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New Day

Bizarre Twist in Las Vegas Road Rage Incident; Defense Rests in "American Sniper" Trial; Countdown to Hollywood's Biggest Night; U.S. Unveils Plan to Take Back Mosul

Aired February 20, 2015 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Bizarre twist -- overused phrase, I'll grant you. But not this time in the Las Vegas road rage case, the teenaged suspect and the mom he allegedly shot dead were neighbors.

Ana Cabrera joins us live from Las Vegas with the latest.

This is a twist by any definition. What do we know now?

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This story has had so many twists and turns, police say they're still looking for at least one more suspect this morning. But they believe they have the man who pulled the trigger and the fatal shots.

Now, remember this all started a little over a week ago. A mom was giving her 15-year-old daughter driving lessons, they were returning to their home when they got into a confrontation with another driver. It all ended sometime later with an exchange of deadly gunfire right in front of the victim's home.

What looked to be a manhunt that was stretching far and widened up turning into a search for the boy next door.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT MEYERS: We know this boy. I couldn't tell you this before.

CABRERA (voice-over): A surprising twist in the arrest of a 19-year- old suspect in the murder of Tammy Meyers, mother of four, killed in an apparent case of road rage. Robert Meyers now says his wife knew her suspected killer.

MEYERS: We knew how bad he was, we didn't know he was this bad.

CABRERA: Eric Nowsch Jr. shown flaunting drugs and money in social media posts now faces multiple felony charges, including murder. One week after 44-year-old Meyers was shot in the head -- a tense standoff with police Thursday afternoon, the arrest just one block from the deadly encounter. Emotions running high as the suspect's mother arrived on scene.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Turn your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) phone off.

Then the victim's husband, Robert Meyers, anger and grief boiling over.

MEYERS: You treated my wife like an animal, my son. There's the animal, a block away. Are you happy?

CABRERA: Meyers insists his wife was never an aggressor, while police previously suggested that Tammy Meyers went home dropped off her daughter and picked up her 22-year-old son who was armed, seeking to confront a reckless dryer.

Meyers argues his wife was afraid and instead fled the home trying to hide her car from the known assailant. But she came upon the driver again and shots were exchanged.

CHRIS TOMAINO, LAS VEGAS POLICE: The suspect involved in the killing of Mrs. Meyers is in custody and off the streets of Las Vegas.

CABRERA: As the investigation continues, the Meyers' family mourns the loss of a loving wife, mother and grandmother, who they say once tried to help this troubled young man.

MEYERS: He's probably watching this right now and I know he's got to feel bad, because she was really good to him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Nowsch faces charges of murder, attempted murder and discharging in a prohibited area. He's said to have his first court appearance on Monday -- John.

JOHN CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much, Ana Cabrera, covering that story for us in Las Vegas. Appreciate it.

The Pentagon unveiling details of a spring offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces to drive ISIS out of Mosul. That's Iraq's second-largest city. Officials say as many as 25,000 Iraqi troops could be involved backed by U.S. air power. This is expected to begin in April or May.

What is not known is whether any U.S. ground troops will be involved. Mosul as we said is Iraq's second-largest city, the main is stronghold right now inside Iraq.

COUMO: All right. So, at least five people were injured after two commuter trains slammed into each other in Switzerland. One witness says a high-speed express train hit a slower-moving local train from behind. Photos from the scene show the driver's cabin on one of the trains, it's just ripped apart. No word on what caused the accident. The Swiss rail system is known for its good safety record.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: A car bomb outside a karaoke bar left at least 10 people hurt in southern Thailand. This happened around noon local time, and it was on a street loaded with bars and restaurants. So far, no deaths have been reported. Thailand has been battling with Muslim separatists in the region. So far no group has taken responsibility for the attack.

BERMAN: FOX News host Bill O'Reilly is defending himself that he inflated stories about covering combat zones. Left-leaning "Mother Jones" is accusing him, O'Reilly, of being misleading about his reporting during the 1982 Falkland Islands war, for apparently claiming he was in a war zone.

Now, O'Reilly says he never actually said he was in or on the Falkland Islands. He was in Argentina during the war at the end of the war. This, of course, is on the heels of NBC suspending Brian Williams for six months for embellishing what he did during the conflict in Iraq.

CUOMO: Well, we'll be talking about this more, because we have to know now because of the Williams example, what did he say, what is really true, and what's going to happen? We'll bring in some people who follow the media to help us do that.

The defense rests in the "American sniper" trial. But not before taking a major setback. We'll tell you what happened and what it could mean.

KEILAR: As for the film, "American Sniper," it's nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture. What are its chances of taking home an Oscar?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Welcome back to NEW DAY.

The defense has rested after two and a half days in the "American Sniper" trial. But not before calling their experts, laying out their best testimony, one of the experts disqualified by the judge. How key? Why did it happen? How big of a deal will it make for the defense team, especially right as it was ending, they got hit with that?

All right. Let's bring in Joey Jackson, an HLN legal analyst and a criminal defense attorney. And Midwin Charles, criminal defense attorney. But not today, not today, you've got to play the other side of it for me.

All right. So, this was, we've had a five and a half-day prosecution quick. Two and a half-day defense, even quicker, I think it suggests, Joey, that these people are getting ready to go another round.

So, what do you see about the timing of this and tell us what happened with the mental health experts?

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: I think the timing was fine. I think from the prosecutors perspective, you want to lay out your evidence, suggest to the jury certainly that he knew what he was doing, that is Routh, right from wrong. As to the defense is doing their job. But there's a rebuttal to come, remember that.

CUOMO: That's right.

JACKSON: Now, as to the defense, I thought this particular witness was very effective. OK? And why was he effective?

I thought he was effective in terms of evaluating the whole mental health history and just explaining it. And explaining that you know what, there were pig assassins who were out to get this client.

CUOMO: That's what it was, forget about his qualifications and what he knew. When he said that the guy told me that I thought Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield, were half-pig assassins and I know I work with cannibals, I mean, the testimony was over right there, right?

JACKSON: I think so. And I also think based on his qualifications, this is a director of forensic psychiatry at Terrell Hospital. So, you're talking about a person who is credible and who put it all together to suggest to the jury.

Now, remember what he did say. He said he did not have, Routh, post traumatic stress disorder, but he certainly had mental health history that affected his ability to distinguish right from wrong. When he started talking about cannibals and the smell of people getting cooked up and the fact that he, really, that is Routh, was not in his proper state, I thought it was effective --

CUOMO: Now, Midwin, when you look at this, you got a half smile on your face, and you're like, the guy says lots of crazy things, poor for him, I wish he had gotten help. It doesn't mean he was legally insane. Another expert comes out, the judge says, I agree with the prosecution, you don't have a physician's license, you don't really measure mental illness, you just meet with veterans afterwards.

That seemed to be a little bit of a nod that being sick is not enough. Why?

MIDWIN CHARLES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, what I find most interesting about that is being sick is not enough. That's one thing that I think your viewers should find interesting. I think everybody sees from "Law and Order" that when someone files, you know, a not guilty plea because for reason of insanity, they think it happens often. But believe it or not, those pleas are not often successful. It's not just that you're sick. It's that you didn't know the difference between right and wrong.

CUOMO: Texas has a very narrow statute.

CHARLES: At the time of the crime.

CUOMO: So that means, when he shot these two guys, he just needed to know that this is not a good thing to do to these two people to kill them.

CHARLES: Right, right. And if you look at his actions after the fact, they do not bode well for that defense. He fled. He went to his sister's house and said, listen, I took two souls. And she said you should go to the police and he said no, no, no, I'm going to Oklahoma instead.

JACKSON: But why? CHARLES: So, what does that say? It says I know that what I did is wrong and I'm trying to evade --

CUOMO: He did say it was wrong.

(CROSSTALK)

JACKSON: Generally, I would agree with my esteemed counsel here.

CUOMO: Don't let him do that. Don't let him sweet talk you. Now he's going to get you.

JACKSON: Here's the reality. Generally when you flee, it shows consciousness of guilt. I knew what I was doing. But if you're paranoid, if you think people are pig assassins, if you think I have to get them before they get me, if you describe the trip to the range as a one-way trip that he thought that he wasn't going to get out of that -- and remember, it was also explained his remorse, he was remorseful because he had to do what he had to do. And people who do things they have to do, can still be remorseful. So I don't think --

CHARLES: But yet, the prosecution can flip that, and say he was remorseful because he knew what he did was wrong.

And, of course, and that really is the key. And I think they've done that here. Listen, I think the defense has done a masterful job of really laying out how sick this guy was. I mean, they painstakingly sort of -- it was like every single box was just check, check, check, which is what they are supposed to do. But I just --

JACKSON: Which is why they'll be victorious.

CHARLES: I don't know, Joey, I don't know.

CUOMO: I'll tell you what, look -- this is a very hard one, because, you know, when you lose people it's always a horrible thing. But this was a high-profile person. Chad Littlefield was somebody trying to do something very special with his life. But that's going to be weighed against how we see mental health.

That's why this trial is so important. Yes, Chris Kyle, that's the way we call him, we should. But how we see mental health -- everyone is going to agree on that jury. This guy was really mentally ill. It's a real problem and he should have gotten health. They're not going to use it in this verdict, very likely.

CHARLES: But also, I think what's important with this case is we are really seeing exactly how mental illness impacts those who serve this country. And when they --

CUOMO: And the legal system doesn't embrace it.

CHARLES: And the legal system needs to sort of catch up with how to deal with these sort of defendants.

JACKSON: And that's why briefly, Chris, I thought the prosecution being able to object to the first doctor that this they called, wasn't a doctor, he was a clinical social worker. That's why not having his testimony, that is Charles Overstreet, it was a big blow for the defense, you want more than one person to opine that he was insane. That is Mr. Routh.

CUOMO: True, they just did two and a half days, but there's going to be a whole other round of this that we're going to see now and we'll break it down with our best --

JACKSON: Battle of the experts, Chris.

CUOMO: Thank you very much.

That was a very tough day for you, Joey.

JACKSON: Every day is a tough day for me.

CUOMO: Brianna, over to you.

KEILAR: All right. Thanks, Chris.

You know, we are just two days now away from the biggest night in Hollywood. The 87th academy awards, who is likely to take home an Oscar? Who could home disappointed? We go back out now to Michaela at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: There it is, people, you're looking live at Hollywood boulevard, welcome back to NEW DAY, I'm Michaela Pereira. I am live in Los Angeles, along Hollywood Boulevard.

In fact, I'm standing on the red carpet, which is covered in plastic to protect it from the elements, we're two days away from Hollywood's biggest night. Los Angeles really has rolled out the literal red carpet. The town is abuzz ahead of the 87th Annual Academy Awards.

Here to talk about all of the glamour and the fun and the nominees on the red carpet with me, some of the things to watch for. I have Pete Hammond, awards editor for deadline.com. A girl we know a little bit about on NEW DAY, Nischelle Turner, "Entertainment Tonight" host, and CNN contributor.

We're here before -- the only people on the red carpet are the crews and the other camera crews getting ready. It's all ready to go for Sunday night.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: But you know what? When you hear that song, "Hurray for Hollywood" it gets me pumped, Michaela.

(CROSSTALK)

PETE HAMMOND, DEADLINE.COM: It's going to be hot on Sunday, it's going to be great.

PEREIRA: It's not going to be super-hot temperature-wise. We'll talk about it in a second. We'll talk about the forecast.

HAMMOND: Talking about the star heat.

TURNER: Yes, I blame Michaela, because last year at this time it was pouring rain. This year you brought the June gloom, what's wrong with you?

PEREIRA: Maybe it's my Canadian roots or something. I'm trying to bring the weather.

Let's talk about the year for Oscar and I want to get to the picks that you have. Not a big blockbuster year, Pete, in terms of films, a lot of social issues taking the forefront, a lot of big heavy issues taking the forefront.

HAMMOND: There's a lot of independent films that are nominated this year. There's one big studio movie that's made $300 million, which is combined what the other movies have made and that, of course, is "American Sniper", which is Clint Eastwood has ridden in here to save the Oscars.

The rest of them are an interesting mix of movies, very small movies like "Boyhood" --

PEREIRA: And thoughtful movies, too.

HAMMOND: And thoughtful movies and "Selma", which is a powerful movie, controversial in some ways. You have "Birdman", which is a movie nobody saw coming. And then you have a movie like "The Grand Budapest Hotel".

PEREIRA: So quirky and fun. Let's talk about your predictions because you've been watching what's going on in terms of the race and also understand, I think you do, the mind of the Oscar voter, which is something you have to take into account when you're thinking about the predictions.

So, let's do the toughest category, I believe, Nischelle, we'll start with best picture. This one is not easy to predict. A lot of great, great films in this category.

TURNER: Yes, I think it's coming down to a two-horse race for this one. And that would be between "Boyhood" and "Birdman." if it was up to me, I think it's going to be "Boyhood." because of the innovativeness of Richard Linklater and his directing, the 12 years to make it, the actors not being able to sign contracts, having to commit and do it. It was a really good film. It was a coming of age film that I loved.

PEREIRA: Now, Pete, your best pick for pic?

HAMMOND: "Birdman".

(LAUGHTER)

PEREIRA: These two are seen as the front-runners. HAMMOND: They are, "Boyhood" and "Birdman", it's neck and neck with

these two. But the industry seems to have gravitated towards "Birdman." It won the DGA award, the Directors Guild, the Producers Guild --

PEREIRA: You think that's a predictor --

HAMMOND: These are --

(CROSSTALK)

TURNER: You think I'm wrong?

HAMMOND: You may be wrong, but you may be right. But "Birdman" is about a narcissistic actor and who is voting here?

(LAUGHTER)

TURNER: They can relate to that.

PEREIRA: But "American Sniper" could be a bit of a sleeper for a lack of the better phrase.

HAMMOND: It's really close here with the way they count votes here. A movie like that could sneak in with its -- with its votes.

PEREIRA: Let's move on to next category, best actor. What's surprising to me. Can we put your picks up on the screen? Because you guys actually agreed on something. You both agreed that Eddie Redmayne -- shut it down, give him the award and let him go home.

HAMMOND: Yes, well, you know --

TURNER: I wouldn't have said that a month ago. I would have said Michael Keaton a month ago.

HAMMOND: Well, you know, I'm hearing, I talk to a lot of voters and I'm hearing Keaton, Redmayne, Keaton, Redmayne, and it really is close. But Eddie Redmayne has been out here campaigning like he's running for mayor.

TURNER: Yes, he has.

HAMMOND: He charms everybody. I've been in many rooms here with him and I've watched this happen and also I think he's got the role. He's playing Stephen Hawking, physically an incredibly difficult role.

PEREIRA: He transformed.

TURNER: And at the end of the day, he was brilliant.

PEREIRA: He was brilliant. Not campaigning aside.

Let's go to best actress, another reason to see that you guys agree on something, because you all picked and I actually think that this is her year as well, Julianne Moore. HAMMOND: Over due. Playing a victim of early on set Alzheimer's.

This is a very strong role. A very powerful performance by her. She's always good this is her fifth nomination.

PEREIRA: Do you think this is the year for her, Nischelle?

TURNER: It is her year and she deserves it. The movie is heartbreaking and she gives a master class in acting in this film and she deserves it. It's hers. We can put a bow on it, wrap it up and go home.

HAMMOND: She knows it, believe me.

PEREIRA: I cannot wait. Because you know what, the dresses are going to be great this year, I can predict it as well.

Pete, Nischelle, thank you so much.

We want to know your picks apt home for the Oscars. You can tweet us by going to @newday or go to Facebook.com/NewDay.

Also, if you're thinking about what you need to do on Sunday -- I got to plan for you, tune in to CNN Sunday night, Don Lemon and hosting Hollywood's biggest night, live on the red carpet. Look at the picture of the two cuties, that's trouble right there. Live from the red carpet, 6:00 p.m. eastern, 3:00 p.m. Pacific. I'm in charge of keeping him in line on Sunday.

So, it's going to be a great time. Chris, we're looking forward to it and great to have the perspective of two insiders here in Hollywood.

CUOMO: You'll make it great. I'm telling you now, there's no "ade" in that lemon. A lot of news, let's get to it.

PEREIRA: None.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: There's a major fight brewing with ISIS for what could be the key battleground in Iraq.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These terrorists are desperate for legitimacy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think at the end of the day, they'll lose. But in the process, a lot of people are going to die.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Niagara Falls -- frozen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're just chunks of ice everywhere.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Even Florida is under a freeze warning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm feeling like I'm losing my nose right now.

PEREIRA: The anticipation is pretty strong. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hollywood's biggest night.

PEREIRA: This morning, the countdown to Oscar Sunday is near at hand.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome back to your NEW DAY. I'm Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota is off, we have Brianna Keilar and John Berman here with us this morning. The beautiful Michaela Pereira is where she should be, on the red carpet in Hollywood covering the Oscars.

PEREIRA: Living the life.

CUOMO: You look gorgeous. Gorgeous. Can't wait to hear what you have to say. I miss you. You know.

The big news from here -- retaking Mosul. This could be the biggest battle against ISIS so far. Will it take U.S. boots on the ground to get it done? That's the question.

Now, in a rare preview of military action, the Pentagon is revealing details of the major military offensive to come, including when it may happen. Why? Aimed at driving ISIS out of Iraq's second city. Hoping they have a better thought about it.

KEILAR: And this comes as President Obama urges Muslim nations to step up and do more to help stamp out extremism.

We have team coverage, and we're beginning with CNN's Barbara Starr. She's live for us at the Pentagon.

Good morning, Barbara.