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Child Attacked by Alligator at Disney World; The Voice Singer Shot Dead after Friday Concert; Orlando Nightclub Shooting Detailed; South African Court Again Mulling Fate of Oscar Pistorius; French Security Officials Anxious about Fan Violence as Russia and Slovakia Meet in Euro 2016; Barack Obama Slams Trump Reaction to Orlando Shooting. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired June 15, 2016 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00] ROBYN CURNOW, CNN NEWSROOM SHOW HOST: Welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and around the world. I'm Robyn Curnow. Thanks so much for joining me.
And we're continuing our coverage of breaking news out of Florida. Police now say the little boy dragged off by an alligator at a Disney resort is likely dead. It's been an unimaginable few days for the Orlando area.
First, Christina Groomie, a popular singer from the NBC talent show, The Voice is gunned down after her concert Friday night. She died a few hours later. Then a terrorist opened fire at the Pulse Nightclub early Sunday morning killing 49 people, and wounded 53 others.
Now, police say an alligator grabbed a toddler and dragged him into a lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. The little boy was playing on the water's edge when the alligator pounced.
Well, our Martin Savidge has been the scene for the past several hours. He joins us live with more. Martin, I mean, this is just devastating. The description of this father trying to wrestle with this gator to try to rescue his child but unsuccessful.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. This is really just beyond what you could possibly imagine. The search effort here has been ongoing for about six hours. This all happened a little after 9 o'clock in the evening, local time here.
Authority said that the family was staying at the Grand Floridian. It's a beautiful hotel, massive property, on the whole Disney World resort. And they were down by the water's edge. They come from Nebraska, family of five, husband and wife, three children. And the 2- year-old was sort of playing near the waterline.
And according to authorities, the alligator, about four to seven feet in length came out of the water and struck. We had a briefing from the Orange County sheriff. Here's some of what he described.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JERRY DEMINGS, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF: The father entered the water and tried to grab the child, was not successful in doing so. At some point, I'm told that the mother also may have entered the water. So the parents diligently tried to get the child. They alerted a nearby life guard who was there in the area as well, but they were unsuccessful in their efforts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: This is just so difficult to believe in a place that is so focused on family, on children, on fun, on memories to last a lifetime. This is the last place any family expects any tragedy, let alone something as horrific as this.
I am told by, I just got off the phone, actually with a witness who was over by the lake, about a half-mile away from where we're I'm standing now, and he said that there are still about maybe seven boats that are out on the water. Some of them are the Pontoon boats. Some of them are security boats, you can still see flashing lights out there.
The helicopters have moved off some distances. The water is, this body of water is larger than just some little ornamental lake. It's a fairly significant size of water, and that's part of the challenge.
They have sonar that's actively being used out there as well as they try to locate this child. But as you've already said, every minute that goes by, the likelihood of finding this child alive is not good.
Alligators are part of the landscape here. We are told that there are signs warning guests to stay away from the water. But that said, there's also a beach, and it's a beautiful setting, your holiday, you would never expect something like this. Robyn?
CURNOW: Thanks so much for keeping us updated. If you have any more information we will come back to you Martin Savage. Thanks so much.
Well, it's also been a rough 48 hours for Walt Disney World. We've just learned that Sunday's nightclub shooter scouted out Disney ahead of his attack on the club.
Police say Omar Mateen visited the Disney entertainment and shopping complex known as Disney Springs at the beginning of June, during this year's gay day's celebration. And all this happening just as Disney gets ready to open its highly-anticipated, Shanghai location half a world away on Thursday.
Well, turning now to the mass shooting and the latest details of how the gunman planned it, investigators believe he cased possible targets, including Orlando's Pulse Nightclub and Disney World as I just said.
His wife was with him on those trips. Now a source says the FBI does not think she is a co-conspirator but she could face charges for not telling authority about what she knew about his general plans.
Here's Pam Brown with more.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, authorities now believe the gunman's wife, Noor Salman visited a potential target with her husband in advance of the attack at Pulse Nightclub. They're trying to determine if she knew he was planning an attack.
[03:05:01] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you know your husband was going to do this?
BROWN: Sources tell CNN she's been providing helpful insight to investigators. For the first time, we're seeing inside the couple's apartment. Clothes and children's toys and can be seen scattered on the ground.
Investigators have seized items in searches of this home and those of the shooter's relative including a Dell computer, Smartphone, digital camera, and related media.
Sources tell CNN Omar Mateen was consuming large quantities of Jihadi propaganda online, including ISIS beheading videos.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PRESIDENT: The killer took in extremist information and propaganda over the internet. He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalized.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: One of the survivors today revealing what she heard the gunman tell 911 dispatchers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATIENCE SURVIVOR, ORLANDO SHOOTING SURVIVOR: The reason why he's doing this is because he wants America to stop bombing his country. And from the conversation from 911 he pledges allegiance to ISIS.
DEMINGS: He was simply making statements about who he pledged allegiance to and other statements that was in a language believed to have been Arabic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: As authorities piece together clues painting a picture of the shooter's life, CNN is learning more about his movements in the hours leading up to the attack.
Investigators say they used cell phone tower data to determine that he spent several hours the day before the shooting at Disney Springs, a shopping and entertainment center in the Orlando area before the attack at the Pulse Nightclub early Sunday morning.
Law enforcement sources tell CNN he also visited Disney Springs and the Pulse Nightclub at the beginning of June. Investigators believe the visits were intended to conduct surveillance of the locations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DEMINGS: He came with a plan of action. He had multiple rounds of ammunition. He moved through the facility fairly fluidly. So, everything that he did in the case that he had given forethought to what he was doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: A performer at Pulse Nightclub tells CNN Mateen visited the club dozens of times, averaging a couple visits a month over three years. CNN has learned the FBI is now looking into claims Mateen was on gay dating apps such as Grinder. But it's unclear what his intentions were on those apps.
CURNOW: Pamela Brown reporting there.
Dozens killed, dozens more injured, 28 victims are still in the hospital, and some of them are sharing their stories of survival. Angel Colon was shot several times in the leg. He described the horrified seconds before he was shot and how the gunman aimed at his head. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGEL COLON, ORLANDO SHOOTING SURVIVOR: I was talking to the last girl, I was talking to out of nowhere and we just hear a big shotgun. We just, we stopped what we we're doing, and then it just keeps going. That happened. And we just grabbed each other, we started running, and unfortunately, I was shot about three times in my leg.
So, I had fallen down. I tried to get back up. But everyone started running everywhere. I got trampled over. And I shattered and broke my bones on my left leg. So, by this time, I couldn't walk at all. All I could do was just lay down there while everyone was running on top of me, trying to get to where they had to be.
And all I could hear was the shotgun. One after another. And people screaming. People yelling for help. By this time, this man, he goes into the other room, and I can just hear more shotguns going on. I thought I was a little safe at this time, because, you know, it's giving everyone time to tackle him down or get him down, but unfortunately, I hear him come back, and he's shooting everyone that's already dead on the floor, making sure they're dead.
I was able to peek over and I can just see him shooting at everyone. And I can hear the shotgun's closer, and I look over, and he shoots the girl next to me. And I'm just there laying down, I'm thinking, I'm next. I'm dead.
So I don't know how, but by the glory of God, he shoots towards my head, but it hits my hand. And then he shoots me again and it hits the side of my hip. I had no reaction. I was just prepared to just stay there, laying down so he won't know that I'm alive. And he's just doing this for another 5, 10 minutes, he's just shooting all over the place.
(END VIDEO CLIP) [03:10:04] CURNOW: Such terror, such bravery. Now some of the victims
ran to the nearby Orlando fire department during the shooting.
CNN's Brooke Baldwin spoke exclusively to a fire lieutenant on duty that night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS ODELL, ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE LIEUTENANT: There were groups of people in front of the fire station, hiding behind the wall over there, crying and screaming. And as soon as we put the bay door up, we had our first person shot through and through.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What was that person's name?
ODELL: He wasn't saying anything. He was shot twice through the abdomen, through and through. So, what happened when the bay door went up, we immediately helped and carried him in there and laid him town on the bay floor right next to the engine, and the medics went to work on him immediately and began to stabilize him, to triage him.
And then we had another victim come in with a shot through the wrist. Another shot through the leg. So the walking wounded, we could bandage up those up, you know, and stabilize them rather easily, but the man who was shot through the abdomen twice was a priority. So, he was really patient number one for the Orlando fire department's response.
BALDWIN: Did he make it?
ODELL: I have no idea. I have no idea. I don't know who he was. I don't know other than the fact that when we got a rescue down here to transport him we had loaded him in the back, and it was a hot scene, and off he went to the hospital.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Thanks to Brooke Baldwin for that. One of the haunting images from inside the club came from Amanda Alvear. She had been recording the crowd dancing when the shots began.
Gary Tuchman spoke with her brother.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Brian Alvear was the first of three children. He lost his younger brother Nelson to cancer years ago, his younger sister Amanda went to the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando Saturday night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN ALVEAR, BROTHER OF ORLANDO VICTIM: If there's anyone on earth I thought could take a couple shots and survive just to spite the person that shot them it's my sister.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: But tragically, Amanda, a nursing student of the University of South Florida was one of the 49 people killed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALVEAR: My parents should never have to bury one child, let alone two. I mean, it's unfathomable that my mom has to go through this again. Like it's just, she's the sweetest woman. Has never said a bad word about anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Brian and his parents got a call on Sunday morning that Amanda had gone to the Pulse with several friends. They frantically tried to reach her and immediately feared the worst when they got no answer.
They then saw the Snapchat videos. Short videos Amanda had posted from the club, showing people dancing and having fun. But there was one last video in which the first gunshots are heard. Amanda with the confused and concerned look on her face. And those are the last images of Amanda's life that they'll ever see.
So, when you saw this Snapchat video of your sister, tell me how it made you feel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALVEAR: I mean, fear, like just afraid for my sister, like wanting -- helpless. I wanted to jump through the TV, and you know, she's my little sister, she's in trouble. You want to be there for her. And you can't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: One of the friends Amanda was with at the club was the woman on the right, Mercedes Flores, her best friend who was also killed. Amanda tried to save Mercedes' life. Brian and his parents were told that by another friend, a woman who survived the attack.
ALVEAR: The shooting started. She grabbed Amanda's hands. They bolted towards the door. They almost got there and I mean, she turned around and said that Mercedes was missing. So, she was going back to get Mercedes and the friend went OK and will meet up with everybody outside and they split up and that was the last time she saw her.
TUCHMAN: You saw her those last seconds and you know from her friend that she did something so brave that she went to look for her friend instead of leaving. I wonder if that gives you comfort right now.
ALVEAR: It does. I mean, that's what, that's what anyone in our family would have done. That's how we are. That's how my parents raised us. I mean, if I was there with my best friend, I'd like to think I'd do the same thing. And I think I would. And I'm glad that my sister did.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Orlando.
CURNOW: Devastating.
Coming up, Reeva Steenkamp's father makes a tearful plea to a South African court as it decides the fate of his daughter's killer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY STEENKAMP, REEVA STEENKAMP FATEHR: I feel the same that Oscar has to pay for what he did.
[03:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Hey, I'm Don Riddell with your CNN World Sport headlines.
Every single team has now played at Euro 2016 and there were a couple of notable results in Tuesday's matches. Iceland held Portugal and Cristiano Renaldo to a 1-1 draw. Nani had given the Portuguese the first half lead.
But Birkir Bjarnason valid home a priceless equalizer. And there was a shocking in the earlier game as Hungary beat many people's dark horses, Austria by two goals to nil.
Tournaments organizers for UEFA have threatened Russia with expulsion if there is any repeat of the violence that marked Saturday's game against England and Marseille.
It is CNN's understanding that violence within the stadium would mean the end of Russia's tournament but trouble outside if serious enough to impact the integrity of the tournament could have the same effect. The next 48 hours are crucial. The Group B action moves to the cities of Lille and Lens which are just 24 miles apart.
A Madrid court has ruled that blood bags used as evidence in a major Spanish doping scandal must be handed over to authorities for investigation. Operation Puerto has been going on for more than a decade and is one of the biggest doping scandals in sports.
Following the hearing, these bags will now be released and not destroyed. It could be mean that we'll learn who these bags belong to and which athletes in a variety of sports were cheating at the time they were seized back in 2006.
That is a quick look at your sports headlines. I'm Don Riddell.
CURNOW: We do want to update you on our breaking news here at CNN.
The search for a little boy dragged away by an alligator at Walt Disney World. Not the sheriff says it's unlikely they will find the child alive. But they will continue to search all night for him.
The toddler was playing on the water's edge at the Disney Grand Floridian Resort and Spa when the animal attacked him. His father jumped in and wrestled with the gator but couldn't save his son.
And France is dealing with a horrific attack, a (AUDIO GAP) calls an assassination by (AUDIO GAP) an Islamic extremist who was under investigation killed a police commander and his partner in their home west of Paris. But his shocking crime was not yet done.
Atika Shubert tells us more.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: These images of the chilling moment Larossi Abballa broadcast live on Facebook just after he had stabbed to death police Officer Jean-Baptiste Salvaing and his partner, Jessica Schneider in their suburban home, taking hostage their 3-year-old son.
In the video Abballa swore allegiance to ISIS.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pledging allegiance to my emir Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi.
SHUBERT: Now at one point, even just back at the child and said "I don't know what to do with him."
By midnight, SWAT teams forced their way in and shot Abballa dead, rescuing the child. In his car police say they found a list of targets, including police officers, journalist, musical artists and other public figures. The French prosecutor (AUDIO GAP) was found.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANCOIS MOLINS, FRENCH PROSECUTOR (TRANSLATED): Three knives were seized. In particular, a knife covered with blood. In the back car which was parked near the building a Koran was found as well with references to authentic belief.
[03:20:06] You know that a certain number of claims were made by the terrorist, including a posting at 8.22 p.m. on Facebook with a 12- minute video claiming responsibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: The 25-year-old was known to police as a petty criminal, convicted of terror recruitment in 2013. According to the prosecutor, he did serve time in prison but was also given early release.
The prosecutor's office also say his phone was monitored, but there were no signs of an imminent attack. Abballa operated a nighttime food delivery business in the same area as his victims. Neighbors in this quiet town describe to CNN the night of the attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (TRANSLATED): We thought it was a war scene. We didn't think we were in Magnanville, we thought we were in a film, a bad film.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: In his Facebook video, Abbala said he was answering ISIS's call for attacks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and he threatened to make the ongoing European Football Championship into a cemetery. Putting France already on the highest state of alert even more on edge.
CURNOW: Well, let's go to our Jim Bittermann in Paris for the latest. Hi, there, Jim. We have a 3-year-old orphaned, a threat on Facebook there, all in this one of the most-watched soccer competitions in the world.
I appear to have lost our connection with Jim Bittermann. We'll try and get him back. In the meantime, we're going to stay in France. In the city of Lille, a couple of hours north of Paris, France police authorities are bracing for possible violence from football fans when Russia takes on Slovakia at Euro 2016.
That massive sports tournament which is just hours from now. Their fears stem from clashes over the weekend between Russian fans and English supporters.
Matthew Chance has more.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is a thug's eye view of the violence that's marred Euro 2016. One Russian hooligan actually filming his own rampage through the streets of Marseille.
In one scene, he shows himself and his comrades, vandalizing a cafe. In another, they're kicking an English fan as he cowers on the ground. It's this kind of appalling behavior that seen UEFA imposed a suspended disqualification on Russia.
If it happens again, UEFA says, they're out.
Do you think it's OK for football fans to fight? Yes. The disqualification -- it's a message even the most belligerent Russian officials appeared to heeding, including the M.P. who tweeted support for the fighting. At the step with Kremlin which condemned the violence. He's now changed his tone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IGOR LEBEDEV, RUSSIAN MP (TRANSLATED): The softest punishment would have been a fine. The harshest one would have been a total disqualification. UEFA's decision was something in between. And we only have to be thankful for that, and I support the opinion of the Russian Football Union chairman who said we would not appeal the decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Back in France, the authorities are finally, perhaps belatedly getting tough. Riot police surrounding a Russian fan bus, suspected of carrying some of the hard core hooligans.
French prosecutors say they were behind the violence. Russian social media postings say many on board have been told they'll be deported. The rest are being returned to Marseille for questioning, as French police struggle to prevent the events of this weekend being repeated in the games ahead.
CURNOW: Well, Matthew Chance joins us now live from Moscow. Hi, there, Matt. These images of this hooliganism really, really affecting many people hose who are going to be attending these games?
CHANCE: That's right. And the actual violence itself threatens to raise its head again as you said, later on today when Russia plays Slovakia in Lille, in northern France. And of course, close by to that, in another town, just a short distance away, England will be playing their second match in this Euro 2016 Championship as well.
And so, there's a possibility that the fans from both of those countries could meet yet again. And that's why there's additional security being put in place by the French police, alcohol bans have been imposed on the various times where these teams are playing.
And so, yes, the French, as we're saying in that report, are finally getting as tough as they can, it seems on the fans to police this tournament.
[03:24:59] CURNOW: And why is this so important? We've got security, concerns about terror, but this is also, as I was saying, one of the most-watched sports tournaments in the world, after the Olympics and the World Cup. I mean, Russia it seems is also taking this very seriously.
CHANCE: Of course, football is taken very seriously. It's something that ignites passions in Russia and in England and in all the countries, essentially, around Europe and of course the world.
I mean, what makes this violence, I think, so important at the moment is because in just two years from now, it will be Russia that hosts the biggest football championship of them all, the World Cup in 2018, that's coming to Moscow.
And the fact that Russian fans and the Russian team is now being sanctioned by UEFA for this violence, for smuggling fireworks and flares into the stands for fighting and targeting fans from other countries, in this case England, raises serious questions about the worthiness of Russia to host that World Cup Championships in 2018.
It's unlikely at this point that that competition is going to be taken off them of course, but, you know, there could be further sanctions as this Euro 2016 competition as UEFA has said, if the Russian fans continue with this kind of behavior, the Russian team will be kicked out of the championship all together.
CURNOW: OK. Matthew Chance, thank you so much for bringing us that update from Moscow.
Well, let's go back to our senior international correspondent, Jim Bittermann in Paris where authorities there are on high alert after the murder of a police commander and his wife.
Hi, there, Jim. Hopefully our connection has been sorted out. This is also very disturbing incident amidst very high security in France. JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely.
And there's a lot of calls for investigation into how this could have happened. On the other hand, a lot of people saying this morning, this was a lone wolf attacker, acted on his own.
He was under surveillance, the attacker Larossi Abballa, 25 years old, gradually radicalized. But he had been in prison for two and a half years, and coming out of prison, he was watched. He had to report to a parole officer, he did all the things he was supposed to do, and so the police kind of ignored him.
And then earlier this year, they began tapping his phone, suspecting that he'd become more and more radical, but, again, there was nothing in his phone conversations according to the prosecutor yesterday, that indicated that he was getting as radical as he was getting.
His ex-girlfriend was on government radio this morning and she was saying she saw none of the signs of real radicalization. She said that he was getting more and more religious. But she didn't believe to the point where he was radicalized.
And then about three days before the crime, he asked to get back in contact with her. She refused. And then tried to reach him the day, just the day ahead of the crime, and she was unable to get him on his cell phone.
So at that point, he was probably already moving into action and killed the two police officers in their home in front of and in their home in cold blood and in front of their 3-year-old child who witnessed the whole thing but is safe now but an orphan. Robyn?
CURNOW: Yes, indeed. And also authorities finding a hit list, which also is of great concern to the French security forces.
Thanks so much, Jim Bittermann there in Paris. Well, you're watching CNN.
Coming up, President Obama on the offensive. We'll tell you about his blistering criticism of Donald Trump in the wake of the Orlando massacre. Stay with us.
[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURNOW: Welcome back to viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Robyn Curnow.
I want to take you right now to Pretoria, South Africa as high court there where the sentencing hearing for Oscar Pistorius is underway. Pistorius could face at least 15 years in prison for murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. That is her cousin that is taking the stand in the sentencing hearing. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM MARTIN, REEVA STEENKAMP'S COUSIN: They suffered very much because of this. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has it changed your life?
MARTIN: Yes, it's changed my life completely. Besides the obvious anxiety and depression, as a family, we'll never, ever be able to carry on like normal. You know, just standing at a queue in a shopping center brings difficulty.
You know, people there recognize you and they start mentioning the trial and they start mentioning Oscar, and they start mentioning Reeva, and you can never be prepared for what might come up.
And I attended a workshop a couple weeks ago for awareness workshop. And then there are people realizing the lecturer started speaking about Oscar and his gun conflicts. And I just went cold. It's never going to leave us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You, your children, the broader family, how are they coping?
MARTIN: My dad, for instance, is, I saw my dad cry for the very first time when Reeva died, and I saw him cry for the very second time when I had to testify again.
It's very unfair what our family's been put through, you know, losing a family member that was such a big part of our lives in the way that we did and then to have to be exposed to the media, to have to sometimes defend ourselves, it's very difficult.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Talking about the media, do you know anything of an interview that the accused gave to the media?
MARTIN: Only thing I do know is what I've heard on the radio and TV, that he's going to be doing what he's done, interview, and that it's going to be viewed on the 24th of June.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And how do you feel about that?
MARTIN: I'm not happy about that at all. I just think that it's very unfair to want to talk to the world about your version when you had the opportunity in court to do so.
[03:35:01] And it's just, it's hurtful. I can't understand why. I can't understand why.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, as a family, you have Christmases and birthdays, how does that affect the family of Reeva's?
MARTIN: It's terrible because we want to be there for each other. We want to be able to celebrate, and for me and for my children, I can't let every single special occasion, be about Reeva being murdered, about not saying anything.
We have to celebrate. We have to -- you know, my youngest daughter is 17 years old. She doesn't deserve to have every special occasion cut short. As it is, Valentine's Day is the worse day for us. Christmas we all want to be together, but we're also scared to mention something, we're going to set somebody off. We want to honor Reeva's memory by leaving seating as we had, by putting a candle out for her, but we don't want every occasion to become a funeral, you know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The -- and your uncle Barry, how's he coping?
MARTIN: As far as I'm concerned, my uncle is a broken man. You know, he lives day to day on his phone, just watching the posts about Reeva. The guilt, the father, not being able to protect his daughter. I'm afraid for him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've said during consultations that you expected something of the case from the start. What is that?
MARTIN: I didn't hear your question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You explained that you expected something from the accused from the start of the trial. What was that?
MARTIN: My lady, all we've ever wanted is the truth and our people said that you got the truth, but we didn't. Oscar's version changed so many times, and I never, ever heard him saying that I apologize for shooting and murdering Reeva behind that door.
I don't feel there was an apology from him. I don't feel the true version came out. We just wanted the truth. That's what we wanted.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, my lady. Nothing further.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, my lady. Ms. martin, I was very, very careful when...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: OK. We were just listening there to proceedings in the Pretoria High Court. I want to go straight to David McKenzie, he stands outside the courtroom. He was listening in to that testimony. This has been a very long court case.
Oscar Pistorius, the Olympian, shot and killed his girlfriend back in on Valentine's Day 2013. And this is coming towards the end of the legal process.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Robyn, and what you heard there was something crucial from Kim Martin, Reeva Steenkamp, the victim's cousin was all the family wanted from their perspective is an apology from Oscar Pistorius who shot Reeva Steenkamp four times through a bathroom door on Valentine's Day.
She said that he has changed his testimony, his reasoning for shooting through that door several times and that they wanted, quote, "the truth from him." Emotional testimony, again, from family members of the victim, you know, through this whole court proceedings, much of the focus has been on Oscar Pistorius. In the last few days, we've seen that shift over to the victim as the
family members, the father, her cousin, all explained the pain they've gone through because of these series of events that unfolded after their family member was killed.
She also said that Valentine's Day is the worst day for their family. That was a day, of course, Reeva Steenkamp was shot by Oscar Pistorius. The testimony continues, but we could see at the end of these proceedings, Pistorius heading back to prison for a long time indeed, Robyn.
[03:40:06] CURNOW: Indeed. Thank so much, David McKenzie there, the very rule day cross examinating -- cross examining Reeva Steenkamp's cousin. As you say this will continue throughout the day and we'll continue to check in with you. Thanks so much, David.
You're watching CNN. More news after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURNOW: Well, let's go back now to our breaking news from Florida. The alligator attack at a Disney resort.
Martin Savage is there live keeping an eye on this story. Devastating details about a father trying to wrestle a gator to try and save his toddler, but no real hope that the baby will be found alive.
SAVAGE: No, I'm afraid, you know, as each moment has passed, it is looking more and more grim. Right now I've talked to people who have had their eyes on the search effort that's underway.
Clearly it's the middle of the night here. It's dark, and that area is a large body of water that is being looked upon. The helicopters and boats have sort of moved away from the area of the Grand Floridian. This is the resort hotel where the family had been staying where this attack took place.
So, you know, it's clear they're spreading out, and they're looking further and further away to where this alligator may have gone. They've also brought in, in addition to the security boats that are out there, they now have pontoon boats that out there and the Orange County Sheriff's Office has supplied them with what appears to be like a dive boat.
What's significant is not necessarily that they have divers in the water, because you might have to worry about that with alligators, but that they're using sonar to probe the depths there.
Anything that might lead them to the whereabouts of the child, any hope that they might still find this child alive is of course what this is all about. The family is deeply, deeply shocked, according to authorities, understandably so.
[03:44:59] And right now the effort is, let's find this child. Let's bring this to some sort of resolution. Robyn?
CURNOW: OK. Thanks for that update, Martin Savage there, I appreciate it.
Well, the Orlando terror attack is inflaming tensions between the U.S. President and the man who wants to replace him. Barack Obama says Donald Trump's response to the shooting and his proposed Muslim ban are dangerous and un-American.
Here's White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski.
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Obama this time confronting his critics head on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PRESIDENT: That's the key they tell us. We can't be nice unless we call them radical Islamists. What exactly would using this label accomplished? What exactly would it change? Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away. This is a political distraction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: Flanked by his national security council, including the non-partisan chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the president excoriated those who say he has not done enough to fight ISIS.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: There's not been a moment in my seven and a half years as President where we have not been able to pursue a strategy because we didn't use the label "radical Islam." Not once has an adviser of mine said, man, if we really used that phrase, we're going to turn this whole thing around. Not once.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: The usually collected Obama lashed out at republican rhetoric and Donald Trump in particular.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: And the reason I am careful about how I describe this threat has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with actually defeating extremism.
And if we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush and imply that we are at war with an entire religion, then we are doing the terrorist's work for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: And what appeared to be a choreographed one-two punch, at the same time the President spoke, Hillary Clinton was using much the same language during the speech in Pittsburgh, calling out her republican presidential rival by his first name.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HILLARY CLINTON, (D) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He is fixated on the words "radical Islam." So, if Donald suggests I won't call this threat what it is, he hasn't been listening, but I will not demonize and declare war on an entire religion.
KOSINSKI: You know, on those highly controversial remarks that Donald Trump, may think that President Obama is either not smart, not tough or has something else in mind. The White House hasn't really wanted to respond directly, saying only that it's important not to be distracted by things so small.
But Hillary Clinton did respond, saying "even in a time of divided politics, this is way beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president of the United States."
Michelle Kosinski, CNN, the White House.
CURNOW: Thanks, Michelle for that. Well, Donald Trump is firing back at Mr. Obama. He says the president can't effectively deal with ISIS and terrorism if he can't even utter the words "radical Islam."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I watch President Obama today, and he was more angry at me than he was at the shooter! And many people said that.
(CROWD BOOING)
One of the folks on television said, boy, has Trump gotten under his skin, but he was more angry, and a lot of people have said this. The level of anger, that's the kind of anger he should have for the shooter and these killers that shouldn't be here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Well, coming up, survivors of the Orlando terror attack are dealing with so many emotions right now. Just ahead, we'll hear from one young woman who is trying to cope through her poetry.
[03:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Weather Watch time. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri with you.
With some 80 reports of severe weather to tell you about from Tuesday across much of the central and Midwestern United States. Six of which were related to tornados. The tornado threat going to diminished here as we go in towards Wednesday. The biggest threat for severe storm should be across the Great Lakes, that's where over 30 million people are in line for a possibility of severe weather.
But again, mainly for straight-line winds what we're watching here, and of course some large hail could be seen in places just outside of say Chicago and into Detroit as the ingredients come into place. But look what's happening across the Southwestern United States, one
of the more prolific heat waves you will ever see for the month of June here as a massive, an expansive area of high pressure.
It pitches a tent, camps out. These temperatures across Phoenix, Arizona could be among the hottest we've ever seen for the city. In fact, getting up close to 50 degrees, that would be up around 120 Fahrenheit come Saturday into Sunday; 117 to 119 is what the conservative forecast is right now.
But again, if they reach 120, that has only happened three times since the year 1895. So, very unusual heat wave even for their standards across the Southwestern United States.
Heat, plenty of it across Chicago and New York towards Atlanta, although temps will want to cool off in the coming couple of days. And watching thunderstorms and windy conditions around places like Kingston out towards San Juan with Nassau, scattered storms, temps in the 30s.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURNOW: I want to take you right back to our breaking news story from the Orlando area. Police there now say it's unlikely they will find a little boy alive after an alligator drags him away.
The 2-year-old was playing on the edge of a lagoon at the Walt Disney World resort Tuesday night when the alligator grabbed him. His dad tried to wrestle the gator away. We know the mother tried too. Authorities have been searching with helicopters, sonar and marine units.
It must been a rough week, hasn't it, in Orlando. We know that people around the world are paying tribute to the Orlando shooting victims. Late-night comedians are weighing in as well, taking a more serious tone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O'BRIEN, TALK SHOW HOST: The news out of Orlando yesterday is still impossible to fathom. That so many people can lose their lives so quickly, because of one person's demented rage will never make sense, and God help us if it ever does.
JIMMY FALLON, THE TONIGHT SHOW HOST: What can we learn from this? What if my kids are gay? What do I tell them? Maybe there's a lesson from all this. A lesson in tolerance. We need to support each other's differences and worry less about our own opinions.
STEPHEN COLBERT, TALK SHOW HOST: There have been outpourings of love throughout the country and around the world. Love in response to hate. Love does not despair. Love makes us strong. Love gives us the courage to act. Love gives us hope that change is possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CURNOW: Powerful words there. Well, Patience Carter was shot in the
leg during the Orlando terror attack, but one of her friends was among the 49 killed early Sunday. She's in hospital recovering and is trying to deal with her grief through poetry. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATIENCE CARTER, ORLANDO SHOOTING SURVIVOR: The guilt of feeling grateful to be alive is heavy. Wanting to smile about surviving but not sure if the people around you are ready.
[03:54:56] As the world mourns the victims killed and viciously slayed, I feel guilty about screaming about my legs in pain because I could feel nothing. Like the other 49 who weren't so lucky to feel this pain of mine.
I never thought in a million years that this could happen. I never thought in a million years that my eyes could witness something so tragic. Looking at the souls, leaving the bodies of individuals, looking at the killer's machine gun throughout my right peripheral.
Looking at the blood and debris covered on everyone's faces. Looking at the gunman's feet under the stall as he paces. The guilt of feeling lucky to be alive is heavy. It's like the weight of the oceans walls crushing uncontrolled by levy this.
Like being dragged to the grass with a shattered leg and thrown on the back of a Chevy. It's like being rushed to the (AUDIO GAP) and told you're going to make (AUDIO GAP) when you laid besides (AUDIO GAP) who lives are brutally taken. The guilt of being alive is heavy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Such eloquent bravery. Such anguish.
Thanks for joining me. I'm Robyn Curnow. Early Start with Christine Romans is up next for viewers here in the United States. For everyone else, stay tuned for more news with Hannah Vaughan Jones in London.
[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
