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Debris of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Found?; Families Demand Help Center and Hotline Reopen; Campus Cop Arraigned on Murder Charges; Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired July 30, 2015 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:32] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

We begin with what could be the first major break in one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. Any minute now we could find out if this piece of debris found on a French island near Madagascar in the Indian Ocean is wreckage from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. That plane, which was bound for Beijing, vanished without a trace last March with 239 people on board.

Right now a police chopper is scouring the coastline where that object was found. People living on the island are also being encouraged to help with the search.

To put this all into perspective, this is where the Boeing 777 disappeared. For months authorities have been scouring a search zone off the coast of Australia. Here is where this debris was found. It's more than 2,000 miles away from the primary search area.

We're covering all angles of this story and we have a team of experts, too. Let's begin, though, with CNN's Kristie Lu Stout. She's in Kuala Lumpur where Flight 370 took off from.

Good morning.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, this is a breakthrough. This is a major development. Suspected debris of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 plane has been found off the coast of Madagascar in this place called Reunion Island. And it has been a long and agonizing wait for the families of the 239 people who were on board this missing plane.

If confirmed, if this piece of debris is, in fact, verified that there's a link to the missing jetliner, this will be the first time we will have a tangible sign, physical evidence of the plane, since it went missing in March of 2014, and already we're getting reaction from the families. We heard this from Jacquita Gonzales, she was the wife of passenger Patrick Gomez. She says this. Quote, "I am torn. If it is confirmed to have come from 370, there will be some closure for us, but I am also hoping that it is not the plane. I'm hoping that Patrick is still alive."

So, Carol, very key there that even though it provides some closure, if there is verification that this piece of suspected debris is, in fact, from MH-370, still so many questions what happened to the plane and the whereabouts of the loved ones.

We also have additional reaction from the prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, who on his Facebook page posted this, quote, "I promise the families of those last that whatever happens, we will not give up. We have had many false alarms before, but for the sake of the families who have lost loved ones and suffered such heartbreaking uncertainty, I pray that we will find out the truth so that they may have closure and peace. I promise the families of those lost that whatever happens, we will not give up."

That should be very welcome news to the families of the Chinese passengers who were on board this plane. Most of the passengers of MH-370 were from mainland China, in fact, 152 passengers were from the PRC. And the families of the Chinese passengers issued a statement today saying that they don't want 99 percent verification of this piece of debris. They want 100 percent verification. They also want to know about the whereabouts of their loved ones and they want that search effort to go on no matter what.

Back to you, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Kristie Lu Stout, reporting live from Malaysia this morning. Thank you.

I'd like to focus now on the investigation. I want to bring in former NTSB managing director and CNN aviation analyst Peter Goelz.

Peter, welcome.

PETER GOELZ, FORMER NTSB MANAGING DIRECTOR: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning. So let's talk about that specific piece of a plane that was found that everybody is hoping belongs to Flight 370. I hope we have a graphic. It's a flaperon. I just want you to go over what exactly that is. It's on its way or is in Toulouse, France right now. And investigators will look at it and then tell me what exactly they'll look at when the piece of -- when that piece of plane arrives.

GOELZ: Well, the flaperon is part of the wing structure that helps the plane stay aloft and maneuver at lower speeds. It helps control -- it has a dual purpose, and it is a very light material. It could easily have separated from the plane on impact. The French, who obviously have experience in analyzing these kinds of material, Air France Flight 447 crashed in the South Atlantic and the French recovered it, recovered portions of it. They'll be able to look at this piece, and they will be able to confirm without question whether it came from Flight 370.

This morning all of the investigators that I have spoken to remain optimistic. They think that this is a piece from the plane. They think this is an important event.

[10:05:11] COSTELLO: A lot of viewers are asking about serial numbers or manufacturing numbers. There's a partial number supposedly on that piece of debris. Can you get into that for us? GOELZ: Sure. You know, I was involved in the reconstruction of TWA

Flight 800 which crashed off of Long Island in 1996, and we reconstructed almost 100 feet of that aircraft, and we were able to do so because virtually every piece in the aircraft has a unique serial number that gives it a pedigree. These parts are extraordinarily monitored to make sure that they meet the standards. The same is true with this flaperon piece. They will get inside. They'll dismantle the pieces, they'll get inside. There will be serial numbers that they will be able to trace specifically back to this 777 if, in fact, it is part of the accident plane.

COSTELLO: And, Peter, just by looking at pictures of this piece of debris, does it tell you anything?

GOELZ: Only that it separated very cleanly along established lines. I mean, what that means is it didn't appear to be crumpled. It didn't appear to have any kind of burning marks on it. There was no soot on it, but after 500 days in the ocean, that sort of stuff would wear off. It's going to take microscopic examination along the fault lines where it broke off to give us some indication of what happened.

COSTELLO: Also, are you surprised that a piece of luggage didn't wash up or a life jacket? Why this piece?

GOELZ: Well, it is. This has been an extraordinary mystery. You know, for over 500 days we have been hoping for some piece of identifiable wreckage and it is, it's simply inexplicable why there's been -- not more of this material washing up. There were two typhoons that passed through that area that obviously disbursed, you know, it's material and drove it deeper into the ocean. It is just a very tough mystery.

COSTELLO: OK. So let's say investigators in France determine this is a piece of Flight 370. Where do we go from here?

GOELZ: Well, it's really just -- what it does is it gives some confirmation that their original theory, that this plane is in the ocean, that it's not somewhere intact on the ground, that it has crashed, it confirms that piece. Now does it help us identify where it is? Maybe because you -- you know, the science of tracking back ocean currents, boy, that's a very tough business, and you may be able to -- you know, narrow down the search area along the arc to the southern part of the arc with some serious analysis, but what it primarily does is it says, all right, the plane has crashed.

COSTELLO: Peter Goelz, thanks for your insight as always. I appreciate it.

GOELZ: Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: You're welcome.

Malaysia has already dispatched a team to the debris site, according to the country's prime minister. The object is expected to be shipped to Toulouse, France, for a full investigation. I've been telling you that. Let's bring in Robin Kriel, though. She's on Reunion Island where

that object was found.

And Robyn, before you start, I just like to put up a picture of the young man who found that piece of debris. Can you just take us through how he found it and when exactly he informed authorities?

ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so, Michelle, it happened yesterday, Wednesday. A group of people were cleaning up Saint-Andre Beach, and they saw something floating in the water. They got it and they immediately alerted authorities and immediately the pictures went viral because obviously this mystery of MH-370 gripped the world for months as the plane disappeared and the searches continued, and under -- you know, as the world moved on accepting that it was just a mystery, the search did continue by the Australian Transportation Safety Board and their -- around the western coast of Perth.

And now this has obviously appeared. It went viral yesterday and people on the island of Reunion have been asked by police to keep searching. We believe that Malaysian officials will be here tomorrow, at least if they can get seats on the plane. We're told that the -- here is Reunion Island where the debris was found and they're dispatching a team to France this evening to help. This piece of debris we understand will be shipped to France.

[10:10:09] That's according to the prime minister's office and that's where that investigation will take place to try and ascertain exactly what this piece of -- if it is, indeed, a Boeing 777 piece of a wing. If it is that and exactly what it was doing, how did it end up there, and as the gentleman before me said that it's clean break, what are the different, I guess, markings on it to indicate why this plane if it is indeed MH-370 crashed.

COSTELLO: All right. Robyn Kriel reporting live from that island where they found hopefully what is a piece of the missing plane, Flight 370.

All right. I want you to -- I want to take you now to Cincinnati. I believe the arraignment hearing has started for the officer who is accused of murder in Hamilton County. Let's listen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The police department the past year and a half. Prior to that you were a former employee of (INAUDIBLE), has an exemplary record. He surrendered yesterday immediately upon learning of the issuance of this embankment. He is not a risk to flee. He has family. His father is present in the courtroom. He resides in the township.

The purpose of bond is to assure that he will appear. I believe there's never been any reason to think that he would not appear when he's told to be here. I would ask the court to consider a lower bond. I know you won't do that but I'd ask you to make it something reasonable so that he could be released.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very good. State? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The government asks for less than $1 million on a

murder case. I think that's appropriate on a murder case and we would ask for a $1 million bond on this case.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very good. The defendant is facing the possibility of life in prison. It's the court's duty to ensure his appearance. The bond will be $1 million anyway.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, this is a courtroom. You will conduct yourselves at all times appropriately.

The next date is August 19th at 9:00 a.m. Is the defendant waiving time?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this point he is not, Judge.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very good. Gentlemen, I'll see you all here August 19th at 9:00 a.m.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Judge.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stay seated.

COSTELLO: All right. I want to back up a little bit. This is Officer Ray Tensing. Of course, he's obviously a white police officer. He's accused of shooting and killing Samuel DuBose, an unarmed black man, during a traffic stop earlier this month.

This was his arraignment, but was also a hearing to set his bond. And as you heard, the judge set a $1 million bond since, of course, what this officer is charged with could get him life in prison if he is determined guilty.

You heard the courtroom erupt in cheers and you heard the judge come down very hard on those in the courtroom saying, you know, you have to act with some decorum in here.

We'll break it down further after a break. I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[10:17:42] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The bond will be $1 million anyway.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, this is a courtroom. You will conduct yourselves at all times appropriately.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a courtroom. You will conduct yourselves at all times appropriately. The next date is August 19th at 9:00 a.m. is the defendant waiving time?

The next date is August 19th at 9:00 a.m. Is the defendant waiving time?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this point he is not, Judge.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very good. Gentlemen, I'll see you all here August 19th at 9:00 a.m.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. A bit of drama in Hamilton County, Ohio, in Cincinnati. That was Officer Ray Tensing. He's accused of murder in shooting an unarmed black man during a routine traffic stop earlier this month.

Jean Casarez was inside the courtroom. I have her now on the phone.

Jean, where did the cheering come from?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, it was really something in there. First of all, it wasn't that large of a courtroom but it wasn't that small of a courtroom. It was packed. Four different rows completely packed. People lining the walls until the family couldn't get in, and Attorney Mark O'Mara representing him walked in, and he seems like to talk with court officials for maybe 10 minutes because the family was here.

They were standing outside and while they were standing outside, family members said that we want to go in there. We want to see this defendant, this police officer, because he says that he is devastated by this. Well, we're devastated by this and we want to be in there.

So they finally asked members of the community if they would give up their seats to the family, and so people readily did, and they walked in, and the proceeding, as you saw, was very short, very brief, but when that $1 million bail was announced by the judge, the family members of this young victim just started to clap and cheer and try to stand up.

A few members of the community but really the family members of Sam DuBose, and at that point you saw the judge just absolutely stamping down, this is a court of law. I think they were exuberant, maybe not expecting a $1 million bail.

As far as the defendant, we heard that his father was in the courtroom today, that packed courtroom. We don't know where he was or exactly who he was, but the defendant himself looked serious, looked stressed, and scared, and he was handcuffed as he walked in.

[10:20:05] COSTELLO: All right. Jean Casarez, thanks so much.

Very interesting doings this morning. To talk about this more I'm joined by legal analyst and criminal defense attorney Joey Jackson and the former commissioner of the Boston Police Department Ed Davis.

Thanks to you both for being here.

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Sure, Carol. Good morning. ED DAVIS, FORMER COMMISSIONER BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: Good morning,

Carol.

COSTELLO: So, Joey, just your reaction to what happened in the courtroom?

JACKSON: You know, it's a preliminary -- it's a preliminary step in the process and it's the first step, Carol. An indictment as we always -- as defense attorneys remind everyone is an accusation. Now it moves forward to being proved, but I think with the $1 million, in addition to these charges, it shows it's a very serious case.

Of course, we know murder carries life in jail. He's also charged with manslaughter which is 3 to 11 years. And so ultimately with the judge setting a $1 million bail, it appears as though this is a matter that's going to proceed forward and he's going to have to defend. You know in terms of the nature of the defense, it may meet great difficulty depending upon and looking at that videotape.

The video doesn't lie, and when you look at the videotape and match it against the report, and what is arguably him saying his state of mind there's a lot of explaining the defense has to do here.

COSTELLO: Exactly. And, Ed, is there any way to explain what happened? The prosecutor, even the initial traffic stop, the prosecutor in Hamilton County I think he -- I'm trying to see -- he called it chicken crap because this driver, Mr. DuBose, was pulled over for not displaying a front license.

DAVIS: You have to agree with that assessment, Carol. I agree with Attorney Jackson. This is a terrible situation. It's unfolded on video. We get to see exactly what occurred. It's striking to me in a couple of areas. One is that this was such a low-key conversation up until the time that the officer drew his weapon. It exploded in violence, and it just -- there were no indicators before that. There were no raised voices, no stress. It was being handled, you know, fairly low key and then all of a sudden there was an explosion.

I think every time you introduce new technology into a field you learn things and we're learning things here that need to be addressed by police training and policy as we move forward.

COSTELLO: I do have a question about police training. This was a University of Cincinnati police officer. Is he trained in the exact same way as your local police department?

DAVIS: I don't know what the situation is in Ohio. In Massachusetts they are trained in exactly the same police academies. But, you know, I found that campus presidents, university presidents, trustees, don't have a good handle on what their officers are actually doing out there. They want security, they want police, they want to be safe, but some of these agencies turn into doing enforcement that doesn't make any sense in a university setting, and, you know, there's going to be an investigation into this, but it doesn't appear to be a university setting there, so why are they stopping vehicles for minor motor vehicle infractions away from the university when they should be interacting with students. It doesn't make a lot of sense.

COSTELLO: Right. I was curious. I think 75 percent, from what we could determine, 75 percent of universities across the country have police officers on campus who are armed, university police departments. The others don't, and the reason they don't is they don't want something like this to happen.

DAVIS: Exactly. The university presidents that I have worked with over the years have made it clear to me that they want a community policing setting, they want to feel secure, but, you know, sometimes these organizations when they hire ex-police officers to be the chiefs of these university departments, they end up with municipal policing coming into the university, and that might not be exactly what the trustees and the university president wants.

COSTELLO: All right. A final question for you, Joey Jackson, since you're a defense attorney. So there were body cameras on three different police officers. So you have the vantage point from three different ways, right?

JACKSON: Right.

COSTELLO: And the police officer obviously lied on the police department -- on the police report, rather, because he claimed the car was dragging him.

JACKSON: That's right.

COSTELLO: The video evidence clearly shows it was not true.

JACKSON: And --

COSTELLO: So how do you defend him?

JACKSON: And that he felt that he was going to be run over. I think what we as defense attorneys do is we evaluate a case. Number one, we ask, is it winnable? You look at this case, it does not appear to be. The next question then becomes, could you defeat the top count of murder? And that's really going to be what's at issue here.

If you reduce that to manslaughter, make no mistake about it, in essence, for a defense attorney, that's a win. Why? Because murder, the intentional killing, carries a life sentence. Manslaughter, three to 11 years. So you have to demonstrate if it's manslaughter that it was acted out of some anger or out of some heat of passion. Clearly there was bad judgment used, and I think the difficulty for the defense, of course, again is the police report matching it up to what the body camera says, and it just doesn't lie.

So if you can mitigate and lessen what he's looking at here, I think, you know, of course you do him a great justice but the justice that needs to be done at this point, of course, is for that victim and his family.

COSTELLO: Joey Jackson, Ed Davis, thanks to you both. I appreciate it. JACKSON: Thank you, Carol. Thank you.

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, a plane's wing flap found on the beach of an island in the Indian Ocean but will this major lead really help determine what happened to flight 370?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Nearly a year and a half after Flight 370 vanished from the sky, investigators could be one step closer to solving one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. Right now investigators are racing to figure out if this piece of debris found on a French island near Madagascar is a piece of wreckage from the missing plane. Malaysia's prime minister says it's very likely the object is from the same model as Flight 370.