before and it occurred to me, really quite late on, that it wasn't just me who was feeling like this. It is everybody with access to a computer. And it wasn't really until I was writing the piece that I realized that all the emotions that I have.
You watch the news. If you've got somebody out there, you not only watch the news you obsessed by watching the news. You watch every news flash, you read every newspaper; and what you're looking for, you realize in the end, what you're looking for is news about the person who is dear to you, who is actually out there.
So, what you're looking for is anything, in my case, that says Britain killed. And you think, could that be my Britain? And you look at it and this is what actually is very difficult. You think, oh, no, no, Basra. Whew (ph), great. He's not in Basra. Oh, what a relief. And then you think, you have to think, because we're all human. You think, but it's somebody's son ...
COSTELLO: Oh, definitely so.
V. WOODS: ... in Basra.
COSTELLO: Seb, I want ...
V. WOODS: And the same -- sorry.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's OK. I just wanted to get Seb's perspective. Because Seb you were working journalist in the middle of a war zone in Iraq. You have to find a place to send an e-mail. You find someplace. How do you decide what to write to your mom, and how much to tell her?
S. WOODS: Yes, that is a good question.
I mean, you certainly can't detail everything that you've been doing everyday, because you're very conscious that there are people back home who are worried about your safety in a situation like that. You have to water I down a little bit. In a way, it makes it more stressful for you on the ground. Because you know that if a big explosion takes place or if there is a British national killed, they're going to be people assuming the worst. So, you have to just kind of make sure that you send that e- mail back home saying that its not you. Saying that...
V. WOODS: We did -- we did -- you kind of grow used to it. We adopt a sort of, grown up tone about things. I mean, he would send me an e-mail, if he had something that had happened that was near his area. We go very acute about his areas. So, he sent me an e-mail one morning saying, Britain killed driving from Arbil (ph) to Mosul. It is not me. Arbil (ph) is where he was based. Mosul is where he had been based previously.
And so, I get this e-mail, and all I can write back is, whew, that's a relief. And hope that he smiles when he gets it. Because what he's doing is saying, I'm saving you as much emotion as I can. And what I'm doing is saying I'm grateful for that, kind of jokingly. I mean, it might be slightly British, but I'm sure Americans families have their own ways of working it.
COSTELLO: Oh, my goodness, black humor works so well sometimes. Just to, I don't know, get to laughing about something so grim.
Vicki Woods, Seb Woods, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning. We appreciate it.
Still ahead on DAYBREAK, want to live past 100? We'll tell you where you should be living after the break.
And today's history question: What film staring a young Elizabeth Taylor opened on this day in 1944? Get your thinking caps on, we'll tell you the answer after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: All right. Our history trivia question for the day is: What film staring a young Elizabeth Taylor opened on this day in 1944?
I know you knew the answer to this one. It was simple. Of course, it was "National Velvet". It opened on this day, as I said, about eight times, in 1944.
In "Health Headlines" for you this morning. A research study suggests that people in developed countries could expect to live to be 100 years old in the next several decades. Worldwide life expectancy has doubled over the last two centuries.
Japan and Switzerland top the list. How come? Well, researchers say an improved standard of living, plus better health care and better nutrition.
The safety of an experimental SARS vaccine is being tested in humans. The National Institutes of Health is starting the human trial of 10 people to see if they develop the necessary antibodies. SARS killed more than 750 people worldwide when it was first discovered in 2002.
Botox maker, Allergan, says its product is not responsible for several people becoming sick in Florida. Four patients became ill after being treated by an unlicensed doctor. Allergan says they were given large doses of an unapproved and unlicensed botulinium (ph) toxin.
For more on this or any other health story, head to our web site, the address, CNN.com/health.
Here's what's all new in the 6 o'clock hour of DAYBREAK.
'Tis the season to network at holiday parties. We have some tips for you ahead.
Plus, more on Scott Peterson and the hometown reaction to the verdict.
You are watching DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: All right. Time to read some of your e-mails right now. We're asking the question: Do you think that the Peterson jury returned the right sentence? That is, death for Scott Peterson? And you have been writing in, in droves.
I'm going to read this one right off the computer. This is from Ray in North Carolina. He says, "I think the jury in the Scott Peterson case reached the correct verdict, but I wonder what would have had happened had the bodies of Laci and Connor not washed up on shore?"
This is from Linda in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. "No one except Peterson and anyone else involved is 100 percent sure who killed Laci and Connor. I think the death penalty in this case is wrong. Life without parole would have been best."
This one is from Elizabeth. She says, "Yes, he was totally without conscience to be searching for his wife and attending a prayer vigil, but calling a girlfriend and romancing her with lies at the same time."
And this one, from Holly. She says, "I think they let him off too easy. I think that he should have been made to suffer and rot in prison for the rest of his natural life."
Thank you for e-mails this morning. And the next hour of DAYBREAK begins right now.
Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, the jury has spoken. Scott Peterson faces the harshest penalty.
And new questions about Bernard Kerik's past. They are not just about his nanny.
Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's beautiful. There's nothing like this back home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: You've got that right. Surf's up, dude. You will not believe these gnarly waves.
It is Tuesday, December 14. You are watching DAYBREAK.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
