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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Officer Charged with Murder: New Developments; Guilty On All Charges; New Secret Service Scandal; President Obama Travels to Jamaica. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 09, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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


[04:00:16] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The police officer caught on camera shooting an unarmed black man fired. Body cameras now ordered for the entire police force as the witness who captured the killing on his cell phone explains what else happened when the camera wasn't rolling.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Guilty on all charges. Now, jurors decide if Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will get the death penalty. We have the latest from court ad what bombing survivors are saying this morning.

ROMANS: Breaking overnight, a new scandal for the Secret Service. The Secret Service already, let's say, rolling in scandals over the past year.

BERMAN: And this is a new one, folks.

ROMANS: All right. Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. Great to see you. It is Thursday, April 9th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.

And new this morning, changes in a South Carolina city in the wake of a police officer's arrest on murder charges. Among the changes, North Charleston City officials promised to outfit every officer there with a body camera. And the city fired Officer Michael Slager as he now sits in a jail awaiting a bail hearing.

On Saturday, Slager shot and killed 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott ran away following a traffic stop. Slager had said that Scott tried to grab his taser, but this disturbing video shows Slager firing eight shots at Scott for about 25 feet as Scott tried to flee. Now, the man who took that video has now stepped forward, telling NBC News what happened the moments before he begun recording.

Our Jason Carroll is in South Carolina with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, Feidin Santana said he was on the way to work on Saturday, that's when he spotted Officer Slager and Scott in some sort of a struggle. He says the minute that the two hit the ground, he pulled out his cell phone and started recording.

FEIDEN SANTANA, RECORDED POLICE SHOOTING: They were down on the floor. They were down on the floor before I started recording. They were down on the floor. I remember the police officer had control of the situation. He had control of Scott. And Scott was trying to just get away from the taser. The taser, you know, you can hear the sound of the taser.

CARROLL: Scott's family calling Santana basically a hero for coming forward and sharing his video. Someone else speaking out on behalf of Santana is the city's mayor. The city's mayor and police chief actually faced an angry crowd at one point during a press conference. Specifically when they were questioned about something that happened after the shooting.

There seems to be a question about whether or not the officer's performed CPR on Scott. Listen to what happened when the police chief was questioned about that.

EDDIE DRIGGERS, NORTH CHARLESTON POLICE CHIEF: In the end of it, what I saw was a -- I believe to be a police officer removing the shirt of the individual and performing some type of life-saving, but I'm not sure what took place.

REPORTER: You don't know if CPR was performed?

DRIGGERS: I was told that life-saving -- they tried to save his life.

CARROLL: The police chief unable to answer questions about the officer's taser. Where was it? The video seems to show, at least this is what the family believes. They believe that the video shows Officer Slager trying to plant that taser next to Scott's body.

The police chief unable to answer that question when pressed on that particular subject. Certainly that's what Scott's family believes. They also said as painful as it is to see that video, they also say that they are very, very grateful that this young man came forward and presented the video to them and to investigators -- Christine, John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Jason Carroll, thanks, Jason.

Now, the mother of the shooting victim, Walter Scott, says she forgives Officer Michael Slager for killing her son. A woman of deep religious faith, Judy Scott tells CNN's Anderson Cooper that she believes Officer Slager tried to make it look like her son grabbed his taser. But that God's love inspires her to forgive him. She has seen the video of the shooting, but could not watch it to the end.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDY SCOTT, SHOOTING VICTIM'S MOTHER: I couldn't really watch the whole tape. When I saw my son running and I saw the police man behind him, I couldn't take it. I had to turn away. I couldn't handle it.

The policeman is supposed to protect the people. Not try to frame them or get out of what they have done wrong.

[04:05:01] They are supposed to be honest people, protecting us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: We are learning more this morning about now former Officer Michael Slager. North Charleston officials say Slager's wife is eight months pregnant. The city will continue paying for her health insurance until the baby is born. The 33-year-old Slager also has two stepchildren.

Personnel records show Slager, like Walter Scott, served in the U.S. Coast Guard. After joining the North Charleston Police Department in 2009, Slager was highly proficient it taser use, scoring 50 out of 50 on a certification exam to the taser.

BERMAN: The jury on the Boston marathon bombing case will now weigh whether Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be executed. They found him guilty on all counts. As the verdict was read Wednesday afternoon, the 21- year-old stood with his head bowed and his hands clasped.

CNN's Alexandra Field has more details from the courtroom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, John, this is the moment that so many people waited so long for. Nearly two years they waited to hear the verdict, and now, 30 counts Dzhokhar Tsarnaev found guilty in each and every one of them.

He strode into the courtroom. He listened as each was read out loud. He made just a glancing look at the jury. But for the most part, he looked at his hands, he looked down, he looked at his attorney who is sometimes by his side -- really no outward show of emotion which has been typical for him throughout this trial.

Twelve jurors deliberated for just under 12 hours before arriving at the verdict. Eleven of those jurors didn't seem to look at the defendant, didn't seem to want to make eye contact. They kept their eyes forward, looking at the judge, looking at the clerk. One juror it seems was trying to get a closer look at Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, but that juror wouldn't have seen any outward display, any sign of surprise from the defendant himself.

A lot of people were inside that courtroom to hear the verdict. Family members of the victims who were killed in this case, survivors of the bombing. The gravity of the situation, you could you feel it inside that courtroom. It was very quiet. People sat still. A few of them dabbing tears away from their eyes.

But really, no large expressions of emotion. People are just sort of listening in, wanting to hear every word, wanting to hear every word guilty said over and over again. We heard from survivors who came out after the verdict was read, some of them said they didn't really have a sense of closure, but certainly this is a piece of the puzzle for a lot them. There is some sense of justice for some of them.

But this trial is not over yet. The 21-year-old's life is now in the hands of the jury. The penalty phase which jurors will consider the death sentence could begin as early as next week -- Christine, John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Alexandra, thanks for that.

Now, the survivors of the Boston marathon bombing sharing their reaction to the guilty verdict handed down against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REBEKAH GREGORY, BOSTON BOMBING SURVIVOR: I don't believe there will ever be justice brought to this no matter if he does get the death penalty or he remains in prison for the rest of his life. I do believe however that he should be held accountable for his actions, and I'm very thankful for each of the jury members that are making him do that.

KAREN BRASSARD, BOSTON BOMBING SURVIVOR: I don't know what justice is. I'm grateful to have him off the street. I'm grateful to show everyone, the world, that it's not tolerated. This is not how we behave and we are grateful that everybody has worked hard to make it known that we're not going to allow this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Meantime, a Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker not holding back. He said Dzhokhar Tsarnaev deserves to be executed for the crimes he committed.

BERMAN: Breaking overnight: A Secret Service superior has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of sexual assault. "The Washington Post" reports that a female agent is alleging that a manager in the security clearance division made, quote, "unwanted sexual advances" after the pair returned to the office from a party on March 31st. The Secret Service says appropriate action was taken and the incident is currently under investigation.

ROMANS: The White House today could announce its intention to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list. The State Department recommending Cuba's removal since it hasn't provided support to terrorist groups in the last six months. White House officials wanted to make the announcement before the Summit of the Americas later this week. Once announced, Congress will then have 45 days to vote or block it.

BERMAN: President Obama is in Jamaica this morning. He has visited the Bob Marley Museum. This is the first leg -- it's true.

ROMANS: Really?

BERMAN: He really did. Yes.

This is the first leg of the journey that takes him to historic meeting of 48 leaders of Caribbean nations. He will also then head to the Summit of the Americas in Panama, where he will no doubt see Cuba's Raul Castro. Top administration officials say security against terrorism and energy top the agenda.

ROMANS: Every little thing -- is going to be alright --

[04:10:01] BERMAN: Yes, indeed. I don't think he sang it quite like that, let's hope.

ROMANS: Time for an early start on your money this morning.

U.S. stock futures -- hey, it's early. Just trying to inject a little enthusiasm into the morning, John, because Dow futures are lower there. Stocks rose a bit yesterday, thanks once again to the Federal Reserve.

The Fed still has a lot of concerns about the American economy. The strong dollar stunting economic growth. Sub par consumer spending, sluggish wage growth, that means interest rate hike could come a little bit later than expected.

Stocks love the Fed's easy money. We're in the midst of the third longest bull run in history. But did you know half of Americans are not invested in the stock market. According to a new Bankrate survey out this morning, 52 percent of Americans are not in stocks, including their 401(k). The main reason, most say they simply don't have the money to invest. That's why so many people haven't been able to enjoy the record run because they have been on the sidelines.

BERMAN: All right. The U.S. and Iran arming dueling sides of an intensifying war in Yemen. Secretary of State John Kerry is now on the record with a new message to Iran. We're live right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Happening this morning, Secretary of State John Kerry issuing a blunt warning to Iran. Kerry says efforts to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran won't stop the U.S. with siding with Saudi Arabia against Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen. The Iranian state news agency says Iran is deploying its navy off the coast of Yemen. Secretary Kerry tells PBS that the U.S. has been tracking Iranian supply flights into Yemen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: We are well aware of the support that Iran has been giving to Yemen. And Iran needs to recognize that the United States is not going to stand by while the region is destabilized.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ROMANS: For the latest now on the crisis in Yemen, senior correspondent Nic Robertson is standing by live for us in southern Saudi Arabia.

[04:15:02] Good morning, Nic.

And this is a complicated position to be in. The United States trying to sell the nuclear framework with Iran, at the same time watching Iran act not in the best interest of U.S. interests and interests of U.S. allies and other parts of the Middle East.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sure, and you have this morning on television in Iran, the president, President Rouhani, saying that as far as the deal goes, Iran wants all sanctions lifted before agreeing to anything. So that is setting out a very tough position there. Then, he goes on to talk about the situation in Yemen. He said that Iran supports talks that the fighting should stop to end the civilian suffering in Yemen.

We know from the U.N. that over 500 people had been killed there so far, over 300 of them civilians. But the Iranian president goes to say the future of Yemen should be decided by the Yemeni people. That's the barb in his message about peace talks there, if you will, because Implying Saudi Arabia should get out of the affairs of Yemen.

Saudi officials, Yemeni officials, foreign minister also saying, like Secretary Kerry, that it's very clear that Iran has been supplying and supporting the Houthis with weapons. We heard from the Saudi military spokesman yesterday laying out the military, the Saudi-led coalition's position on Iranian warships that are moving into waters off the coast of Yemen. He said they have every right to be in international waters, but they cannot come close to the coast of Yemen and into Yemeni waters because he said that is controlled by the coalition forces.

So, you know you have from what we can hear and understand from the political language, a real deepening positions here. The foreign minister of United Arab Emirates who supports the Saudi says this is not a sectarian war, it's about Iran's expansion of its interests across the borders. And that's precisely what Secretary Kerry is warning Iran not to do in this situation.

ROMANS: All right. Very, very complicated stuff. Thanks so much, Nic Robertson, for us in Saudi Arabia.

BERMAN: Verdict watch in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial. The jury deliberated for more than nine hours on Wednesday. They asked for a list of more than 400 exhibits in the case and clarification on one of the weapon possession charges. The ex-football star is accused of killing his friend Odin Lloyd in June of 2013.

ROMANS: Real estate heir Robert Durst now faces drug and weapons charges. On Wednesday, the 71-year-old was indicted by a Louisiana grand jury on two gun charges for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, and carrying a weapon with a controlled substance. Durst is awaiting an extradition to California to face a murder charge there in the execution-style death of his friend.

BERMAN: A fourth New York City man indicted in an ISIS-inspired plot will face a judge today. Dilkhayot Kasimov pleaded not guilty at a hearing on Wednesday. The 26-year-old is alleged to raise money to send two of his co-defendants to Syria to join ISIS. Authorities said he also encouraged others to engage in jihad. Three of his co- defendants all pleaded not guilty.

ROMANS: Rand Paul's presidential campaign hitting a few bumps in the road. He is taking criticism for his combative back-and-forth with NBC's Savannah Guthrie. He cut her off accusing her of editorializing when she pointed out some inconsistencies in his foreign policy record.

BERMAN: She was asking a question.

ROMANS: She was asking a question about how those positions had changed over the years, particularly vis-a-vis Iran. He already claimed -- Paul was condescending to CNBC's, people have said that he was condescending to CNBC's Kelly Evans back in February when he shhh- ed her. Did you see the shhh? He shhh-ed her. He told her to calm down.

For his part, Paul told CNN Wednesday he has been universally testy with men and women reporters. Paul also weighed in on the South Carolina police shooting, urging people not to jump to conclusions about all police officers because of the actions of one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think when you look at police across our country, 98 percent, 99 percent of them are doing their job on a day-to-day basis and aren't doing things like this. I just want to be careful that we don't paint with a broad brush that somehow all of our police are bad. In this particular instance, I hope justice does occur, but I hope we don't paint it with such a broad brush that we draw conclusions that may not be accurate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Hillary Clinton also tweeting her thoughts saying, quote, "Praying for Walter Scott's family. Heart breaking and too familiar. We can do better -- rebuild trust, reform justice system, respect all lives."

BERMAN: Ted Cruz building an impressive war chest for his presidential campaign. A network of four new super PACs says it has pulled in $31 million in either cash or commitments for Cruz. I have to say, this has surprised a whole lot of people in the political world. That sum instantly reduces concerns about the senator's ability to compete.

[04:20:04] It can also force other candidates to start fund raising big time now or at least their super PACs.

Look, no one expected him to be able to pull in this much money this fast. $31 million in just about two weeks is real, real money.

ROMANS: So, that pushes others off the sideline because they got to get in there --

BERMAN: They got to get in, they got to get in. People like Jeb Bush, you know, his super PACS, they're going to raise way, way more. But, you know, $31 million is nothing to shake a stick at. This guy is going to be able to compete financially for a long time.

ROMANS: Right, how many days until the --

BERMAN: A lot.

ROMANS: I don't know, we got a lot time to go until that election.

All right. Hundreds of millions of dollars stolen in a London jewel heist. You won't believe the tactics straight out of Hollywood. This morning, police revealing who they are looking for.

We are live with that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right. We have new details this morning in a brazen, elaborate $300 million jewelry heist that has rocked London. Investigators are now trying to piece together how the thieves pulled this off. The tactics right out of a Hollywood or even a British film thriller.

CNN's Phil Black is live in London with the latest.

Phil, this thing was really amazing.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, elaborate, audacious, very much like a movie, there's no doubt. An old school style heist in the heart of London's historic Diamond District, targeting what is supposed to be its most secure location, an underground vault filled with safe deposit boxes.

[04:25:06] The methodology is pretty extraordinary. The point of entry was the roof, the elevator shaft. They smashed their way into that before it is likely abseiling down multiple floors, cutting their way into the vault through those secure doors and only then being able start to get to those safe deposit boxes. It's a lot of work but they had a lot of time because this all took place over the Easter long weekend here in London. So, that's a potential four-day weekend.

By the time the break in was discovered, whoever was responsible was long gone, along with whatever they scored in the vault. And that's what we don't know just yet. The police say 70 boxes were broken into out of potentially around 600. We don't know if they were chosen deliberately, acting on some sort of information or chosen randomly. People used these boxes because they are an anonymous. They don't have to declare their content.

So, it is possible we may never know the true value of this haul. But most estimates put it in the millions. This is the Diamond District. This was the place where a lot of the diamond traders, jewelry makers store their stock. It is shaping up to be many believe the greatest crime in this area that it has known in its history, John.

BERMAN: Yes. And we may never know just how great of a crime it is. Wow. Phil Black, amazing details. Thanks so much.

ROMANS: I would say more James Bond than Hollywood.

BERMAN: I know. We give Hollywood so much credit. But I think it really has a British theme.

ROMANS: That was a little bit of North America.

BERMAN: True.

ROMANS: All right. New details about the day a police officer shot and killed unarmed black man Walter Scott. The witness who filmed it all is now sharing his story. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)