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Trump/Cruz Take on Birther Issue at Debate; Fact Checking Candidate Claims in Debate; Controversy over New "Charlie Hebdo" Cartoon; Trump Goes After Cruz on Citizenship at Debate; Debate Moderators Ask Cruz about New York Values; Teacher Investigated in Deadly Alpine Avalanche; Former Comedian Sworn In as Guatemalan President; Actor Alan Rickman Dies. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired January 15, 2016 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:38] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell. CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

And a very good day to you.

We start this hour with the latest on the Republican debate that was held in the state of South Carolina and where people expected sparks to fly between the rivals that were on stage. They were not disappointed. Candidates went after each other. Then they went after Hillary Clinton, insisting that she would only continue the policies of the current president Barack Obama. This was one of the last chances for the candidates to make their closing arguments, so to speak, before voting starts in a few short weeks in Iowa, then New Hampshire and South Carolina. The chances for any candidate to make a big move or take an opponent down a peg are dwindling, and that made this latest debate a prime opportunity.

Here's a look at some of the key moments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEIL CAVUTO, FOX ANCHOR & MODERATOR: You were born in Canada to an American mother. So you were and are considered an American citizen. But that fellow next to you Donald Trump and others have said that being born in Canada means you are not natural born and that has raised questions about your eligibility. Do you want to try to close this topic once and for all tonight?

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, Neil, I'm glad we are focusing on the important topics of the evening.

(CHEERING)

(APPLAUSE) CRUZ: You know, back in cement my friend, Donald, said that he had had his lawyers look at this from every which way and there was nothing there. There was nothing to this birther issue.

(LAUGHTER)

Now, since September the Constitution hasn't changed.

(LAUGHTER)

But the poll numbers have.

(APPLAUSE)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: There are other attorneys that feel, and very, very fine constitutional attorneys, that feel that because he was not born on the land he cannot run for office. Here's the problem. We're running, we're running, he does great. I win. I choose him as my vice presidential candidate. And the Democrats sue because we can't take him along for the ride. I don't like that. OK?

(LAUGHTER)

The fact is -- and if for some reason he beats the rest of the field, he beats the rest of the field --

(BOOING)

TRUMP: See, they don't like that. They don't like that. He beats the rest of the field because they want me.

(LAUGHTER)

But if for some reason he beats the rest of the field I already know the Democrats are going to be bringing a suit. You have a big lawsuit over your head while you're running. And if you become the nominee, who the hell knows if even serve in office. So you should go out, get a declaratory judgment, let the courts decide --

(CROSSTALK)

SEN. MARCO RUBIO, (R), FLORIDA & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I hate to interrupt this episode of court TV.

(LAUGHTER)

But the real --

(CHEERING)

(APPLAUSE)

DR. BEN CARSON, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & RETIRED NEUROSURGEON: I'm very happy to get a question this early on. I was going to ask you to wake me up when the time came. (LAUGHTER)

MARIA BARTIROMO, FOX ANCHOR & MODERATOR: Senator Cruz, "The New York Times" is reporting that you failed to properly disclose a million dollars in loans from Goldman Sachs and Citibank during your Senate race. Your campaign says it was inadvertent. A million dollars is inadvertent?

CRUZ: Well, Maria, thank you for passing on that hit piece on the front page of "The New York Times."

(LAUGHTER)

You know, the nice thing about the mainstream media, they don't hide their views. "The New York Times" a few weeks back had a columnist who wrote a column saying anybody but Cruz. That same columnist actually wrote a column comparing me to an evil demonic spirit from the movie "It Follows" that jumps apparently from body to body possessing people.

(LAUGHTER)

So you know, "The New York Times" and I don't exactly have the warmest of relationships.

(LAUGHTER)

Now, in terms of their really stunning hit piece, what they mentioned is when I was running for Senate, unlike Hillary Clinton, I don't have masses of money in the bank, hundreds of millions of dollars. When I was running for Senate, just about every lobbyist, every member of the establishment opposed my Senate race in Texas. And my opponent in that case was worth over $200 million. He put a $25 million check from his own pocket to fund that campaign. And my wife Heidi and I, we ended up investing everything we own. We took a loan against our assets to invest it in that campaign to defend ourselves against those attacks. And the entire "New York Times" attack is that I disclosed that loan on one filing with the United States Senate that was a public filing but it was not on a second filing with the FEC. Both of those filings were public. And, yes, I made a paperwork error disclosing it on one piece of paper instead of the other. But if that's the best hit "The New York Times" has got they'd better go back to the well.

(APPLAUSE)

[02:05:55] RUBIO: Unfortunately, Governor Christie has endorsed many of the ideas that Barack Obama supports, whether it's common core or gun control or the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor or the donation you made to planned parenthood. Our next president and Republican nominee cannot be someone who supports those positions.

(CHEERING)

CAVUTO: Governor? CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R), NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE:

You know, I stood on the stage and watched Marco and rather indignantly look at Governor Bush and say someone told you that because we're running for the same office that criticizing me will get to you that office. It appears that the same someone's been whispering in old Marco's ear, too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: A lot to talk about here. We get more from our chief political correspondent, Dana Bash, who was there in Charleston and has this wrap of key moments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is official. The bromance between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump is over. The two went at it. It became clear watching them in the debate that they are -- it's a two-man race, especially for the top right now, especially when it comes to Iowa.

And on the issue of whether Ted Cruz is eligible tore president, one that Donald Trump brings up over and over and over gen again, at the end of the debate by the end it seemed that Trump kind of bested Cruz on the whole issue that Cruz tried to hit him with, which is the New York issue, saying that he has a New York attitude. Cruz has asked what that meant. He didn't really answer. But Trump came back at him billing-time, talking about the 9/11 work that he knew, the post-9/11 work, where New Yorkers came together. That's something Mr. Trump talked to me about after the debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Let's talk about New York values. Do you think Ted Cruz explained what New York values were when he was asked about it?

TRUMP: No, I don't think he did. And I think he insulted a number of people. And you can't insult New Yorkers in front of me. With what we all put up with the World Trade Center and that whole thing and the death and travesty of the World Trade Center and then to come back like we came back, I just don't think you should be hitting on New Yorkers. And I think he realizes he made a mistake.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Trump left here and went straight to Iowa. He's going to do some stops there in the morning. That is a place where Trump really wants to win to try to stop Ted Cruz's momentum. The two are neck and neck in polls there. The question is going to be whether or not Trump can get the voters out who might not have ever caucused before. It is not something that is an easy thing to do. You don't just go and check the box in the ballot box. You have to go and stand for hours. The Trump campaign insists they're going to get new caucus goers. They're going to get people out of the caucuses who had never been there before. But bottom line, Donald Trump has to make sure that happens and has an organization that hasn't been seen when it comes to the Republicans in Iowa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Dana Bash reporting there for us.

Now, throughout this debate, we heard the candidates make plenty of negative claims about their opponent's records as well as the record of President Obama.

CNN's Tom Foreman looks at some of those claims and how they compare with the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The candidates gave us plenty to keep our fact checkers busy.

Let's start with Marco Rubio going after Chris Christie for not being conservative enough.

RUBIO: Unfortunately, Governor Christie has endorsed many of the ideas Barack Obama supports where it's gun control or the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor or the donation he made to Planned Parenthood.

FOREMAN: That's four fast claims there. Christie says on the first three he evolved to a different position but the bottom line is he has supported them over time. That's true. That's true. In terms of what Rubio said about him on Planned Parenthood Rubio's claim is based on a 20-year-old newspaper article in which Christie says he was misquoted, he never gave money to Planned Parenthood.

Let's move on to Ted Cruz, who had some things to say on the economy under Barack Obama.

[02:10:08] CRUZ: The millionaires and billionaires are doing great under Obama but we have the lowest percentage of Americans in any year since 1977. Let's take 'look at the number. In 1977 the percentage of Americans working was 58.7 percent. In 2011 it was at 58.2 percent. You can see 245 Ted Cruz's claim here is false.

FOREMAN: And Jeb Bush jumped in on the Iranian nuke deal. Listen.

JEB BUSH, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: They've already violated sanctions after this agreement was signed by testing medium-range missiles.

FOREMAN: This gets really complicated when you start looking at all the language and the timing and the sanctions and what they can and what they can't do. Bottom line, Iran tested some missiles last fall. They shouldn't have done it. So Bush's claim is true.

You can find out a whole lot more about how we reached those conclusions and many other things that were said during this debate. Go to CNN.com/realitycheck.

(END VIDEOTAPE) HOWELL: Tom Foreman, thank you so much.

And we will have much more on this debate still ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, including the criticism from Ted Cruz of Donald Trump's New York values.

Plus, we take you live to Jakarta, one day after a terror attack that killed two people and wounded dozen of others. You'll hear why Indonesians say they won't cower to fear.

Stay with us. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

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[02:15:42] HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.

One day after a deadly attack in Indonesia and the investigation there continues. In an online statement, ISIS has claimed responsibility for that violence on Thursday. Attackers armed with grenades and handguns killed two people. They wounded 24 others. Investigators believe the person who ordered the attack is an Indonesian man living inside Syria.

Indonesia's president said, "The country cannot live in defeat and fear." It's a sentiment that was echoed by many at a memorial for the victims. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This can happen in -- so we're just careful. Every time.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Are you afraid there could be more violence?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. We're not afraid anymore.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Let's go live to Jakarta right now. Our Saima Mohsin joins us right now.

Let's start with this investigation. The government has singled out one particular suspect. What more can you tell us?

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN INTERNATINOAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, George. This is Barun Nayim (ph), a man known to authorities here in Indonesia. He's believed to be around 32 years old and linked always with extremist organizations, previously a non-violent extremist organization. But it was in 2010 when he was believed to have been hiding and went to prison for hiding ammunition that belonged to terrorist attackers that carried out an attack on police in Java. But he was arrested and sent to jail. It's after 2013, after his release he's believed to have slipped through the net somehow and traveled to Syria, from where he is believed to have been trying to review, send minute here to Indonesia. Local people to carry out attack. He is one of the many men here trying to vie for position to head what he will want to eventual recall ISIS in Indonesia. George?

HOWELL: You also got a chance to talk to people, to get their sense, their reaction a day after this attack. What more are you hearing?

MOHSIN: Yeah. That attack resonating across Indonesia. I'm at the grand mosque. Thousands of people had come here today, they listened to the Friday sermon. The iman making some very strong statements, clarifying his position on what he believes Muslims' position should be. Saying terrorism is a crime against humanity, that according to him throughout Islamic history any Islamic war was always defensive, not offensive, denouncing ISIS's jihad.

People here, too, coming saying this should not be in their name.

Take a listen, George.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): What happened yesterday, they are not Muslims. They are infidels. I condemn them. I let the government solve this problem. As a Muslim I reject this terrorism in the name of Islam.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): People believe Islam is identical to violence. Every time violence happens people think it's related to Islam but it's not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): No, no, I'm not a terrorist and the Muslims in Indonesia are not terrorists. I want to say it to the world. Muslims are not territories.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOHSIN: That was a statement I heard again and again. Incredibly important statements, of course, for both the imam to make and the people to make on what is now the first attack on Indonesian soil claimed by ISIS -- George?

[02:19:44] HOWELL: Saima Mohsin, thank you so much for your reporting there.

It was only a matter of weeks ago that Australia's attorney general declared Indonesia an aspirational distant caliphate for ISIS. On the surface that may carry some weight, especially after the Jakarta attack but just dig a little deeper and it appears the world's most populous country is not a lucrative hunting ground for ISIS recruiters. The U.S. Agency for International Development came to the very same conclusion. Its study shows Tunisia has by far the most foreign fighters per million Muslim citizens. In Belgium, there are 40 per million in Iraq and Syria. And in Indonesia just one per million.

With those figures this idea of a distant caliphate doesn't appear to add up.

CNN heard from Karul Kerston (ph) earlier. He's the author of "Islam on Indonesia" and gave us an assessment of whether ice sis creating a foothold in Indonesia. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARUL KERSTON (ph), AUTHOR: We have seen in the last ten years various instances of internationalized forms of Islamic violence. On the other hand I do think there is still a very robust counter- narrative which prevails among Indonesia's Muslim population. So that the chances, the realistic chances of establishing a distant caliphate 23 in Indonesia are very similar. But of course is has a real interest in projecting this image and creating the impression that its tentacles are reaching into Asia. But as your report showed there are really small numbers of activists who are willing to take these extreme steps and they disappear in this sea of Muslims who embrace a much more pluralist Islam. It is indeed the biggest nation state in the world. But it is also ethnically very diverse and the spectrum of religious experiences even among Muslims, it's quite unique. So the formulas that work in the Middle East are greeted with a great deal of suspicion in Indonesia where they have very little appetite for this Arabization of Indonesian Muslim.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Indonesia's president says his nation will not be defeated by these acts of terror.

On to Paris now where prosecutors have a positive I.D. on the suicide bomber who blew up an apartment just as anti-terror police closed in. The blast happened last November 18th just as law enforcement was raiding the apartment in the Saint-Denis region looking for the Paris attackers. The bomber was a 25-year-old. The Belgian Moroccan, the suspected ring leader of the attacks, and his cousin were also killed in that raid.

There is also a new "Charlie Hebdo" cartoon out that critics -- has critics saying that it pushes its provocative brand too far and has many people questioning whether those who supported the satirical magazine after last year's attacks would feel the same way about that publication now.

CNN's Atika Shubert has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): French satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo" has done it again with another cartoon sparking outrage. This time it features an image of Alyan Korde (ph), the 3-years-old, who died trying to reach Europe. His death last year of course became a symbol of the plight of millions of refugees. But the headline in the cartoon asks, what would little Aylan have become? And the answer is a sex offender in Germany. Now, that last line clearly is in reference to the New Year's Eve sex assaults here in cologne. The police have described the perpetrators as being a mob of North American or Arab men.

Well, critics have condemned the cartoon as being both offensive to the memory of Aylan Korde (ph) but also racist in depicting all refugees as sex offenders. Others have defended the magazine saying that perhaps it was intending to attack those worldwide stereotypes of refugees. The family of Aylan Korde (ph) has seen the cartoon and it told CBC, Canadian Broadcasting, that the cartoon was "disgusting."

"Charlie Hebdo" has no comment on this particular cartoon. However, it has long maintained there are no taboos and no boundaries when it comes to satirizing politics and religion.

Take a listen to what some people in the streets of Paris had to say in reaction.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just a cliche on immigrants. It's weird.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were able to foresee what I had in mind as usual. They're really good. OK. In the end, all right, that's they use -- that's a side they always use to shock people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Charlie Hebdo" is being really, really satirical. And I think that was kind of their way of communication. It's a little bit fun.

[02:25:19] SHUBERT (on camera): Of course, the magazine has risked death for publishing many of its provocative cartoons. Last year, many of its animators and journalists were brutally murdered by Islamic extremists. The reason the attackers gave was because the magazine published a provocative cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. In the aftermath of the attacks there was a rallying cry, "je suis Charlie," or I am Charlie, in defense of the magazine. But this time, with this cover, there are not as many coming to its defense.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Stock markets in Asia are taking another hit today. The main Shanghai index is now in bear market territory, more than 20 percent below the high it reached in late December. The Shanghai Composite is now closed. The Heng Seng, though, trading down as you see all of these major indices trading down at the moment.

You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. And still to come, a police department under fire. Chicago releases yet another video showing the shooting of an unarmed teen. We'll have that story.

Plus, Actor Alan Rickman has died of cancer. He's remembered for his portrayal of such characters as Snake in the "Harry Potter" films. We take a look at his life and career.

Live from Atlanta, and around the world this hour, you are watching CNN worldwide.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [02:30:06] HOWELL: A warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Good to have you with us. I'm George Howell.

The headlines we're following for you at this hour.

(HEADLINES)

Donald Trump, he is raising more questions about whether his Republican rival Ted Cruz is even eligible to be president. The two clashed over the issue during the debate on Thursday night in the state of South Carolina. Mr. Cruz says even though he was born in Canada he is a natural-born U.S. citizen because his mother is American. But it is a question mark that Mr. Trump hopes to leave over Ted Cruz's head.

Earlier, I spoke to CNN political commentator, Ben Ferguson, about this birther question just a short time ago and here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Donald Trump has realized that if he can just throw doubt out there it pulls down Ted Cruz in the polls and many people go I don't want to waste my vote if this guy can't even be president, regardless of what the facts actually are. Legal scholars have made it very clear, Donald Trump is not correct on this issue. And Donald Trump keeps trying to say look, I'm not the one saying this. But Democrats are the ones doing it. And if you can't put this to bed 100 percent sure and the Democrats sue you, do you really want that to be your nominee? It's a very crafty play. I think it's also the lowest form of politics. But it's a very crafty play. And I do think that Donald Trump is going to keep using this to somehow keep trying to go after some of the supporters of Ted Cruz. It has worked in Iowa in the polls. It's brought him down five or six points. It's also going to work in Iowa. And at some point the question is does Ted Cruz have to throw a harder punch at Donald Trump than he did even tonight in the debate? He certainly fought back with him but I don't think you saw him go for full-on blows at Donald Trump. And right now Donald Trump's going to wear this one out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: He's definitely a talker. And we will, of course, have more of that entire interview I had with Ben Ferguson next hour here on CNN NEWSROOM.

And another contentious issue, Ted Cruz recently criticized Donald Trump for what he calls his New York values. The debate moderators asked Cruz exactly what he meant. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think most people know exactly what New York values are.

(LAUGHTER)

MARIA BARTIROMO, FOX ANCHOR & MODERATOR: I am from New York. I --

(CROSSTALK)

CRUZ: You're from New York. So you might not.

(LAUGHTER)

But I promise you in the state of South Carolina they do.

(LAUGHTER)

And listen, there are many, many wonderful, wonderful working men and women in the state of New York. But every one understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal or pro abortion or pro gay marriage, focused around money and the media. And I would note, the reason I said that is I was asked, my friend, Donald, has taken to at his events playing Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA." And I was asked what I thought of that. And I said, well, if he wanted to play a song maybe he could play "New York New York."

(LAUGHTER)

And the concept of New York values is not that complicated to figure out. Not too many years ago Donald did a long interview with Tim Russert. And in that interview he explained his views on a whole host of issues that were very, very different from the views he's describing now. And his explanation, he said look, I'm from New York, that's what we believe in New York, those aren't Iowa values, but this is what we believe in New York. That was his explanation. And I guess I can frame it another way. Not a lot of conservatives come out of Manhattan. I'm just saying.

(LAUGHTER)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: If I could -- because he insulted a lot of people. I've had more calls on that statement that ted made, that New York is a great place. It's got great people. It's got loving people. Wonderful people. When the World Trade Center came down, I saw something that no place on earth could have handled more beautifully, more humanely than New York. You had two 100 --

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: You had two 110-story buildings come crashing down. I saw them come down. Thousands of people killed. And the cleanup started the next day. And it was the most horrific cleanup probably in the history of doing this and in construction. I was down there. And I've never seen anything like it. And the people in New York fought and fought and fought. And we saw more death and even the smell of death. Nobody understood it. And it was with us for months, the smell, the air. And we rebuilt downtown Manhattan. And everybody in the world watched. And everybody in the world loved New York and loved New Yorkers. And I have to tell you that was a very insulting statement that Ted made.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:35:40] HOWELL: Earlier CNN political commentator, Ana Navarro, explained why Cruz should have attacked earlier to attack Trump on his conservative credentials. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: He's a little late to the party. For months when Trump started surging, many of us in the party have been saying he's not a true conservative, he's not a true Republican, look where he's been on guns, look where he's been on gay rights, look where he's been on -- where was Ted Cruz? The vanguard or, you know, the conservative movement. He was sucking up to Donald Trump who we thought was not going to withstand the rigors of the race, and he could inherent those followers. Well, it's a little too late now to be turning it around.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: That was CNN political commentator, Ana Navarro earlier.

You can bet there are many more twists and turns to come yet in this race ahead of the Iowa caucus that's are set for February 1st.

Now on to Chicago. Three years after police there killed an unarmed African-American teenager a judge has now released the video showing what happened.

CNN's Rosa Flores shows you that video and why it's just coming out now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's yet another deadly shooting, on camera. An unarmed black teen shot and killed by a Chicago police officer. The video released today after a judge's order to show the final moments of Cedrick Chatman's life three years ago.

At 1:46 p.m., surveillance cameras capture Chatman, a carjacking suspect, getting out of a car and running from police. That's Chatman running between two parked cars and onto the sidewalk. A police officer close behind. Two seconds later, a second police officer, Kevin Frye, is seen in the middle of the street with his weapon drawn. Chatman disappeared out of frame. Still running away from police when Frye opens fire. Officers say Chatman was pointing a dark object at them and was shot in self-defense. It turned out to be a black iPhone box. The camera pans over and shows Chatman lying on the street. And then about a minute later, a police officer is seen with a foot on the wounded teen's body.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have a 17-year-old kid that's shot and killed, bleeding in the street in the city of Chicago, handcuffed, face down on the ground, and for him to essentially step on him on top of it, it's just totally unreasonable.

FLORES: Unreasonable and disturbing, according to the judge who ordered the video to be released. The judge also called the city irresponsible for what he called an age of enlightenment.

(on camera): The judge is referring to the city's motion to drop its opposition for the release of the video made late Wednesday afternoon after a three-year fight. The city's explanation, transparency in the public's interest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would say it's more of a political move than anything.

FLORES (voice-over): Attorneys for the officers sent CNN a statement saying, "They had reason to believe the suspect was armed."

The police officers have not faced criminal charges but, instead, Chatman's two accomplices who were ten blocks away charged with the teen's murder. They later pleaded guilty to lesser crimes.

The police officers kept their jobs but are facing a wrongful death suit from Chatman's family.

Rosa Flores, CNN, Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: A French schoolteacher is under investigation after two students died in an avalanche on an Alpine ski trip. The warning signs authorities say he missed. Straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:42:40] HOWELL: The French school teacher who led 10 of his students into a deadly avalanche in the Alps is now facing a manslaughter investigation. These still images that we have to show you show the scene moments after that avalanche hit. Investigators say the teacher took the students onto a closed ski slope despite posted signs, a safety net and a high avalanche danger. Two students, a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, were killed along with a Ukrainian skier who was also on the slopes.

Christina McFarland is the host of CNN's "Alpine Edge" and has been in the Alps now for weeks. Earlier, she told us what the teacher and students did wasn't that unusual.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINA MCFARLAND, CNN HOST, ALPINE EDGE (voice-over): People ski off peak a lot in Europe in the season and the areas are not always marked by a sign. But if they are considered to be dangerous they are roped off. It's certainly not forbidden. But what happened here is that beyond the fact that the off pieced run in question was closed in the Deux Alps. The school group appeared to have missed a lot of the warning signs that day. The avalanche level was 3 out of 5. That means as little as one person on that day could have triggered an avalanche and there have been I believe 30 centimeters of fresh snow that have fallen the day before. After mild conditions in the Alps, which is what we've seen in the early stages in the season, it's exceptionally dangerous because the snow pack can slip. And it also sounds like that it was unlikely that the school group actually were wearing the white equipment which would be a probe, a shovel, an avalanche transceiver. These are standard pieces of equipment for anyone venturing off piece. When you add all of that to the fact they were attempting to descend on a black run, which is France's highest difficulty rate, a very steep slope, unfortunately it's a recipe for disaster in these types of conditions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[02:44:38] HOWELL: Now the regional prosecutor says the students had asked their teacher to take them to the slopes and he says the first teacher that they asked refused but then another teacher agreed to lead them.

Let's get more on the conditions surrounding this tragic incident. Our Meteorologist Derek Van Dam is at the world weather center to explain more about it.

Derek, good to have you.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: George, it was a combination of lethal elements that led to this disaster. Extremely steep mountainous terrain over this specific mountain range in the Alps. They have pitches anywhere between 50 to 60 degrees. On top of that there was a layer of fresh fallen snow that had fallen on top of an already icy packed surface. This is thanks to the above average temperatures that eastern and central Europe have experienced over the month of December that created that icy surface. Anytime you add additional fresh fallen snow that destabilizes the snowpack and ultimately creates this layering effect that gravity will ultimately win and create that disastrous avalanche that took place unfortunately earlier this week. There is still the threat of avalanches across the French and Swiss Alps. Another 15 to 30 centimeters of snowfall anticipated over the next three days. Be on the lookout for that if you are, indeed, a skier or snowboarder traveling to that region.

I'm going to take you to another part of the world that's often synonymous with warmer climates. This would be the third hurricane ever recorded in the month of January, and it's got its eyes set on the Azores Island just west of Portugal. Currently at 80 miles per hour. This brings it at the strongest January formed hurricane ever recorded. And records go back since the 1800s, believe it or not. Some of our current winds indicating gusts already for the southern islands between 60 to 80 kilometers per hour. This particular hurricane first started to develop across the relatively warmer waters of the Bahamas and then it moved into the cooler waters of the eastern Atlantic. But there was enough temperature difference between the upper levels of the atmosphere and the sea surface temperatures that it created this instability. Thunderstorms formed. And that circulation developed as well creating this very unusual January hurricane.

I'm going to leave you with this, George. This is the latest time lapse coming out of Port Delgado. This is the capital of the Azores Island. And you can see some of the rain starting to move on through as people hunker down in preparation for a very unusual hurricane. And by the way, George, it's unusual because it only happens every 15 to 20 years that a hurricane makes landfall in the Azores, but to have it happen in the month of January is truly remarkable.

HOWELL: Derek, is it January? We're talking about a hurricane?

VAN DAM: It's not something we typically see. Only the third time this has happened.

HOWELL: Derek, thank you so much.

VAN DAM: Thanks, George.

HOWELL: In the country of Guatemala, former comedian, Jimmy Morales, has been sworn in as the new president there. He was elected after a huge corruption scandal forced the resignation of Otto Perez Molina and members of his cabinet.

CNN's Rafael Romo has more on what's ahead for Mr. Morales.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN LATIN AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT: The new Guatemalan president used to be a comedian who has been harshly criticized for his off color jokes, some deeply offensive to the Central American country's indigenous population. But the 46-year-old was also killed the ultimate outsider. One of the factors that gave him an edge in the October presidential election in a country riddled with corruption.

Morales was sworn in Friday evening in Guatemala City before several Latin-American presidents, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

JIMMY MORALES, COMEDIAN & NEWLY ELECTED GUATEMALA PRESIDENT (through translation): I've said this before. Making use of and paraphrasing our national anthem, woe to he who with blind ambition tries to steal the people's money because we will be drastic and severe.

ROMO: Guatemala, a country of 15 million, is reeling from a corruption scandal that last year prompted the resignation of its president, vice president, and more than a dozen cabinet members, ministers, and government officials. Former President Otto Perez Molina is in jail awaiting trial.

Morales won the October elections with more than 67 percent of the vote. Among the main challenges for the new president is combating poverty. In a country where over half are below the poverty line according to the World Bank. The president asked all Guatemalans to make an effort and work for a better Guatemala. Morales will serve as president until 20. Re-election is not allowed in Guatemala. Rafael Romo, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:49:24] HOWELL: Actor Alan Rickman lost his battle with cancer. He is best known for his portrayal of villains, but we will tell you what he said about the roles that he chose to play. Stay with us.

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(WEATHER REPORT)

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HOWELL: The British Actor Alan Rickman is being remembered by fans and colleagues as a generous and funny man but also as a magnificent actor. Rickman lost his battle with cancer on Thursday. He was 69 years old. He was known for his roles playing villains, but there was much more to the actor who conquered, theater, films, and television.

Our Erin McLaughlin takes a look at his long career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The moment he appeared on screen it was all there, the flair, the charisma, and the voice.

ALAN RICKMAN, ACTOR: Turn to page 394.

MCLAUGHLIN: Unmistakably Alan Rickman. Arguably most famous for his portrayal of one of the most iconic characters in the "Harry potter" franchise, Professor Severus Snape.

RICKMAN: Mr. Potter.

MCLAUGHLIN: Throughout the professor it was unclear whether the character was good or evil. Rickman was the only actor who knew how to play the character whose story was revealed to the world in the final film.

RICKMAN: Before I started, I rang Jo Rowling and I said you have to tell me something. And she told me one tiny piece of information which I swore I would never share with anybody.

MCLAUGHLIN: A native Londoner, his breakout film rule was in "Die Hard" as Hance Gruber.

RICKMAN: Ho, ho, ho.

MCLAUGHLIN: Rickman won a Golden Globe, an Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award for his portrayal of Rasputin.

RICKMAN: I see the face of God.

[02:55:09] MCLAUGHLIN: Performance as the sheriff of Nottingham in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" landed him a BAFTA.

RICKMAN: Merciful beheading, and call off Christmas.

What's that?

MCLAUGHLIN: His devilish charm also extended to films like "Love Actually."

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You won't regret it.

RICKMAN: Want to bet?

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: 'Tis but the work of a moment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He didn't want to be remembered only as -- whilst absolutely superb, he could be someone you really would love to kill, but equally he would be someone you would be absolutely delighted if he took a shine to you.

MCLAUGHLIN: Choosing his roles he told CNN --

RICKMAN: I don't judge characters I'm playing because then you'd be lost.

MCLAUGHLIN: Now the world has lost one of the most versatile and recognizable actors of the screen and stage. Alan Rickman was 69.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: That wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. I'll be back after the break with more news from around the world.

You're watching CNN, the world's news leader.

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[03:00:11] HOWELL: In the Republican race for the White House, the gloves come off.