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American Morning
Murder Trial of Former Klansman Could Come to Swift Conclusion; Some Entrepreneurs in Iraq Enjoying Success
Aired June 20, 2005 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Just about half past the hour on this Monday morning.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up this morning, the murder trial of a former Klansman could come to a swift conclusion. We're going to take you live to Mississippi just ahead this morning.
Before that, though, a look at the headlines again with Carol Costello.
Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good morning to all of you.
Now in the news, the search for a missing Boy Scout resumes this hour in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. Brennan Hawkins disappeared on Friday. The sheriff's department says it's not ruling out anything in the investigation, including the possibility that Hawkins may have been kidnapped.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF DAVE EDMUNDS, SUMMIT COUNTY, UTAH: I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't consider all of the possibilities, and we're certainly looking in to the fact that this may have been a kidnapping. However, we don't have any reason to believe that at this point. We don't think that that's the case, and certainly don't have any evidence of that, but nevertheless we're going to continue to work that angle, and I have detectives that are currently working on that right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Less than a year ago, a 12-year-old scout disappeared just a few miles from where Hawkins was last seen. So far, no connection made between the cases.
A fourth suspect in the disappearance of an Alabama teenager is expected to appear before a judge in Aruba today. The arrest of disc jockey Steve Croes was announced on Friday. It's not clear what connection he has, if any, to the 18-year-old Natalee Holloway. She was last seen May 30th. A total of four suspects are being held in the case, but no formal charges have been filed.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is calling on Egypt to lead and define a democratic future in the Middle East. Secretary Rice delivering a speech earlier at Cairo's American University. She also met with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Secretary Rice says she hopes Egypt will take a major step toward democracy beginning with its own elections in September.
And be sure to go online to see more on our top stories. Just visit CNN.com, click on to watch, and check out the most popular stories, everything from politics and sports to entertainment. It's free video on CNN.com. Moving pictures. All of Jeanne Moos's packages are in there. And they're funny, too.
M. O'BRIEN: The one at the top of the list is the pupperware party.
COSTELLO: Yes, the pupperware party.
S. O'BRIEN: What's that?
COSTELLO: You'll have to click on.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: What was that again?
COSTELLO: CNN.com, and then click on "watch."
O'BRIEN: Well, thank you very much, Carol. I appreciate that.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's get back to a trial we've been telling you about all day. Closing arguments could come as soon as today in the murder trial of Edgar Ray Killen. Killen is accused of murdering three civil rights workers in Mississippi 41 years ago.
Catherine Callaway is live for us there in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
Catherine, good morning to you.
What can we expect in court today?
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A busy day of court. In fact, the players have already headed into the courtroom this morning, Soledad. Defense, as you said, expected to wrap up its case today, but we're also expecting the judge to rule this morning on a motion that was presented by the prosecution, that would allow the jury to also consider a lesser charge against Killen. Edgar Ray Killen is currently charged with murder in the deaths of three civil rights' workers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CALLAWAY (voice-over): The victims in this trial were memorialized yesterday at the church that was at the center of their 1964 murder. The three civil rights workers, Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman, were looking into the torching of Mt. Zion church when they were pulled from their car and shot to death. Family members of Schwerner and Chaney lit a candle in their memory. Schwerner's wife has waited 40 years to see a murder charge in her husband's death. She called the church congregation the real heroes.
RITA SCHWERNER BENDER, WIDOW OF MICHAEL SCHWERNER: Thank you for your efforts to bring this case to trial, but even more importantly, to me, thank you all as the people who have over all these years have struggled in a place that I know has been very difficult.
CALLAWAY: The prosecution rested its case on Saturday, after 3 1/2 days of testimony that ended with the mother of victim James Chaney weeping on the stand as she recalled the last day she saw her son alive.
FANNIE LEE CHANEY, JAMES CHANEY'S MOTHER: I said, I want to go with you. He said, no, you stay here.
CALLAWAY: The defense began by calling two of Killen's siblings to the stand. Killen was alert and taking notes while his brother and sister testified. The 80-year-old defendant missed half a day of court last week because of poor health, and has occasionally fallen asleep in his wheelchair during the trial. Defense attorneys plan to call two more witnesses today, but Killen is not expected to be one of them.
JAMES MCINTYRE, DEFENSE ATTY.: They haven't proved the case. I mean, if there's something in controversy, you know, we'd put him on the witness stand. But they don't have -- he was charged with murder. I mean, have they already proven any murder?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CALLAWAY: We're going to take you back live to the courtroom right now where the defense is expected to call an alibi witness and a rebuttal witness. As you said a few moments ago, closing arguments could come, Soledad, as early as this afternoon. And we should tell you that we have seen the largest crowds yet this morning as this trial comes to an end.
Back to you.
S. O'BRIEN: People expecting a wrap-up. Catherine Holloway for us this morning. Catherine, thanks -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: At least 18 people killed by suicide bombers in Iraq just today. Two police stations have been attacked, one in Erbil, and one in Baghdad. Another car bomb exploded near a police airport checkpoint. More than 100 people have been injured in those attacks.
Amid this violence, Iraq is trying to rebuild its economy, and some entrepreneurs are enjoying success.
Jennifer Eccleston live now from Baghdad with more -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Miles. Despite the grinding daily violence, the drive to rebuild Iraq's shattered infrastructure continues, and it's a group of home-grown contractors who are looking at taking the lead in that effort.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ECCLESTON (voice-over): Mohammed Sirwan is at the vanguard of Iraq's economic rehabilitation, Iraqis rebuilding Iraq. The 46-year- old's electrical engineering business, which lays high-voltage cable in Baghdad is soar. He's secured four major contracts with Iraq's Office of Reconstruction, hired 400 local staff.
MOHAMMED SIRWAN, IRAQI BUSINESSMAN: Here we are, a big team, working to finish this project.
ECCLESTON: One of the small percentage of Iraqi contractors, just 30 percent, to benefit from the billions of dollars in international development aid spent so far. The key to his success, he says, knowledge.
SIRWAN: The world is growing fast, moving fast, and there's a lot of formation, a lot of data, and you have always to keep in touch.
ECCLESTON: Mohammed Sirwan keeps in touch with the help of the Iraqi Economic Development center, a not-for-profit enterprise where senior-level businessmen attend lectures, swap ideas play catch-up on practices that non-Iraqi entrepreneurs take for granted, like how to do business in the Internet age, empowering Iraqis to take the lead in rebuilding their country. It's the brainchild of Raid Rahmani.
RAID RAHMANI, ECON. DEVELOPMENT CTR.: We think that everybody is responsible to do something for the country, if we want the country to live normally, to develop a decent life.
ECCLESTON: It's no small feat for a country whose private sector under the regime of Saddam Hussein was largely run by cronies and sympathizers to the former president. No doubt, it's an uphill battle. Are the Iraqi people up to the challenge? Absolutely, says Rahmani.
RAHMANI: They are thirsty for learning. So if we make the right plans and the right strategy and we implement it correctly, we think we can reach very fast and fill the gap between Iraq and the other countries.
ECCLESTON: Mohammed Sirwan believes that goal is just around the corner.
SIRWAN: Now, everything's changed. The bandwidth is bigger and the communication is better. There's no rules. There's nobody controlling us. So this is the first step -- we can say the first step of succeeding, the first step of progressing, the first step of developing the country.
ECCLESTON: Even in Iraq, he says, hope springs eternal.
(END VIDEOTAPE) ECCLESTON: Well, Iraq's newest entrepreneurs say the deadly spasm of violence will end if and when Iraqis like those in the business community take ownership in rebuilding this country -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Nice to hear that story.
Jennifer Eccleston in Baghdad, thanks -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Today the National Weather Service is kicking off Lightning Safety Awareness Week. The groups says that lightning kills an average of 67 people each year here in the U.S. The summer months especially dangerous because Americans seem to spend more time outdoors.
To reduce the chance of being struck, the Weather Service advises, move into a building or hard-top vehicle when storms threaten.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, how Wall Street is reacting to that huge credit card security breach. Andy will take a look in "Minding Your Business."
S. O'BRIEN: And Tom Cruise got all wet on the red carpet. 90- Second poppers Weigh in on a phony reporter, a water gun and an angry movie star. That story's up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: I'm glad we're going to spend more time talking about Tom Cruise this morning. Welcome back, everybody. It's time for another episode of "90-Second Pop," with our stars this morning. Christopher John Farley from "TIME" magazine. Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly." Andy Borowitz from borowitz.com.
Good morning.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Good morning.
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Good morning.
S. O'BRIEN: I actually have to say, I have a whole new opinion of Tom Cruise after this incident. For people who don't know what I'm talking about, I'll set it up for you. He's in London for the premiere of his new movie called "War of the Worlds." And he starts doing an interview, a stand-up interview. The guy who is holding the mike, it's not really a mike. It's a squirt gun.
Let's take a look at what's happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I'm here giving you an interview and answering your questions, and you do something really nasty. You're a jerk. You're a jerk. Well, you know what? You're a jerk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: I've got to say, he showed incredible self- restraint, considering the guy had just squirted him in the face with water. And you see the towel, and he's wiping his face off. Apparently, it was a British TV show, and it's supposed to be a joke. And I think they even said something like, well, we hope he took the joke in the tone it was intended.
BOROWITZ: Yes, sort of like "Punked."
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, hysterical.
BOROWITZ: I guess that was the idea. Yes, it was the prank that backfired. The only thing I can say about Tom, though, is that, you know, he's marrying Katie Holmes. A lot of times Katie and her friends are going to be over with super soakers and water pistols. And I just hope he gets used to this sort of thing. That's the only thing.
SHAW: I have to say I like him a lot more after this. He's been such an absolute freak lately that for him to act normally, and even, like you said, show some restraint and just kind of act, you know, with dignity and class and say, you know what? That was really rude. I would have expected him to clobber the guy or strangle him or something.
S. O'BRIEN: I was kind of waiting for him to take a swing at the guy, and it didn't happen.
CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Well, the key thing is, when you're squirted like that, you don't know what's in that gun.
S. O'BRIEN: It's got to be scary.
FARLEY: I mean, so there's a moment where you're like, well, what was I squirted with, you know? So...
BOROWITZ: I think he should take a leaf from Russell Crowe. Always carry a phone with you so you can then throw the phone when that happens.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, exactly. Assault. Of course, on the other hand, then you're spending time in jail. It takes away from the whole nuptials.
BOROWITZ: Well...
SHAW: And you've got a wedding.
S. O'BRIEN: You've got the wedding going on.
FARLEY: If any of these cameras squirt me, I'm going to lose it.
S. O'BRIEN: You heard that, guys. BOROWITZ: Don't make me come over there.
S. O'BRIEN: Chris is not kidding. Friday night, the Jackson family...
SHAW: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: ... holds their big shindig, because Michael has been acquitted. How surprised were you that juror number 10, her name is Pauline.
SHAW: Kerkos (ph).
S. O'BRIEN: Kerkos (ph).
SHAW: She shows up.
S. O'BRIEN: It's for fans, right?
SHAW: Yes. There were about 500 people that showed up, and it was at a casino sort of close to Neverland. Michael didn't show up, mind you. But juror number 10 did. I don't know how we're supposed to have faith in the jury system, honestly, when she shows up to this. Not only does she show up, but she says, when I heard the song "Beat It," I almost started crying.
BOROWITZ: Well, I don't know.
SHAW: I mean, come on.
BOROWITZ: You know, in the past, I've always avoided jury duty. But if I had known there was a big party at the end, I think I'd have a whole different view of it.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, only certain cases. Sorry to disappoint you. Here's a little of what juror number 10, for those of you who don't remember who we're talking about, had to say in sort of the media round robins they did after the verdict. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What mother in her right mind would allow that to happen? You know, just freely volunteer your child, you know, to sleep with someone. And not just so much Michael Jackson, but any person for that matter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: Sort of an interesting point she's making.
BOROWITZ: I'm leaving the country now. I don't know. That's very scary to me that she sort is giving that, and then she's showing up at the party.
SHAW: Yes, yes.
BOROWITZ: That's strange.
S. O'BRIEN: I wonder if this portends maybe an investigation. Or is it just water under a bridge at this point?
SHAW: I think a lot of people sort of expressed that sentiment, though. I don't know that she should have said it at a press conference. And she even said that someone asked her at the party if she thought that, you know, perhaps the mother lost this case, and she said, I would love to answer that, but I probably shouldn't. I mean, she is definitely walking a line and perhaps crossing it.
S. O'BRIEN: You guys, as always, I thank you very much -- Miles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: All right, thank you, Soledad.
CNN LIVE TODAY is coming up next.
Daryn, what's going on down there in Atlanta?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We miss you already, Miles. That's what's going on.
M. O'BRIEN: I miss you, too.
KAGAN: We also have a lot of news's happening today. At the top of the hour, compromised credit cards. We've got new information on that massive security breach of Mastercard and Visa and the information that's associated with that. And why one CEO says it should have never happened in the first place.
And can you really write off your next barbecue? We have a guest who says, yes, you can. There are some unusual tax breaks found during these summer months. We'll have them for you in our top five tips.
Miles, back to you.
M. O'BRIEN: Sounds like something Kinky Friedman would put in his platform, you know, writing off barbecues. He gave me a cigar, by the way. I think it's a Cuban.
KAGAN: He did? Hopefully it's legal.
M. O'BRIEN: No, not the one he was chewing. No, it's not a used cigar; he gave me a new cigar. Of course I had to ask.
All right, Daryn. We'll see you a little later. Thank you very much.
Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, why prosecutors want to send and 80-year-old executive to jail for 215 years. Andy's "Minding Your Business" next.
Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: All right. Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business," which these days means like police-blotter work, right? I mean, it's a lot of minding your sentences.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, we call it daily trial update Miles, around here.
M. O'BRIEN: There you go.
SERWER: So that's what we're going to do, a little daily trial update this morning. Founder of Adelphia, John Rigas and his son, Tim, will be facing Judge Leonard Sand in downtown Manhattan this morning to be sentenced for their convictions of fraud and conspiracy in connection with the bankruptcy of the company that Rigas helped found, Adelphia Communication, one of the largest cable companies in the United States. And prosecutors want these two gentlemen to be sentenced to 215 years each in jail, obviously spending the rest of their lives in jail. They were convicted of basically using this company as a personal piggy bank, or a private ATM, as prosecutors said. They still plan to appeal, Miles. And their lawyers maintain their innocence. So we'll have to watch that.
Meanwhile, I want to talk about the markets a little bit. Stocks trading down at this hour. Go to the Big Board here. You can see, down 46 on the Big Board. Finally, higher oil prices catching up with the sentiments on Wall Street. Stocks slower.
Cablevision, another cable company, up over 25 percent, though, because the Dolans, the family that controls that company, plans to take that company private. Some interesting stuff there.
M. O'BRIEN: And what's the goal there? Just more control?
SERWER: More control, indeed. And they also own Madison Square Garden and the Knicks, and they want to kind of separate the assets.
M. O'BRIEN: Got you.
All right, Andy Serwer, thanks very much -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: In Afghanistan today, officials say they have broken up a plot to assassinate the new U.S. ambassador. It is a powerful reminder of the danger that runs throughout that country, and where a generation of children have known only war are and the rule of the Taliban.
Barbara Starr is on assignment in Afghanistan. She's got a special report for us this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On a small street in Kabul, there is this sign, "The Center for War Affected Street Children." Thirteen-year-old Gulajohn (ph) comes here to paint. He tells us he wants to teach painting when he grows up. He says painting makes him happy.
But for now, Gulajohn spends most of his days and nights on these teeming streets. He sells plastic bags, earning perhaps a dollar a day, to help his mother buy food for him and his brothers. On these streets, Afghan children sell anything they can. They are also the victims of Afghanistan's tragedies.
(on camera): Here in Kabul, there are between 40,000 and 60,000 children working in the streets, selling bits of plastic and metal for pennies a day to try and help their families. They come here to this school to learn the alphabet and maybe a skill for the future.
(voice-over): Here, Gulajohn and other children can get off the streets for a few hours. Some are learning to write their name for the first time. These girls are being taught hairdressing. They hope to get jobs in beauty parlors that have sprung up in the new Afghanistan. All of these children are traumatized by years of war during the time the Taliban were in power. Thousands of Afghans have moved to Kabul since the Taliban were overthrown. The children are working the streets to help their families. So life for them in Afghanistan is hard. Most of them have never been to a school.
Mohammed (ph), the director, talks about the life of these children.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For these children, the life is not easy, because even they starting their work early in the morning and until evening they are working in the streets. Sometimes they have a lot of problem and stress during the day, during the work.
STARR: On this day, there are few smiles, but in these small classroom, these children who work on the streets have their own dreams of a better life.
Barbara Starr, CNN, Kabul, Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: According to the White House, there are more than 10 million children in Afghanistan. One in four will not make it to their fifth birthday. One in three is an orphan. And half of those suffer chronic malnutrition.
Coming up on "CNN LIVE TODAY," summertime tips for saving on next year's taxes. And then tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING, part two of our special series "Surviving The Game." More and more children are burning out on sports at a young age. We're going to have advice on how you can prevent that. That's tomorrow, 7:00 a.m. Eastern.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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