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O.J. Simpson Back in Court This Hour; Bernard Kerik Indictment Details; Pakistan's Fight for Democracy Under Siege

Aired November 09, 2007 - 10:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning again, everyone. You're with CNN. You're informed.
I'm Tony Harris.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody.

I'm Heidi Collins.

Developments keep coming into the CNN NEWSROOM on Friday, the 9th of November. '

Here's what's on the rundown.

An opposition leader pinned down at home. A city blockaded. Pakistan heads off a major protest against emergency rule.

HARRIS: O.J. Simpson back in court this hour. Will a Las Vegas judge put him on trial?

COLLINS: A by goes home form school with grandpa, but wait. It's somebody else's grandpa.

Honey, I picked up the wrong kid -- in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: And at the top this hour, O.J. Simpson back in court this hour. A judge trying to decide whether Simpson will stand trial for robbery and kidnapping.

Live now to CNN's Dan Simon at the courthouse in Las Vegas.

And Dan, I understand Mr. Simpson is in the building.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He arrived just a short time ago, Tony. He is inside the courtroom. We're about to get started here any moment now. O.J. Simpson kind of chatting up some of the bailiffs there, I see over there in the monitor.

When we recessed last night, the defense was about to cross- examine a man named Thomas Riccio. He is the sports memorabilia dealer who really engineered this whole hotel conversation. But he really didn't do O.J. any favors.

He tape recorded the whole event, if you will. We heard it in open court yesterday. It obviously doesn't put O.J. Simpson in a flattering light. He also says that he saw a couple guns in that hotel room, but O.J. Simpson himself was not armed.

Let's here what Riccio had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS RICCIO, SPORTS MEMORABILIA DEALER: People starting to surround the hotel. I went out there and clarified O.J. didn't break into the room. He did not have a gun with him.

Someone asked me, "Did anybody have a gun?" And I told the truth. I said, "Yes, somebody did, I don't know who they are." But O.J. was just trying to get his stuff back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMON: Riccio a bit of a character there. Well, in any case, look for the defense to paint him as something of an opportunist, somebody who was really looking to line his own pockets, evidenced by the fact that he sold a copy of that audiotape to TMZ.com. Got a bit of money for that tape.

The other guy we heard from yesterday, Bruce Fromong, he is one of the guys who was in the hotel room, thought he was going to try to sell some of O.J.'s stuff to a high-end dealer. He described the whole event as a military-type invasion. He was also subject to an intense cross-examination.

Again, we're going to her from Thomas Riccio here shortly. It should be an interesting day.

HARRIS: Yes.

SIMON: In all, we're talking about eight witnesses who are supposed to testify. And again, Tony, a preliminary hearing to determine if there's enough evidence to send this case on to trial.

HARRIS: Hey, Dan, this Riccio character, did he -- was he one of the guys who copped a plea in this case to testify against Simpson and for the prosecution?

SIMON: Riccio himself was actually never charged. And that's somewhat controversial. Some people thought he should be charged, but he was granted an immunity deal in exchange for all those tapes -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK.

Dan Simon for us in Las Vegas.

Dan, appreciate it. Thank you.

SIMON: You bet.

COLLINS: Ex-top cop in trouble with the law. Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik indictment details now. We expect to hear from federal prosecutor this hour. Mary Snow is live now from White Plains with the very latest on all of this.

Mary, good morning to you.

This is a surprise to a lot of people.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is. There are 16 counts -- excuse those motorcycles behind us -- in this indictment, Heidi, and pretty much they outline these three categories of charges: conspiracy, tax fraud, and false statements.

These are the charges pretty much in this indictment, and Bernard Kerik is expected to appear before a judge at noontime today. Sixteen counts in all. Prosecutors say if convicted, the maximum sentence for these counts would be 142 years in prison, plus $4.7 million in fines.

Now, Kerik's lawyers have said in the past that if these charges were brought, that he would fight them. These tax evasion charges stem back to an apartment that Kerik owned in about 1999, and prosecutors allege that he took renovations from a company that was doing business with the city or was looking to do business with the city, and they alleged that Kerik failed to disclose that renovation work. Also in these charges, Heidi, when Kerik was nominated to be homeland security secretary back in 2004 -- this was the position that Rudy Giuliani had endorsed for him -- the prosecutors say or allege that Kerik made false statements to the White House and other federal officials in that vetting process.

As you mentioned, prosecutors plan to have a news conference here at 11:30. And, of course, on the political side of this, Rudy Giuliani, on the campaign trail yesterday in Iowa, being asked about Bernard Kerik, his one-time friend, the man he appointed as New York city police commissioner -- he was in private business with him as well -- he has said that he made a mistake in supporting Kerik.

Of course, the big question is how will this affect his presidential campaign? And, you know, some political strategists say this is really going to be a test for the Giuliani campaign because they knew that Kerik's legal troubles would once again come back to haunt them -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Mary, I do wonder though when we put that graphic up there that showed all of these counts and the maximum sentence of 142 years possible, what are the chances, at least as far as what you know at this point, that he could really be found guilty on all 16 and then possibly spend that 142 years?

SNOW: Well, this is totally the maximum of all these charges.

COLLINS: Yes.

SNOW: So it's going to be significantly less than that. You know, his lawyer says that he is confident that he will win if he fights these charges. And you know, we should point out that Kerik did turn down a plea bargain agreement earlier this year with prosecutors. But one thing that's going to happen now if this case goes to trial in the next few months, it's also coinciding with the election process, the campaign process.

COLLINS: Yes. It will be interesting to watch, that's for sure.

All right. Mary Snow coming to us live from White Plains, New York, today.

Thank you, Mary.

HARRIS: And college students suffering after the death of one of their own. An early morning off-campus house fire killed one Rochester Institute of Technology student and one other person. Another student was critically injured. No word on what started the fire.

A new college president was to be inaugurated this afternoon. That ceremony will go on with a moment of silence taken.

We are working to get more on this story. Trying to connect with Bob Finnerty. He is the chief communications officer with the university news. Once we make that connection, we will talk to him right here in the NEWSROOM.

No longer behind bars. Arthur Bremer, the man who shot and paralyzed Alabama governor George Wallace. Bremer was released from a Maryland prison early this morning after serving 35 years of his sentence. He shot Wallace during the governor's racially charged presidential campaign in 1972.

Bremer's diary was discovered in a landfill years after his conviction. It showed he shot Wallace to get attention, not because of any politics.

COLLINS: He inherits a Justice Department in disarray. Michael Mukasey will be sworn in as the nation's next attorney general today. The Senate voted 53-40 last night to confirm Mukasey. His nomination ran into trouble after he was asked about an interrogation technique known as waterboarding. He refused to brand it as torture.

Mukasey replaces Alberto Gonzales, who quit in the fallout over the firings of U.S. attorneys.

A little background now on Michael mukasey.

He is a former federal judge. He retired last year. Mukasey served in the southern district of New York. He was chief judge from 2000 until his retirement. President Ronald Reagan appointed Mukasey to the federal bench back in 1988.

HARRIS: Drug maker Merck offering $4.85 billion to ease the pain over Vioxx. It's one of the largest ever civil settlements in legal history.

Forty-seven thousand people and hundreds of possible class action lawsuits are involved. Practically all of the plaintiffs have to OK the deal.

Merck pulled Vioxx from market shelves, oh, three years ago. Its own research shows the painkiller doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. The company still faces a number of government investigations.

Pakistan's fight for democracy under siege. Barbed wire and guards blocked former prime minister Benazir Bhutto from leaving her home. Her supporters barred from marching.

CNN's Zain Verjee is on the phone from the capital of Islamabad.

And Zain, if you would, take your time and walk us through the extraordinary events of this day.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, it was a real show of defiance from Benazir Bhutto. She is under lockdown. Effectively, it's house arrest, even though her spokeswoman said that they haven't been served with an official detention order.

But today hundreds of police and security forces were armed heavily as they surrounded her house. They refused to let her out, even though she tried to get through the blockade and go to a rally that she had called in a nearby military garrison in town called Rawalpindi.

Basically, the scene unfolded like this -- some of her supporters cut the barbed wire that had surrounded her home, and she sat in a white bulletproof car and spoke through a megaphone. The windows were tinted. There were trucks that had surrounded her. Security forces were there at different layers of security forces. There were also concrete blocks as well.

She criticized General Musharraf, and she asked the police, just get out of the way, we're not the enemy. Her supporters were all out there, the few that had managed to get through were chanting, "Down with Musharraf! We want Benazir Bhutto to be the prime minister!"

And as soon as they started to do that, many of them, the police jumped immediately on them and took them away in vans. We understood from people on the scene who told us that they would be held for a few hours and then eventually released -- Tony.

HARRIS: Hey, Zain, in her brief statement there, did the former prime minister mention any plans to reorganize protests for another day?

VERJEE: Well, her spokeswoman came out after the whole thing died down and she went back inside and said, yes, they were now strategizing on how to mobilize the people. She wants to have this march from a cultural capital in Islamabad called Lahore, all the way to Islamabad. It's about a four-hour drive, and she wants to have this.

So they are discussing this, and it could happen because that's the trump card she has. She's the one person in this country that can generate people power and put people out on the streets to protest and defy General Musharraf.

HARRIS: CNN's Zain Verjee on the phone with us from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Zain, thank you.

COLLINS: All right. We want to take a minute now to get back to the story that we told you about just a few minutes ago, a terrible fire and situation that has happened in Rochester, New York. In fact, it's a campus house fire that, in fact, killed some students of the Rochester Institute of Technology -- a student, I should say, and one other person.

We want to talk with someone on the phone now. He is actually the chief communications officer for the university.

Bob Finnerty is with me now.

Mr. Finnerty, thanks for being with us.

I have read the e-mail that you sent out, I believe, to the student body. It is very touching and really obviously a terrible time for you and the university.

BOB FINNERTY, ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: Yes. Good morning.

It is a very sad day for RIT, the RIT community. As you know, a fatal house fire has claimed the lives of two people in a Rochester neighborhood. This occurred about 2:40 this morning, and this actually occurred in the city of Rochester, about five, six, seven miles away from the RIT campus, which is in the suburbs.

COLLINS: Have you had an opportunity to speak with police or fire at all about what may have happened here? And again want to clarify, this is off-campus housing we're talking about.

FINNERTY: Yes, it is off-campus housing in a neighborhood in Rochester in an artsy section of the city. At this point we just know that it looks like it's accidental, and it's an investigation by the Rochester Police Department and Rochester Fire Department. And it does appear that two RIT students have, unfortunately, died in this fire. Both are fourth year students at the university.

COLLINS: Fourth year computer engineering is what I'm seeing.

FINNERTY: Yes. One student is a computer engineering student from the Florida area, and the other student is a fourth year student in our College of Liberal Arts from New Jersey.

COLLINS: Boy, it's just absolutely devastating. As you said, very heavy hearts there at RIT this morning.

At least a little bit of good news, though I know it's going to be terribly difficult for them, four of the students did get out of that house. Tell us a little bit about how they're doing. FINNERTY: Yes, the four that did escape, thankfully, three are very fine, and escaped without harm. And the other student was hospitalized and is being treated for very serious injuries at the hospital here in Rochester in the trauma area.

COLLINS: All right. Well, our sympathies obviously go out to you and the university at this time.

We appreciate your time talking with us.

Bob Finnerty, the chief spokesman at RIT.

Thanks so much, Bob.

HARRIS: A question of Barack Obama's patriotism, or is it a political dirty trick?

Picture controversy, in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. Let me see if I can get you set up here if you're interested in following the O.J. Simpson preliminary hearing as it's happening right now in Las Vegas. Obviously our Dan Simon is there for us, for CNN. If you'd like to follow -- this is that character Thomas Riccio, the man who set up the meeting between the sports memorabilia dealer and O.J. Simpson

If you would like to follow the coverage live right now, we would ask that you go to our sister network, CNN Headline News. And if you can't -- if you're not in front of a television right now but you'd like to sort of pop in and follow bits and pieces of the coverage, we would encourage you to go to CNN.com, and you can do that right now, and we will be checking in from time to time right here on CNN.

A picture is worth a thousand words, but Barack Obama supporters say one picture doesn't tell the whole story.

CNN's Brian Todd explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An anonymous attack e-mail received by an untold number of Americans and obtained by CNN accuses Senator Obama of not putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.

True or false? CNN dug up the video of the national anthem from that day and found it looks like that photo was taken during the anthem, not the pledge. Hillary Clinton, hand over heart. Bill Richardson, same. Obama, hands down.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This was "The Star-Spangled Banner." It was not the Pledge of Allegiance. Any time that you pledge allegiance, you put your hand over your heart. And I always have, and I always will. TODD: At the same event a year earlier, Obama does have his hand over his heart. Obama said that his grandfather taught him, during the Pledge of Allegiance, you put your hand over your heart. During the national anthem, you sing. There is some public confusion over the issue.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I suppose, I guess, if I am pledging, then that is probably more hand on the heart kind of a thing. But I could go either way on that either.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course you do.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: One nation, under God.

TODD: Federal law instructs hand over your heart for both the pledge and "The Star-Spangled Banner," except for military personnel, who salute.

STEVE ROBERTSON, AMERICAN LEGION: Well, obviously, as the commander in chief, we would expect him to render the proper courtesies and honors to both the flag of the United States and to the national anthem.

TODD: The issue is not at the top of every voter's mind.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think there are more important things than whether or not you put your hand over your heart.

TODD: But, for now, candidates have one more thing to remember to do on the campaign trail.

(on camera): CNN could not determine the origin of the attack e- mail or how many people received it, but the Obama campaign has sent out this letter to supporters in which former military brass support Barack Obama on this issue.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: The Democratic presidential candidates are hitting the strip. Next week, all bets are off as the Democrats clash again in Las Vegas with CNN's Wolf Blitzer and the best political team in television. That's Thursday, November 15th, 8:00 p.m., only on CNN.

Water fountains labeled "White" and "colored" in 2007? Well, it happened at a high school in Fort Bend County, Texas, and you won't believe this. School officials say the student who put up the handmade signs in the hallway is African-American. Some think it was probably just a joke. Others say there's nothing funny about it because of what those signs represent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK COMINSKY, DIRECTOR, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: It's a surprising twist, and I'm not quite sure what it could be. But we are concerned that whenever those symbols are used that they have an impact on people because of their historical significance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Officials say the student wouldn't tell them why he placed the signs. He's been suspended for three days.

COLLINS: Meantime, a supervisor suspended, accused of hanging a noose in his office. Officials say it happened at a public works office in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. A black employee says he got fed up with racist symbols in his white superintendent's office and complained. Parish officials say they did find a noose and a whipping post sign. The FBI also investigating.

HARRIS: Honey, that's not him. Grandpa picks up the wrong boy at school.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got the wrong kid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Confusion at one home. Big worry at another. We'll clear it up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Strap them in. A proposal in the U.S. Senate to protect passengers on those long haul bus trips, the legislation would require seat belts on interstate buses. The proposal motivated by that Bluffton University bus crash in Atlanta. Five of the school's baseball players, a driver, and his wife were killed in this crash last March. The legislation would also require bus companies to install windows that would prevent passengers from being thrown out during accidents.

COLLINS: Grandpa needs to spend a little more time with the grandkids.

Reporter Jennifer Bauer of affiliate WJXT finds sitcom-like complications in a real-life story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER BAUER, REPORTER, WJXT (voice over): Tonight 4-year-old Zacari is hanging out at home. The right home.

ZACARI BRADY, WENT HOME WITH WRONG MAN: I went to his house.

BAUER: After school on Tuesday, Zacari became part of a kid mix- up. A grandpa came to Long Branch Elementary to get his grandson, but wound up taking Zacari by mistake.

LATOIA GILLIS, ZACARI'S MOTHER: They don't take the same name. They don't even look alike.

BAUER: But they apparently did to a 77-year-old grandpa who put Zacari on his bike and rode home.

BRADY: We were riding a bicycle. And he had to pick me up and put me in the middle.

GILLIS: All the way from Long Branch all the way to Main Street on a bicycle with a man who I think they said was 77 years old?

BAUER: Zacari tells us when they got to the man's house, it was his wife who realized there was a kid mix-up.

BRADY: He said, "You've got the wrong kid."

BAUER: Back at the school, Zacari's aunt had come to pick him up, so you can imagine the panic she felt when her 4-year-old nephew wasn't there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was thinking the worst. I was crying. I was shaking.

BAUER: Luckily the man was on his way back to the school and Zacari was safe. But now his family wants to make sure this never happens again.

GILLIS: I just want, you know, the school -- I just want it to be a wake-up call. I'm very lucky to have my son back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: In fact, beginning today, all pre-k teachers are required to check the I.D. of anyone picking up students not only at that school, but across the district.

HARRIS: Catching a break, but not a wave. A storm threat eases for England.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Heidi Collins.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. O.J. Simpson, yes, back in court this hour. A judge trying to decide whether Simpson will stand trial for robbery and kidnapping. Yesterday, a sports memorabilia collector. This is Thomas Riccio, but the memorabilia collector testified yesterday, that Simpson burst into a Las Vegas hotel room with a gang of armed men and stole sports memorabilia. Simpson claims the items were rightfully his.

COLLINS: An ex-top cop facing federal corruption charges. We are learning more details about the indictment about Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik. The 16 count indictment accuses Kerik of conspiracy, tax fraud, and making false statements. Kerik surrendered to federal officials earlier today. He is expected to be arraigned today. His attorney says he will fight the charges. Kerik is a former nominee for Homeland Security Secretary. He's also a long-time friend and former business partner of presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.

We want to let you know, we had been watching to put him and now see standing in front of it and talking more about these charges is Michael Garcia. He is the United States attorney for the southern district of New York. Let's go ahead and listen to what he has to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL GARCIA, U.S. ATTORNEY SOUTHERN DISTRICT, NEW YORK: In positions as high as those held by Bernard Kerik, but we will not hesitate to pursue any public official who violates his oath and betrays the public trust as Mr. Kerik is alleged to have done. Nor can we tolerate lies to those who are given the critical task of vetting individuals for important public posts. Public service is a privilege. The vetting process is designed to ensure that those who assume the awesome responsibility of serving the public are worthy of that privilege and have the trust that the public places in them.

I would like to commend the work of the IRS and FBI agents who worked so diligently on this case. I also would like to thank the Bronx District Attorney's office, the Westchester District Attorney's office, the New York City Department of Investigation, and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for their invaluable assistance in this investigation. Thank you. At this time I would like to introduce the head of the IRS office here in New York, Patricia Hanes (ph).

Patricia?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: All right. So, there you have the first speaker Michael Garcia again the United States Attorney for the southern district of New York. Also, going to be hearing from special agents in charge from the IRS and the special agent in charge from the FBI as well on what these charges are all about against Former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik in New York.

HARRIS: A dead end to a march for democracy in Pakistan. Barbed wire and guards prevent Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto from leaving her home. You see her there trying to persuade police to allow her out. Bhutto had planned to lead a major march against the state of emergency. Meanwhile, that plan rally in Rawalpindi crushed. Police using tear gas and batons chased off hundreds of Bhutto's supporters. Washington is again calling for an end to emergency rule. After Bhutto was released, the White House says it's "Crucial for Pakistan's future that moderate political forces work together."

COLLINS: CNN has been yanked off the air in Pakistan along with other independent news organizations. The government blocking the media but it cannot silence the Internet. CNN I-reporters are sending in compelling images. Our Isha Sesay is live at the international update desk now right here at the CNN headquarters to give us a little bit of a look and feel for what people are saying. Hi there, Isha. ISHA SESAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Yes, we are in close contact with our I-reporters throughout Pakistan. And just yesterday, a student at a Lahore University sent us images of a protest that was held on their campus. Now, what I want to point out is the number of protesters that turned out on Thursday. Compare those scenes with images we got from that campus on Monday. Compare those numbers and listen.

Quite clearly as you see there, larger numbers turning out on Monday. So, the numbers appear to be shrinking. I mean, we spoke to an I-reporter, I dialed her number just 30 minutes ago, what struck was that there is a palpable sense of fear on the ground there in Pakistan. This I-reporter that I called, she wanted to talk to us, but she didn't want to talk to us on the number I dialed. She wanted to speak on a secure line. But wasn't even confident enough to give me that other number on the line I dialed because she was concerned. I mean, obviously the implication that that conversation was being monitored by authorities.

So, I suppose the point we want to bring out to our viewers is the blogs, you know, when you read them, you get the defiance and the enthusiasm to stand up to Musharraf. That is just half the story. When you actually speak to people who are there, people who are putting themselves in danger to get in touch with us, they are afraid. They are afraid. Another I-reporter we were in touch with basically said their parents had effectively grounded them and told them you are not going anywhere. It is way too dangerous. So, just giving you the view from the ground there.

COLLINS: All right, very good. We appreciate that Isha Sesay. Thank you so much.

HARRIS: Could have been worse. Predictions of the worst storm surge to hit England in a half century may have missed their mark. A storm coming out of the North Sea had prompted severe flood warnings along part of the eastern coastline. But British officials now say the surge will be lower than expected. Shelters are staying open until the flood risk is over just in case. Maybe, some of the latest pictures here from Rob Marciano. Maybe, we will go in a different direction. Rob is with us from the severe weather center. Rob, good to see you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: Dr. Phil getting real with the "Dog." a.k.a. bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman. The most recent celebrity caught using a racial slur during a taped phone conversion with his son. Chapman repeatedly uses the "n" word when referring to his son's African- American girlfriend. Chapman has apologized and says he was referring to the woman's character and not her race. CNN's LARRY KING ask Dr. Phil, how that (INAUDIBLE) is working for the Dog.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. PHIL MCGRAW, TALK SHOW HOST: He just needs to say that was wrong, I'm going to require more of myself, and I am going to be an open book. I'm going to be transparent about this and you want to chase me down and try to shove a mike in my face or try to sneak up with a mike, you're going to find it boring, because I'm not going to do that. He can make that resolve. He can move on, and he can go forward with it. But he's got to admit that it is wrong, that there's not on excuse, that he's not a victim. Own it and then move on.

LARRY KING, CNN'S LARRY KING LIVE HOST: So, you're saying in a sense he could turn it around and make life better.

MCGRAW: Well, I think he can use these circumstances, this event in his life. There are a lot of people that admire him. There are a lot of people that are fans of him. He came from nothing. He did create something. A lot of people look up to him for that. Use that platform to give a good message, give a solid message and move on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: And tonight on "Larry King" close encounters with UFOs. Government and military officials have seen what you won't believe. Is National Security on the line? We'll talk about that on "Larry", well I should say, tonight at 9:00 p.m. eastern.

Helping wounded warriors. A place to call home. A place to get care. Volunteers step up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: This is a story that Alina Cho has followed extensively for us in the CNN NEWSROOM. And Alina joins us right now. And Alina, I know you have some of the latest information, breaking news, on the final medical examiner's report on the death of Carol Ann Gotbaum.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Tony. In fact, we want to remind our viewers, remember that Carol Gotbaum is the woman who died in police custody back on September 28th at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. That was exactly six weeks ago today. CNN has literally just obtained the summary of the autopsy and toxicology reports. The full report we're expecting that within the hour. Here is essentially what we've found, and I'm quoting now from this press release that I have literally just been handed. Based on our investigation, the cause of death has been certified as asphyxia by hanging.

Now, that suggests possibly that Carol Gotbaum accidentally strangled herself while trying to get out of the handcuffs. That is what police have maintained all along. Her manner of death has been ruled "accidental" and contributing factors include acute ethanol and prescription medication intoxication. Not sure at this point whether that means exactly that there was alcohol in her system. We are still trying to flesh that out. But nonetheless, intoxication is a contributing factor. We will get more on that within the hour. But a little bit of background here.

Carol Gotbaum, remember, was on her way to an alcohol rehab center in Tucson, Arizona, when she missed her connection in Phoenix. She eventually flew into a rage and was arrested by police. Who could forget that airport surveillance video which showed her running around the concourse? She eventually either fell down or was taken down by police. Hopefully we can run that surveillance video. There it is there. You can see her running around the concourse there. She's in handcuffs at this point. Police took her into custody for disorderly conduct. Eventually, put her into a holding cell alone. You'll recall the reports were that she was screaming. Several minutes later, within 8 minutes, when police didn't hear her screaming anymore, they went in to check on her, and she was unconscious.

Now, police as I mentioned, Tony, have maintained all along that Gotbaum likely died after trying to escape from the handcuffs. In doing so, police say she may have accidentally strangled herself. Family members tell a different story. They have suggested that police mishandled the situation and treated her inhumanely. Now, not long after the story broke, we obtained some audio recordings of the phone calls husband Noah Gotbaum made to airport dispatchers as he tried desperately to find out what was going on with his wife. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MR. GOTBAUM: They are waiting for her down in Cottonwood at the rehab center down there.

COMMUNICATIONS: OK.

MR. GOTBAUM: She is suicidal. Obviously, she has been alcohol abusive but she is also in deep depression and the police have to understand that they're not dealing with some who's been just drinking on a flight and acting. That's not was going on here.

COMMUNICATIONS: OK. Yes, I think somebody talked to the other dispatcher on that earlier and we passed along that information.

MR. GOTBAUM: well, but again, I have not heard anything back.

COMMUNICATIONS: Yes, I don't know, you know, unfortunately.

MR. GOTBAUM: It concerns me, mike, that they have not called me. That they're just dealing with her. That she is all alone...

COMMUNICATIONS: Yes.

MR. GOTBAUM: OK? Because she should not be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHO: Now, what is so eerie about all of this is that Noah Gotbaum made at least three calls to airport dispatchers, but we now know his wife, Carol, was already dead by the time the first call came in, Tony.

HARRIS: And Alina, if you would, if I'm correct here, there was a police report released, I believe it was last week...

CHO: That's right. HARRIS: What was in that report? Some of the conclusions?

CHO: Well, it was 270 pages in all. So, it took a long time to pour through it, Tony, but the most salient points are this. A flight attendant on Gotbaum's first flight that was from New York to Phoenix said that Gotbaum did order a Bloody Mary on the flight. Unclear whether she actually drank it, but she did order that in addition to a meal. And also this other point. When husband Noah Gotbaum finally heard the news of his wife's death more than two hours after she died, his response was, "They killed her, they killed her," referring to police.

Now, the Gotbaum family, we should mention is conducting its own investigation. In fact, just a couple of days ago an independent pathologist hired by the family got access to Carol Gotbaum's key organs. So, ultimately what that means is there could be another version of how she died. And Tony, that could either strengthen or weaken the family's argument as they try to decide whether to pursue a lawsuit against the Phoenix Police Department.

HARRIS: A tremendous reporting as we continue to pull all of this together to find out how Carol Ann Gotbaum sort of lost her life.

CHO: We'll be following it.

HARRIS: That's tremendous work. Alina, appreciate it. Thank you.

CHO: You bet.

HARRIS: We'll take a break and come back with more CNN NEWSROOM in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Helping wounded warriors. President Bush paid an emotional visit yesterday to soldiers maimed or badly burned in combat. He toured a privately-funded rehab center in San Antonio, the center for the entropies. Also in that city, this story of a wounded soldiers move into a new house with some help from volunteers. It comes our way from Debra Nap of affiliate KENS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBRA NAP, AFFILIATE KENS: 50 volunteers from throughout the San Antonio's military community pitched in today to move a severely wounded soldier and his family into their new home.

SGT. ROBERT HENLINE, U.S. ARMY: They were overwhelmed with all the help we're getting, but its par for San Antonio we found out since we have been here.

NAP: Extensive injuries suffered in Iraq brought Sergeant Robert Henline to San Antonio. He was the only survivor when his hummer was hit by explosives. He spent nearly six months at BMC and still faces another year and a half of surgeries and therapy. The California native, his wife and three children, plan to make San Antonio home and the community has embraced them. Budget truck donated moving trucks and operation home front brought in the muscle to get the move done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The service member is not able -- does not have the ability to use his hands like he would like to be able to. He's having a hard time watching this being done and not being able to help. But, that's why we called the volunteers.

NAP: Bobby Henline suffered burns that cost him his ears and eyelids and permanent damage to his arms. His injuries will probably force him out of the military but he knows what he wants to do next.

HENLINE: I want to get back and help out the other patients that come along, the other soldiers that come through.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Take a look at the New York Stock Exchange. The big board now. The DOW down 133, 134 points and that is off session low so far. The Dow has been down as low as 170,173 points in early session trading, but now recovering to -- makes sense, huh? Recovering, it's a fact, to 132 points down in the red at this time. Boy, a lot of factors driving this. Subprime, we say it all the time, and the weak dollar, and oil prices. The price of oil within striking distance of $100 a barrel. That is a big number. But here is a question. What does it mean really for you and me? Higher gas prices, larger heating bills, even a more expensive gallon of milk? Guess what? There is no help in sight from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are not going to affect the price at your pump, not going to happen, and it may be a good thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Well, it's the trouble with oil. Join me for a special report tomorrow night, 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time right here on CNN.

COLLINS: A dramatic police chase and crash caught on tape. Highway workers run for their lives.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Want to show you this now. It is unbelievable. Dramatic police chase caught on tape. Look at this. This is a dashcam video. Do you see that? Police say they were chasing a stolen SUV on I-85 right outside of Atlanta. Speeds were topping 90 miles an hour. The SUV plows through a construction zone sending workers running for their lives, and get this. The driver, 16 years old. His passenger, 19. Both were pretty banged up in all over, but will apparently be OK. They're charged with carjacking and armed robbery.

HARRIS: A Minnesota Vikings wide receiver taking a financial hit for going to his grandmother's funeral. Tough to understand the thinking on this one. Troy Williams, there he is, will be down to one game check for missing last Sunday's game to attend Monday's service. That comes to more than $25,000. Coach Brad Childress calls the decision to Dock Williamson's pay a quote "business principle" of the Vikings organization. Wait a minute, what is that mean. The NFL Player Association says Williamson will appeal.

COLLINS: Catholic school's principal walk on the wild side, black leather, fish net hose, plastic breasts. He says he can explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right, what do you say? Time to check out some of the most popular video on cnn.com. Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik indicted on federal corruption charges. Kerik surrendered to federal authorities a short time ago. He is a former nominee for Homeland Security Secretary.

Also, getting a lot of hits, the man convicted of shooting and paralyzing Former Alabama Governor George Wallace has been released from prison. Arthur Bremer served 35 years in prison. And many of you are clicking onto the story about today's multibillion dollars agreement in that massive lawsuit over the painkiller Vioxx. Drug maker Merck is offering $4.85 billion to ease the pain. It is one of the largest ever civil cases. Nearly all of the plaintiffs, however, have to okay the deal.

OK, when you are not watching the CNN NEWSROOM on television, go to cnn.com for these stories and more, and while you're there be sure to download the CNN daily NEWSROOM podcast.

COLLINS: Yes, a little surprised to see this story I'm about to tell you was not on the most popular click on thing. But that will be in the podcast. Listen to this, a catholic school principal takes a walk on the wild side. Police in Louisville, Kentucky, say they found him in his car on a shady side of town dressed like a woman in bondage gear. You can't see it very well but he's wearing lots of leather, fishnet hose, and plastic breasts.

HARRIS: Wow.

COLLINS: He's on leave and facing a charge of loitering with the intent of prostitution. The principle claims he was headed to a custom party. Very late Halloween party in it?

HARRIS: I could say they were doing a research or something but a costume party, is that what you say?

COLLINS: Yes.

HARRIS: All right, good luck with everybody. CNN NEWSROOM continues one hour from now.

COLLINS: "Your World Today" is next. The news happening across the globe and right here at home. I'm Heidi Collins.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris, have a great weekend.

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