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Indications Saddam Hussein's Execution may be Imminent
Aired December 29, 2006 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Heidi Collins.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm T.J. Holmes sitting in for Tony Harris.
COLLINS: For the next three hours, watch events happen live on this Friday, the 29th day of December.
Here's what's on the rundown.
Final hours for Saddam Hussein -- all signals suggest Iraq's deposed dictator will hang from the gallows within hours.
T.J. HOLMES: The Mile High City piled high with snow. Another week, another major storm slams Denver. Dozens of airline flights canceled.
COLLINS: A fatal shooting in the chaos of Katrina. Today, seven New Orleans police officers facing criminal charges, in THE NEWSROOM.
Saddam Hussein apparently living on borrowed time. One of his attorneys tells CNN different sources believe the former dictator will be executed tomorrow morning.
The latest from Baghdad now and CNN's Ryan Chilcote -- good morning to you, Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Two officials, one U.S. and one Iraqi, are telling us that Saddam Hussein is still in U.S. custody and he has not been transferred to Iraqi custody. That's important. That's one thing we're watching, because the expectation is that Saddam Hussein would have to be transferred over to Iraqi custody before his execution.
The sense is that that execution, here on the ground, the sense is that that execution is likely to come soon. It is also something that Saddam's own defense team now believes. They believe it could come as early as tomorrow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAJIB AL-NUAIMI, SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LAWYER: Well, we had a lot of indications, for example, from different sources. Some says maybe in one week after this. Some people say the 26th. But after we have experienced the meetings yesterday, all the indications, I was told, he might be executed tomorrow morning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHILCOTE: Everything appears to be in place for that execution. Now, certainly legally, the appellate process has ended for Saddam. And this is really now in the political realm. And we have just heard from the Iraqi prime minister. He was quoted on Iraqi travel saying that there will be no reversal of Saddam's -- the decision to execute Saddam. And there will be no delay in that execution -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Ryan, talk about, if you would, give us some of a sense of what you're seeing around you and the way that you're talking with people.
Is there any sort of feeling that Saddam's execution will change anything on the ground there?
CHILCOTE: No, there is not that sense. It seems like it's very unlikely that it will have a big effect on the fighting here, at least. Keep in mind that Saddam -- the Saddam loyalties in the insurgency who are fighting say they've already said that they will fight on, that Saddam Hussein has been in prison now for three years and they've moved on. They're ready to fight without him.
The other part of the insurgency, the Islamists, groups like al Qaeda in Iraq, for them, Saddam Hussein was never a figurehead to begin with. So they are -- they, too, are vowing to fight on.
There are some people in the Iraqi government that say that they hope that this will lead to a more peaceful Iraq. But when you talk to Iraqis out on the street, very few of them think that this is going to make a big difference in terms of the violence here in Iraq -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Ryan Chilcote covering the story for us in Baghdad.
Ryan, we'll check back with you later on.
Thank you.
Iraq after the death of its former dictator -- what's likely to happen after Saddam Hussein is hanged? Will it change anything for the Iraqis?
That is the question. We'll talk about it a little bit later on coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
T.J. HOLMES: Well, if you're in Denver this morning, get comfortable. Chances are you're staying in Denver. The city is in the center of a one-two winter punch. Snow piling up. More on the way.
And our Jonathan Freed is at the airport, where hundreds of flights are going absolutely nowhere -- Jonathan, hello.
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J. Most of those flights that are going nowhere were canceled, many of them, as of yesterday afternoon, sort of proactively on the part of the airlines because nobody was sure what we were going to be facing today.
And we're still not sure exactly how we're going to be impacted as the day goes on. But take a look. You can see the aircraft about to touch down here.
This airport has been operational all morning and we have been here since the pre-dawn darkness. And if we swing over a little bit more to Chris, my photographer's left, you can see some plows out in the distance, as well. And they have four north-south runways here, T.J. And those are the ones that they use mostly during the wintertime because of where the prevailing winds are.
And they have this -- these convoys and armies of plows that work side-by-side clearing an entire runway or taxiway at once.
Now, some of these runways -- you have to get this -- some of these runways are so long here -- one of them is three miles long -- that, in some cases, by the time you get to the end of one, depending on how hard it may be snowing at the time, you have to circle back and start clearing that same runway again.
But they have enough of them that they have been able to stagger it, close some, take care of them, plow them. And the latest update that we have from the airport is that we're operational for now. We are told, though, that a number of people did spend the night here in the terminal. I was walking around earlier and really didn't see signs of too many of them. But we're told that the people did that by choice, unlike last week, where thousands of people were stuck here because there was just nowhere for them to go.
Flights were running out of here yesterday and some people chose to stay here, according to the airport spokespeople, just because they wanted to be first in line today. They didn't know what was going to happen overnight.
So, let's take a look -- let's go downtown to a stadium, though, because I'm told that we have a shot of a stadium filled with snow. And this will give you a sense of sort of how uneven the snowfall has been here in the Denver area.
Our hotel was a couple of miles away from the airport and we had dry pavement when we got up this morning, only about three inches of snow. But other places in this area, though, have seen a lot more than that.
So, depending on where you are waking up this morning will determine exactly, you know, whether you're going to grunt or groan and look at your shovel and decide whether or not you want to go pick it up.
T.J. HOLMES: All right, grunting and groaning going on in Denver. Well, I know you're not the meteorologist, but maybe we'll ask Chad here in a second, as well, but it is Denver and it is wintertime.
Is this that unusual, even though we've had bam-bam, back to back storms like this, winter storms? But is a lot of snowfall that unusual this time of year for Colorado?
FREED: When you talk to the airport people here and the airline spokespeople, as well, they're saying that in the 12 year or so history of this airport, it's really only been shut down by a major storm like this, a major dump like we saw last week, a few times, three or four times.
So while they tend to get a lot of snow here, the type of intense storms, storms with the amount of energy that we saw last week -- and Chad can perhaps verify this for us a little later -- are less rare for the actual Denver area. Back to back, I think, even rarer still.
And we were asking the folks here whether or not that makes it difficult for them to really be on their game for a storm of this magnitude. And they said that that's exactly the issue, because when they only come along every once in a while, you're not really as practiced in dealing with them. So if we do get another major punch today, they're going to be on top of it, whereas last week it was playing a little bit of catch-up and relearning things that they many not have had to deal with for a couple of years.
T.J. HOLMES: Ah. They're certainly on their game now.
All right, Jonathan Freed, thank you so much, for us in Denver.
We turn now to Chad -- and Chad, you're always on your game. I'm sorry, I tossed the question to him, maybe I should have been tossing it to the meteorologist, but...
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: What's that?
T.J. HOLMES: But still, yes, it's not that rare to get some snow, at least, in Colorado...
MYERS: Right. Oh, no.
T.J. HOLMES: ... at this time of year. But back to back storms like this, they're not so much used to that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: A time of private remembrance for the Ford family today. The late president's wife Betty and children gathering today Saint Margaret's Episcopal in Palm Desert, California.
There, the family will receive the casket from a military honor guard at the church. And after the private service, there will be a public viewing, the first in a series of ceremonies. Services are upcoming in the nation's capital and Ford's hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He will be buried there on Wednesday. Stay with CNN for continuing coverage as America mourns the 38th president.
T.J. HOLMES: Iraq after the death of its former dictator -- we'll talk with CNN's Michael Holmes about what's likely to happen after Saddam Hussein is hanged. That's ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: He's used to filing charges, now he's facing some. Ethics claims against the prosecutor in the Duke case. An expert weighs in.
T.J. HOLMES: And in the chaos after Katrina, on a bridge in New Orleans, did the police go too far?
Murder charges ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: And slow ride for a Florida carjacker. He gets lost, decides, what the heck, might as well turn myself in. Later in THE NEWSROOM we'll tell you the story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A deposed dictator's fate sealed.
But what happens after the execution of Saddam Hussein and what, if anything, will it mean to a country already in turmoil?
CNN's Michael Holmes spent time reporting from Baghdad, quite a bit of time, in fact.
He anchors "YOUR WORLD TODAY" on CNN International.
Always appreciate your insights here.
MICHAEL HOLMES, ANCHOR, "YOUR WORLD TODAY": Great to be here.
COLLINS: I know you are preparing to go back...
M. HOLMES: Yes.
COLLINS: ... and to do some more reporting tonight from Iraq.
Talk to us about what you have seen there with regard to what's going to happen now. We are hearing that this execution could take place very, very soon.
What's it going to change?
M. HOLMES: You know, I don't think it's going to change a whole lot, to be honest. I think that there could be an up tick in insurgent, particularly Sunni, violence in the short-term, particularly in the Anbar Province, the western area, the so-called Triangle of Death.
But in the long-term, I don't think it's going to change things because, for one reason, it's pretty bad now. And to see it increase -- there's been suicide bombings today, for example. And I think that certainly in this country, we really only hear probably 25 percent of what actually goes on daily in Baghdad.
So I think that there will probably be a short-term up tick, but I don't think it's going to be much different going forward.
COLLINS: Well, it seems almost obvious to me that, from the reporting tonight that we do, at least from here, that the people are so very mired in their own daily survival of the sectarian violence that's going on right now, to have this event occur may not even be something that they're plugged into at all.
M. HOLMES: Yes, no, I agree. I agree entirely. I was last there in August and September and was asked that very same question about whether people are watching the trial.
The honest truth is that they're too busy trying to stay alive.
COLLINS: Yes.
M. HOLMES: And the day to day life for Iraqis is very difficult for us to appreciate. You leave for work -- if you're brave enough to go for work -- and hope you get home that night. Imagine what that's like. Every day there's at least 20, 30, 40, up to 50, 60 bodies found in the streets. That doesn't include those who die from suicide bombings, car bombings, roadside bombs.
So for a lot of Iraqis...
COLLINS: So this is...
M. HOLMES: ... it's just -- they're about the day to day.
COLLINS: This is more of a story here...
M. HOLMES: It is.
COLLINS: ... than it is there?
M. HOLMES: I think it is. And I think you're going to have -- some Shiites are going to say that this is justice and this is a good thing. Sunnis are going to say this is terrible. Kurds are going to be disappointed that the Anfal trial, which Saddam Hussein's involved in now, never ended, because, of course, that's about the deaths of Kurds in the 1980s.
COLLINS: Right. And we should remind everybody -- a very good point. We should remind everybody, this execution is taking place and these guilty charges are taking place with reference to...
M. HOLMES: Dujail.
COLLINS: ... the execution of 148 Shiites back in 1982.
Talk a little bit, if you would, Michael, about Eid and the end of Ramadan. This is a very, very festive time, a joyous time in which Muslims are said to come together and have this sort of unity.
This execution, which we are awaiting, will not take place during Eid.
M. HOLMES: It won't. No, the government would not do that. Eid starts Saturday and ends Sunday. The Shia and Sunni start it on different days. And it goes through to, I think, the 7th of January.
So there's no chance that the execution will take place in that period. It would just be seen as very bad form.
But, you know, whether the execution takes place before Eid is also uncertain.
COLLINS: Right.
M. HOLMES: This may not -- they've got until the 27th of January and everyone is thinking it's going to take place today or tomorrow. That's possible. But it might not happen.
COLLINS: Yes, yes. And we should...
M. HOLMES: It might be a week or two from now.
COLLINS: Right.
Well, we're watching it very closely.
We should also remind everyone, as we are talking about hours, possibly, now that Baghdad is eight hours ahead of us.
M. HOLMES: Yes.
COLLINS: So we're looking at about, at least according to Eastern time here, about 5:00 p.m.
M. HOLMES: Yes.
COLLINS: 5:17 or so.
M. HOLMES: Yes, that's right. And Friday was -- they said Friday might be the day of the execution, because Friday is the day of prayer in the Muslim world and in Baghdad there is always a curfew on Friday. So they thought that might be a good idea, because when the execution takes place, there will be a lockdown of the city. There will be high security and probably a 24-hour curfew.
COLLINS: Yes. Yes, no doubt about that.
M. HOLMES: Yes.
COLLINS: All right, well, Michael Holmes, we appreciate it very much.
M. HOLMES: Good to see you.
COLLINS: And Godspeed as you go back over.
M. HOLMES: Thank you.
COLLINS: All right -- T.J.
T.J. HOLMES: All right, Heidi, guys.
Another story now out of Iraq, a developing story.
Iran says the U.S. has released two of its diplomats. They were among 10 people detained last week in a Baghdad raid. Washington suspected at least some of the men helped insurgents build powerful roadside bombs.
The U.S. has long been accusing Iran of meddling in the war. Iran's news agency says the diplomats were released only after Iraq pressured Washington.
American casualties at another grim milestone in Iraq. The U.S. military has announced the 100th American to die in the war this month. The victim, a U.S. Marine in the volatile Anbar Province. The death makes December the fifth deadliest month for U.S. forces since the start of the war in 2003.
COLLINS: Denver dazzling in white, but two big snowstorms eight days apart?
God. The cold's got to be getting old. I don't know, they might be, you know, kind of used to it.
T.J. HOLMES: Yes.
COLLINS: It's Colorado.
T.J. HOLMES: It is Colorado, as they say.
COLLINS: Stormy days -- we'll talk about it, coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
T.J. HOLMES: And we are Minding Your Business.
Ali Velshi here with a preview -- good morning, sir.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: T.J. good to see you.
I've been spending my morning reading this. This is Apple's annual report. It's got some juicy bites in it about Apple and options and documents. I'll tell you all about that in THE NEWSROOM, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
T.J. HOLMES: Apple in the spotlight on Wall Street today after giving some more info on its stock options investigation.
And Ali Velshi is Minding Your Business and reading a lot this morning -- Ali.
VELSHI: Yes, this is the -- this is the annual report that I've been reading. I want to just tell you, before I tell you about that, we've just got word now from the New York Stock Exchange that it, too, will be closed on Tuesday. The Nasdaq had announced it was going to remain closed on Tuesday because of the funeral of Gerald R. Ford. That's just happening now, so the market will not trade again after today until Wednesday morning.
So for you investors out there, it's something to think about.
Now, Apple. We had heard, T.J. -- we've been following this story for months -- Apple announcing in the midst of all of these stock options backdating scandals that it, too, was involved in stock options backdating. It was investigating itself. It didn't tell us that much about it.
And its annual report, which is this -- it's called a 10K. It was supposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15th.
Apple missed the deadline. Now, that's serious, T.J. because for the average investor, you don't get to walk up to Apple and see how Steve Jobs does his job, you get to read the report, if you feel like doing that. And that -- this is the health report on the company. When a company delays its report, that's serious.
Now, yesterday, we were talking about reports that Apple had given Steve Jobs $7.5 million stock options back in 2001, and there was -- there were records of these meetings, but the meeting that supposedly happened never happened.
Now, Apple has responded to that by saying that: "The approval for the grant was improperly recorded as occurring at a special board meeting on October 19th, 2001. Such a special board meeting did not occur."
OK. So now we've got a couple of problems on our hands. We have a late filing. We have some discussion about why this board meeting didn't occur. We don't know.
Was it a clerical error? Did somebody forge a document, as one of the reports yesterday said?
Apple is not giving us a lot more detail. Apple also says in the filing that although the investigation -- this is their own investigation -- found that CEO Steve Jobs was aware or recommended the selection of some favorable grant dates, he did not receive or financially benefit from these grants.
And, T.J. the issue here about stock option backdating, I guess the best way to put it it's like -- it's like betting on a horse after the race has been run. You know which one to bet on.
So, a bit of a serious problem. I can't say the market is having much of a reaction to it. The market likes Apple. Consumers like Apple.
Who knows what comes of it?
T.J. HOLMES: But, Steve Jobs, he's got a pretty good rep.
VELSHI: Yes.
T.J. HOLMES: Does his nose still stay clean on this one?
VELSHI: Yes, this is -- you know, your point is correct here. This isn't really about the money. These are all rich folks. Steve Jobs has that reputation and this is the first story where the stock options scandal has now touched somebody almost iconic in American history.
So that's going to be a very big issue.
We have asked Steve Jobs for an interview. Amount, Apple is saying nobody is getting to interview Steve Jobs. But I think it's sort of a matter we want to talk to him about and see how it affects the company.
The 10K, the filing, by the way, did say elsewhere that this -- this is going to distract the company from getting on with its work and could have some impact, you know, on the company's performance.
So it's a big issue. We'll follow it very closely though.
T.J. HOLMES: I know you will.
Happy reading to you, Ali.
Thanks so much.
VELSHI: And you have a Happy New Year.
T.J. HOLMES: All right, Happy New Year to you.
VELSHI: OK.
T.J. HOLMES: See you, Ali.
COLLINS: Slippery roads, flight cancellations -- Denver clobbered for a second straight week by a big winter storm. No mercy for the Mile High City. We'll tell you all about it coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
T.J. HOLMES: And he's used to filing the charges. Now he's facing some charges. Ethics claims against the prosecutor in the Duke case. An expert weighs in.
That's coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: And death by hanging -- a look at what it may be like when Saddam Hussein meets his end in THE NEWSROOM after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
T.J. HOLMES: We're taking a look now at the opening bell on Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange. You know, we often see big CEOs, big companies and whatnot, ringing that bell. Well, a nice change.
There it is, the bell goes.
New York Stock Exchange employees, who have volunteered some of their time during the year for several different organizations, local community groups and what not, but they are getting a chance to ring the bell this morning at the New York Stock Exchange.
All eyes, of course, a lot of concern, rather, we just talked to Ali Velshi about the stock option concern grants at Apple Computer. Doesn't seem to be having a big drag on Wall Street right now. That's something everybody is keeping an eye on for now.
COLLINS: Western wallop, a double-edged winter storm holds Denver in its grip -- and for the second time in a week. Travel nearly at a standstill. Chris Parente with our affiliate KWGN is joining us live.
Hey, Chris, I'm understanding that I-70 is now closed, and a big chunk of I-25, like nine miles or so, also closed, so people are being told to take a four-day weekend.
CHRIS PARENTE, REPORTER, KWGN TV: You know it, Heidi. Boy, oh, boy, here we go again. It is round two. Denver versus Mother Nature. Hopefully this time around we do a little better.
You will recall last week the whole city was shut down, paralyzed, by the major blizzard one week ago. This morning it is considerably better. Take a quick look here at our major north-south artery, that's I-25, north and south. We have the full fleet, 35 plows on the roads this morning keeping the lanes open.
For the first time in the city's history they have hired 35 private trucks and Jeeps with plows to work the neighborhoods, keep those lanes open, as well. We are told the bus schedule here in the city is regular, running full capacity this morning.
Out at the airport, you will recall last week the whole place shut down, thousands of travelers stranded. This time around, the airport is still open. There are, of course, still plenty of delays out there. United saying they have canceled 125 flights this morning alone. But they are hoping to get back to regular flight scheduled by sometime after lunch.
In the meantime, between these two storms, last week's -- and last night's -- Denver has seen almost two feet of snow. And the lingering effects, one of the big ones is trash collection. Trash is piling up all over town because the trucks can't get to it.
We also have a lot of side roads that are still impassable. If you have been to the grocery store lately, you know, there are no eggs, no milk, no bread, a lot of run on the area grocery stores, as well. Officials are hoping if Mother Nature cooperates things could be back to normal here in Denver metro by the first of the year. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
In the meantime, Heidi, as I'm sure you know there in Atlanta, one of the upsides to this kind of heavy snowfall here in Denver is a good old-fashioned snowball fight, a way to relieve some stress. If somebody is angry at you, they can take it out in a relatively non- violent way. Ow! Back to you guys.
COLLINS: Hey, we are just going to stay on this shot for a while, Chris, see what happens.
PARENTE: No, please!
COLLINS: Come on. Get him!
PARENTE: Oh, back to Heidi.
PARENTE: Lots of good snowball packing weather out here.
COLLINS: All right, Chris Parente, the best live shot of the day. We appreciate it very much. We will stay on top of the story, even though you are running for your life, apparently.
Chad Myers now at the Weather Center right here in the comfort of the Atlanta studio. Not having anything thrown at him.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST, CNN NEWSROOM: No.
COLLINS: All right. So, listen, they hired some private vehicles to do the clearing because they are using everything they've got, in the City of Denver to do that snow clearing.
MYERS: It really makes a difference where you are in Denver compared to what type of snow you receive. From Aurora -- you may get eight inches. Probably have eight on the ground, another six to go. But places like Conifer and Evergreen, well over two feet of snow, it just really depends on some of the numbers. Golden had 20, Genesee had 23.
It just really -- and the airport only had about four or five, where Jonathan Freed was, but there's more snow to go. Not a lot more snow, so much for Denver, but the Plains east of Denver, under blizzard warnings now, also into Kansas and Nebraska. That's where the bulk of this snow is going to go.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: Nothing will stop the execution of Saddam Hussein. That word today from Iraq's prime minister. There are indications the execution may be imminent. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told reporters there that, quote, "no reviews or delays in the execution of the criminal, Saddam."
As far as we know, right now, Hussein remains in U.S. custody and has not been handed over to Iraqi authorities. The lead defense attorney says they U.S. military has asked him to arrange for Hussein's personal belongings to be picked up. His legal teams expects the sentence may be carried out within 24 hours.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAJIB AL-NUAIM, SADDAM DEFENSE ATTORNEY: All the indication is saying that he might be executed tomorrow. One of our lawyers that is in the green zone and he had requested -- at the moment I'm talking to you, he is still insisting on meeting him today, to pass some information about the timeline, and to receive from him any requests he would like to have before the execution.
But, unfortunately, the Americans are denying his access, the lawyer, and that means, you know, it might be that the execution will be tomorrow. If not tomorrow, if there will be a delay, I'm seeing him personally and probably with one of his family to say his last wish.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Be sure to stay with CNN for the latest on this developing story.
Death by noose, although we don't know precisely when Saddam Hussein will be executed, we know his end will come on the gallows. Here now, CNN's Randi Kaye. And a caution for you, you may find some these pictures disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM (voice over): This is what Iraq's government calls the death chamber. Soon Saddam Hussein will be here to meet the same fate as these men. This is what his final moments will look like. But we wanted to know what hanging will feel like.
(on camera): Will Saddam suffer in death?
LARRY KOBILINSKY, FORENSIC SCIENTIST: He certainly will suffer up to the point of hanging. Whether he will suffer during the hanging itself is a question that nobody knows the answer to. My suspicion is that there is no consciousness when a person is hung.
KAYE: We have our hanging victim right here. Once the noose tightens, what is the first thing?
KOBILINSKY: Two of the cervical vertebra will break, and the spinal cord will become severed. The body will go into immediate paralysis.
KAYE (voice over): Forensic Scientist Larry Kobilinsky says paralysis is what protects a person being hanged from feeling pain. Also the trauma from the severing of the spinal cord makes the brain go haywire, Kobilinsky says, so the body doesn't even recognize pain.
KOBILINSKY: When you have this chaotic flow of energy in the brain, I don't see how there can be a consciousness. KAYE (voice over): Hanging has been used for centuries, dating back 2,500 years to the Persian Empire. Today, it is still used in many Middle Eastern countries. In the United States, New Hampshire and the State of Washington still allow prisoners to be hanged.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hanging, that's the way I'm gonna go. I'm going to hang.
KAYE: Serial child killer Wesley Dodd was executed by hanging in Washington back in 1993. He told CNN he wanted to hang because that's how he'd killed one of his victims. The last hanging in the U.S. came three years after Dodd, in 1996, when convicted murder Bill Bailey was hanged in Delaware. The outdoor gallows used in that execution were later torn down.
(On camera): Once the vertebra is broken, what would be the next thing to happen to the body?
KOBILINSKY: The next thing is the compression of the major blood vessels that feed the neck, and supply oxygen to the brain. Those blood vessels are compressed. We are talking about the jugular vein and the deeper carotid artery. When you compress these blood vessels, there is no longer any supply of oxygen to the brain.
KAYE (voice over): At three minutes, the brain will be dead from insufficient oxygen.
(On camera): With such a tight noose, three minutes seems like a very long time to actually cut off somebody's air.
KOBILINSKY: Well, it's a matter of the brain going into a certain mode, where it tries to conserve energy, and use whatever oxygen is available as efficiently as possible.
KAYE (voice over): When the brain runs out of oxygen, the person will be declared dead, even though the heart may continue to beat for another 10 minutes. Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: He's used to filing charges, now he's facing some. Ethics claims against the prosecutor in the Duke case. An expert weighs in, coming up in the NEWSROOM.
HOLMES: And in the chaos after Katrina, on a bridge in New Orleans, did the police go too far? Murder charges ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A new twist emerging from the Duke lacrosse rape case. In North Carolina, the state bar has now filed an ethics complaint against District Attorney Michael Nifong.
Among other things, it accuses Nifong of making improper comments about the three Duke players accused in the case. Including, referring to the players as, quote, "a bunch of hooligans," and saying, quote, "one would wonder why one needs an attorney if one was not charged, and had not done anything wrong".
Nifong has not commented on the charges, which will be heard by the state's disciplinary hearing commission. Last week the DA dropped the rape charges against the three athletes in the case, but left other charges in place.
What impact could all of this have on Nifong's role as prosecutor, and the case as a whole? Well, here with a look at that is former Assistant District Attorney B.J. Bernstein.
Let me ask you this, how can he still be prosecuting this case? There are two other charges that these defendants are looking at.
B.J. BERNSTEIN, FMR. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Well, he's still in office. He still has his job. What's going to end up happening, I think, is you will see a move by the defense attorneys now to file a formal motion with the court to try to say that this prosecutorial misconduct, these mistakes that have prejudiced their client, should mean he should be excluded from the case.
COLLINS: That's right. Because he's accused of breaking four rules of conduct when he spoke to reporters, about the case.
BERNSTEIN: Exactly. It are the things we have been talking about and I been preaching from -- about the second week of this case about how shocked I was when Nifong got on national television, and over 80 times started talking about the guilt of these defendants and alleged facts about the case.
When the ethical rules, the rules that we have that govern lawyers -- I know people think we have no rules that govern us --
COLLINS: Not always.
BERNSTEIN: But we do. Those rules say you have to be fair. In fact, North Carolina says a prosecutor is like a minister of justice. Even more than a regular lawyer has an obligation to be fair and make sure there's a fair trial.
COLLINS: Well, he's an elected official.
BERNSTEIN: He's an elected official, exactly, which is why this is even more egregious and why this commission is going to have to look carefully at this. It's a concern and jeopardizes the entire case.
COLLINS: What is particularly interesting about it, just to remind everyone who might not have followed it, when he was re- elected, which was just in November, he's got four years to go.
BERNSTEIN: He's got four years to go. And it becomes interesting, maybe the issues that can happen now, is this commission in North Carolina, which is made up of lawyers and non-lawyers will hear the charges. One of the potential sanctions is disbarment. If he loses his license to practice law, obviously he can't hold that office anymore.
COLLINS: I see. Hmm. Boy, that would be very interesting. I wonder if that has ever happened before?
BERNSTEIN: Well, this is very unusual. I have to say that the defense attorney in me is happy to see bar association step up and make these complaints. You think how many times over the years we have seen, on the news, prosecutors come forward going on and on about a case, and it hasn't even been tried. And the truth is most states have these ethical laws, and it's time for prosecutors to read them, and observe them. You can try your case in court, not on television.
COLLINS: What other punishment does Nifong face here?
BERNSTEIN: It could just simply be an admonishment. I mean, it could be something that just goes in his file, and rules against him. But then it's something for defense attorneys to make hay with potentially in cases, because as they are reviewed by higher courts, that court is always going to look at that lawyer with suspicion, in this case, Nifong, saying did he do the right thing?
COLLINS: And the office of prosecutor is not looked at ever the same again in that state.
BERNSTEIN: No, no. It is so important. You know, it really is an important job, a prosecutor holds. It's essential for them to remember it's not about winning or losing. It truly is about doing justice. If the person who is the prosecutor doesn't do that, our system cannot work.
COLLINS: All right. B.J. Bernstein, we appreciate your time here very much.
BERNSTEIN: Good to see you.
COLLINS: Thanks.
HOLMES: Well, we're just getting word now, more trouble for former heavy weight champ Mike Tyson. According to police in Arizona, Mike Tyson has been arrested on a DUI and drug charge after leaving a nightclub last night -- or rather, early this morning, and almost hitting a sheriff's car.
According to police there, he was pulling out of a nightclub, according to the sheriff's officials, and showed signs of impairment, almost hit that cop car. He was stopped, showed signs of impairment, according to police there. Failed a field sobriety test, and during that search, and that stop, cocaine was also found on him and in his vehicle.
However, police do say -- this is a direct quote -- "he was cooperative and acted like a gentleman." Of course, this is the embattled heavy weight champ who is the youngest heavy weight champ of all time, at one point had a great run in the heavy weight ranks before things spiraled out of control for this gentleman. So it looks like more trouble for mike Tyson. We will see what comes of that. But, again, Tyson been arrested now outside a nightclub in Arizona.
COLLINS: Focusing in on election fraud.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you look at swing states in kind of close elections, really where the political strategists have mapped out where these elections are going to come down to, there tends to be voter suppression activities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: One man with a video camera keeping them honest at the polls. That story, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
HOLMES: And a slow ride for a Florida carjacker. He gets lost and decides, you know what, I might as well just go ahead and turn myself in. That's a little later in the NEWSROOM
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Every weeknight on "AC360" our Anderson Cooper is keeping them honest. That includes telling the stories of those who are on the front lines battling bureaucracy and challenging corruption.
COLLINS: One man who's making a difference, a film maker whose focus is on making sure elections everywhere are conducted fairly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gore, the winner in Florida.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Florida has been prematurely called.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hereby declare Governor George W. Bush the winner.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR, "AC 360" (voice over): For filmmaker, Ian Inaba, the disputed presidential election of 2000 was a wake-up call, a realization that America's voting process was fragile and fallible.
IAN INABA, VIDEOTHEVOTE.ORG: I learned that there is a big disparity between people that have problems when they go to vote, and people that don't have problems.
COOPER: When Ian went to the polls in 2004, he brought his camera.
INABA (voice over): OK, now we are walking down a path into the woods. The path is at least 100 to 200 feet from the door.
COOPER: He's keeping them honest by documenting irregularities he claims are not covered by the mainstream media.
INABA: Unfortunately, there seem to be certain communities that are targeted, particularly if you look at swing states, in kind of close elections, really where the political strategists have mapped out where these elections are going to come down to. There tends to be voter suppression activities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Voter registration up 27 percent. Machines, too, are gone.
COOPER: In Columbus, Ohio, he documented how predominantly African-American areas were short of voting machines, leading to long lines, while more affluent areas had far shorter lines. He turned his footage into an award-winning documentary.
INABA: People's eyes were opened, and they wanted to know what they could do to fix this problem.
COOPER: And he founded the group, Video The Vote, and recruited volunteers armed with video cameras.
INABA: Or you can lower it, and then you can just kind of pan across, or get stable shots.
COOPER: Last month, more than 600 volunteers were deployed for the midterm election.
INABA: Citizens have to get involved, make sure that all the politicians and the people running the systems are accountable, and not -- that's the only way we are going to have fair and honest elections.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then they turned around and used the old soul colors, red, black and green to trick people.
COOPER: Among the trouble Inaba's group caught, deceptive sample ballots passed out Maryland, attempting to woo black voters to Republican candidates.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ehrlich and Steele are Republicans. These individuals on the ballot are Democrats, Kweisi Mfume and (INAUDIBLE) did not endorse Ehrlich or Steele.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Passed out the flyers. Who hired you, man? Who do you work for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Work for Mr. Steele.
COOPER: The flyers were paid for by the Steele and Ehrlich campaigns
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People can come to the site on election day, see different kinds of problems that happen.
COOPER: Inaba will have his video agents out during every election. It's all about protecting the vote and keeping them honest. INABA: We're wanting people to understand that we are watching, that America is watching what's going on in our election system. So, you better not try to try any dirty tricks on election day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And you can see more about Ian and the stories of this year's other "Keeping Them Honest" finalists on cnn.com/360, then vote for your favorite. The winner will join Anderson in Times Square on New Year's Eve for a live special. That's Sunday, starting at 11:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.
HOLMES: Well, Denver dazzling in white, but two big snow storms eight days apart? Getting a bit old here, don't you think? Stormy days, that's in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: He ran Iraq with a brutal hand, but he cannot run from the hang man. Saddam Hussein's execution appears imminent. We'll keep you posted in the NEWSROOM.
HOLMES: And a military man of honor gives honor to the fallen. A major general's duty of reverence. That's in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Fifteen months after Katrina, criminal charges against seven New Orleans police officers. The officers indicted on murder, or attempted murder, charges. Two people shot to death, four others wounded. It happened on the Danziger Bridge, seven days after Katrina hit.
Police say they were responding to reports of a shooting when they confronted two families. Police say one man was shot when he reached into the waistband of his pants and turned toward police officers. Autopsy results showed he had been shot seven times, five times in the back. No weapons were found. Members of the two families say they had no weapons.
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody, I'm Heidi Collins.
HOLMES: And, hey, there, I'm T.J. Holmes. Tony Harris on vacation this week.
COLLINS: Spend a second hour in the NEWSROOM and stay informed. Here is what's on the run down.
HOLMES: Growing signs Saddam Hussein's execution is imminent, the deposed dictator may go to the gallows within hours.
COLLINS: Denver's snow days, major highways shut down, flights canceled, residents frustrated. The city's second big winter storm in just over a week.
HOLMES: And power to the people, 2006, the year you became a star. We look back at YouTube's phenomenal success on this Friday, December 29. You are in the NEWSROOM. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com.
