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New Questions About the Cause of Michael Jackson's Death; A Death Row Inmate's Possible Last Chance to Convince a Court He's Innocent; Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Blames President Obama for Interference
Aired June 27, 2009 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: This hour, new questions swirling about the cause of Michael Jackson's death.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Also, a death row inmate's possible last chance to convince a court he's innocent and last chance to save his life. Possibly his family is going to be joining us here live to make the case.
From the CNN Center, this is the CNN NEWSROOM, this Saturday, June 27th. Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. It's 10:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 7:00 a.m. in Los Angeles, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Well, there is some new information out of Los Angeles in the death of Michael Jackson. An L.A. coroner says Jackson's body was removed from the coroner's office early this morning eastern time and taken to a mortuary. The assistant chief coroner wouldn't reveal which mortuary, saying the Jackson family has asked that the location not be made public.
In an initial autopsy report, though, the coroner's offices said there are no indications of foul play in Jackson's death and no indications of trauma. A complete report won't be available for weeks, though. Michael Jackson went into cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday and then later was pronounced dead at the hospital.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And most of the questions right now are being directed to the doctor who was there with Jackson, who had been treating Jackson for the past couple of months.
Well, Reverend Jesse Jackson has been a longtime close personal friend to the Jackson family and has been talking with them and was with them yesterday to comfort them as they are dealing with the death of Michael Jackson. Here he is talking to us a little earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. JESSE JACKSON, JACKSON FAMILY FRIEND: Michael had passed a physical exam in good shape, practicing three to four hours a day in his dance routine, and apparently was very healthy. And then there's a gap between his bedtime, 11:00-ish or something like that, and the next day when we get the call that Michael is not breathing and apparently is unconscious. And the doctor who may have been with Michael the night before could not be found as of yesterday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Our Drew Griffin has been on the story as well, spoke to Reverend Jackson. There is so much stuff out here, and help us try to clear it up. But I guess most of the issues right now the family is having is with this doctor.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: The family has no idea who this doctor was. According to Reverend Jackson, I talked to him last night, the doctor, hired through the company that was putting on these concerts. The doctor basically there to make sure Michael Jackson is healthy for the concerts that he's going to be paid $1 million a show for.
So the doctor did talk, T.J. and Betty, he did talk to detectives briefly following the death, but then kind of disappeared. It's the reason that the doctor's -- actually his sister's car was removed. They said there might be medications pertinent to the investigation inside the car.
But the LAPD has told me they have ever indication that this doctor will cooperate. It's not like the doctor fled. It's my belief that the doctor probably wanted to get some representation before going back into talk with the detectives.
Keep in mind, from the coroner's perfective, no foul play. From the police investigators, this is still a death investigation, not a crime, not a criminal investigation.
And everything that we are seeing at the house and at the coroner's office looks like it's just standard operating procedure in a death, with the circumstance that it's not just a normal death. This is the king of pop.
NGUYEN: No foul play at this point. We're still waiting on those toxicology results, which is going to take several weeks. But we heard from Jesse Jackson earlier this morning who said that the family still hasn't spoken with the doctor, still hasn't heard from the doctor. What happened in those final moments?
GRIFFIN: That's right. And the police haven't either. So they -- it will be incumbent on that doctor to come forward and say, look, did I give him a sleeping aid? It seemed like a routine, from what I'm hearing from sources, that he had a routine of getting some kind of a sleeping aid.
Was that sleeping aid this drug Demerol? What time was that given? When did they find Michael Jackson was not breathing? Was it an overnight situation where they came in the morning? The toxicology reports will be able to tell you what was in his blood stream immediately, and the hair samples will be able to tell you whether or not there was long-term abuse of prescription drugs or prescription drugs in his system.
HOLMES: And you're mentioning there the routine possibly that we're hearing about, possibly he was getting some kind of a drug every night that was helping him sleep.
Reverend Jackson, once again -- we'll listen to him again and hear him explain why the family, he says, has some suspicions about this doctor, the very thing you just mentioned there.
Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKSON: All we know is that on one day Michael was downtown practicing his dance routine in apparent good health. Something happened that night in the doctor's presence, with the doctor present, and we hear this next call.
For example, how long had he stopped breathing? How long it he been unconscious? We don't know the answer. If the doctor made himself available to the coroner and to the family, we'd have a lot of answers that we just don't have now. Now we're going into more and more speculation.
What we do know, T.J., is that what was an inquiry is now an investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And Drew, you made the point a little earlier. Interesting -- we don't know how long Michael Jackson might have been unconscious, not breathing, or dead. Who knows how long?
GRIFFIN: Right. Was the doctor there when he stopped breathing or was the doctor there to come in and find him not breathing? I think that will be a big part of the investigation.
NGUYEN: We heard part of the 911 that said, you know, the doctor is here with him. He's been pumping his chest, trying to get him to start breathing again. But at that point they said he wasn't breathing, according to the caller on that 911 call.
GRIFFIN: Right. And I just want to point out, too, this doctor is licensed in three states. As far as we can tell there is not really blemishes on his doctor. He's a real doctor, real treating physician here. So there doesn't seem to be any background here.
And he doesn't have any long-term background with Michael Jackson, as far as we can tell. He's basically been onboard for a couple of months getting him ready and keeping him healthy for these concerts.
Whether there are other physicians who will be brought into this who may have prescribed Michael Jackson prescription drugs over the years, as we're hearing from some of his friends, that will come out later in the investigation.
But right now this doctor could do a lot in kind of resting a lot of the rumor mill if he just came forward and talked to the Los Angeles police department, robbery homicide. And, again, the police are saying, it will happen.
HOLMES: But Jackson picked him, right? You say they hadn't been together long term, a long relationship.
GRIFFIN: That's right.
HOLMES: But Jackson did pick him?
GRIFFIN: It's my understanding that the company, AEG Live, the company that put on these concerts, would pay for the doctor, a doctor of Michael Jackson's own choosing. Dr. Conrad Murray resides in Nevada, Las Vegas. Perhaps they knew each other from when Mr. Jackson lived in Vegas for awhile there he is there. He also treats people at a clinic in Texas, and he's been in California as well.
NGUYEN: It seems like it's such a high profile case, a high profile death investigation, that a lot of people are kind of staying away from it in the sense that that doctor that we've been talking about did not sign the sign the death certificate. The doctors at the hospital where he was pronounced dead did not sign the death certificate, correct?
GRIFFIN: Right. That's right.
NGUYEN: It had to be the coroner?
GRIFFIN: That's right.
NGUYEN: So it seems like everyone's being very careful and cautious in this.
GRIFFIN: And again, we don't know if that was deliberate or just a panic situation. I mean, Michael Jackson's dying, whether we want to believe it or not, is different than a normal 50-year-old guy going in and dying of a heart attack. There's a lot of litigation going to be involved no matter what takes place here, whether the death was accidental or natural or not.
There is just so much high-profile and pressure on this that I'm sure the doctor would think twice about wanting to put his name on anything until he knows exactly what's going on.
HOLMES: Drew Griffin for us this morning, helping us answer some of these tough, tough questions. And when that doctor shows up, we should have a lot of answers.
GRIFFIN: Show up right here, Dr. Conrad. We'd love to talk to you wouldn't we, T.J.?
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Drew, we appreciate it. Thank you so much.
NGUYEN: Thank you, Drew.
Well, memorials to the entertainer are popping everywhere.
HOLMES: And one of those we can take you to is outside of Harlem's Apollo Theater, where Jackson performed as a child. Susan Candiotti is there.
Susan, we've been seeing those memorials, and people just -- essentially a celebration of Michael Jackson over the past several days. What's happening this morning?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is. The crowds have come back again. As you know, T.J. and Betty, one of the best places for fans to remember and honor Michael Jackson is to come to the Apollo Theater.
This historic place has been around 75 years. This year is the anniversary, because this is the place where Michael Jackson and his brothers as the Jackson 5 made their first appearance back in 1969 when Michael was only about 10 or 11 years old.
So this morning, we can also tell you that the theater last night released some pictures of the last time he performed here back in 2002. Take a look at these photographs just released. This was in 2002 at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser done at the request, Michael's appearance, of former President Clinton.
Now, back here this morning, you see all kinds of people out here. You know, they've been here for days, as you know. We've got a group at the theater entrance where people are leaving flowers, candles, messages to Michael.
But also you have to take a look at this tribute wall. This has been around for the last several days. This is a fence that goes up 12 feet high. You've got a cardboard wall here with people writing all kinds of messages to Michael, how much they love him, that they, he will always be with them, as one message, always be with the fans, as this message reads.
But also joining us is the historian of the Apollo Theater. This is Billy Mitchell. And he was a gofer back in 1969 when Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 made their first appearance here.
Billy, what do you remember about that amateur night in 1969?
BILLY MITCHELL, APOLLO THEATER HISTORIAN: I remember the audience seeing these young kids come out on the stage, and no one knew what they were going to do. But once they started performing, everyone looked at each other like, what in the world? They were so crisp, so professional. The harmony was tight, and the choreography just like none other.
And the crowd was like, who are these young kids? So we found out they were the Jackson brothers from Indiana. And they just wowed the audience. Michael, even at a very, very young age, you could tell that this guy had a masterful approach to his choreography and the way he sang. He sounded like an adult. Even as a child's voice, an adult way of singing.
CANDIOTTI: You told me you were blown away. And how did the crowd react?
MITCHELL: The crow was just knocked out.
CANDIOTTI: Standing ovation.
MITCHELL: Standing ovation, the whole theater.
CANDIOTTI: Billy, thank you so much for joining us.
And the Apollo is planning a tribute to Michael, two of them next week, next Tuesday and Wednesday. More on that later.
Back to you, T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Susan Candiotti for us out there where those celebrations continue. Thank you so much. We'll see you soon.
NGUYEN: Well, there is other news out there. We want to tell you about this Troy Davis. He remains on death row waiting, wondering if the highest court in the land will step in and hear his case after decades of hearing hearings, recanted testimony, and then questions surrounding the murder of a Georgia police officer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Almost 20 years I've been trying to get somebody to listen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: You know what? That is Troy Davis' sister there. She is still trying to get people to listen. And she wants you to listen as well this morning. She will be here with us. There she is in our "Newsroom." She'll lay out the case for her brother on the big day coming up before the Supreme Court on Monday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Iranian cleric leaders are calling for harsh action against the leaders of demonstrations against the government.
NGUYEN: Yes. And this comes as Iran's President blames the U.S. president for protesting, for protest, in fact, following that presidential election that occurred there.
Our Ivan Watson is following things from the Iran desk here in the NEWSROOM. And Ivan, some interesting comments from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The second time this week he's directly addressed Barack Obama, who at a press conference yesterday said that Ahmadinejad should think carefully about his obligations to the people and should think about the families of those who have been beaten and killed.
Ahmadinejad fired back today. Let's take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, PRESIDENT OF IRAN (via translator): We are surprised at Mr. Obama. Why did he enter into discussions about Iran's election? Didn't he say he was out for change? Why did he interfere? We did he utter remarks irrespective of norms of decorum?
They keep saying they want to hold talk with Iran. All right. We have expressed our readiness as well. But is this the correct way? Definitely they've made a mistake. They've revealed their intentions before the Iranian nation, before the world's nation. Their mask has been removed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Now, while he accuses, Betty, while he accuses the west of intervening in the Iran's internal affairs, the jockeying over these controversial elections from June 12 continues.
All three opposition candidates have lodged complaints, and the top electoral body that oversees the elections has given them 24 more hours to examine things. They say they're going to look at 10 percent of the ballot boxes on camera to try to do away with all the doubts about these elections.
NGUYEN: Hey, Ivan, I know that there has been some new video that's been released showing a really interesting exchange between the protesters. What do you have on that?
WATSON: Absolutely. And, of course, we can't report on the ground in Iran. Much of the foreign media is blocked out because of these draconian restrictions. So when we want to try to get a sense what has happened, and have not heard of any real protests over the last 48 hours, this offers a window into what was going on over the course of these historic demonstrations when people of the streets rose up and demanded that their voices be heard.
This is interesting because we see some demonstrators wearing the green color, the green wave of Mir Hossein Mousavi, one of the opposition candidates who has accused the government of cheating. They're trying to defend the riot police from the demonstrators. Very interesting, especially given that at least 17 people were killed in these clashes over the course of the past 12 days -- Betty?
NGUYEN: All right. Ivan Watson joining us live from the Iran desk here in the CNN NEWSROOM. Thank you for that.
HOLMES: I'm going to turn to our Reynolds Wolf now. Severe weather center over there. Sometimes we think of severe weather, we're usually just thinking storms and violent storms. But the heat can be severe weather as well.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. It's the kind of thing you don't see but you feel. Unless you're stepping outside, you look up at the monitor up on the bank, you can see the temperatures getting into the triple digits.
That can happen in places like Dallas, perhaps over in Memphis, even Houston, expecting a high of 98 degrees. Don't be surprised if some of the surrounding areas in Houston may deal with temperatures going up to the triple digits, 102 in Dallas, 97 in Kansas City.
Chicago, 87 degrees by Wrigley Field. Cooler in Boston, 72 degrees. And Berkshires back to Fenway Park look for low clouds and scattered showers in the picture.
Farther back out west a chance of severe storms across the show me state of Missouri and back into parts of, say, Oklahoma even Kansas by the late-day hours and the northern plains storms possible there also.
High pressure the feature out in the west across places like the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, perfect for you out there by geyser field. Temperatures fantastic for you and conditions in southern California very nice and highs in the 70s and 80s for L.A.
Meanwhile, water temperatures in parts of the Caribbean getting very high into the 80s in spots. Also seeing development here. Notice deep connections popping up on this imagery, infrared satellite imagery. Not a tropical storm or tropical depression, certainly not a hurricane.
But there is a chance over the next 12 to 24 to 48 hours as the system marches to the north, once it moves into the gulf of Mexico, this could become bigger, possibly the first named storm of the Atlantic season. Watch it for you carefully.
Back to you guys.
NGUYEN: All right, Reynolds. We've been enjoying watching you work that magic wall of yours.
WOLF: It's a magical thing. Abracadabra.
NGUYEN: All right, thank you.
You know, she is giving minority entrepreneurs and single moms the tools and the confidence they need to build a successful business. And that's why Ethiopia native Alfa Demmellash is a "CNN hero."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is "CNN Heroes."
ALFA DEMMELLASH, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: I was born and raised in Ethiopia. My mom was subject of a brutal dictatorship. To save up for me to come to America she started making these beautiful gowns as a way to make extra money and money.
Entrepreneurs, they are at the very heart of what the American dream is all about.
My name is Alfa Demmellash, and I cofounded an organization that provides business education to women and minority entrepreneurs like my mom who believe in your dreams and what makes that possible.
We launched a school so that people could go in and really work on the hands-on management side of their business.
We focus on providing people quality coaching so that they can take their product and sell it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was thinking about clothing, but once I started taking the classes, I found that the fire came back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To know that I can go out in this world and sell clothes is crazy because I would never had that insight before.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They put hope back into the community. Now I'll be able to send my kids to college.
DEMMELLASH: We believe in you, that you are at the beginning of the journey. This is really for us a place where the American dream can be realized.
The ability to become self-reliant, the ability to have economic hope, that is the fabric of this country. This is something that speaks to people's dreams. We have to fight for it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And you can learn more about Alfa Demmellash and her project at CNN.com/heroes. And let us know if you know someone who is doing something extraordinary. All of our here come from people just like you who nominate them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, North Korea is sending out a warning to Japan. Pyongyang threatened to shoot down any Japanese plane that invades their airspace.
North Korea's air force accuses Japan of using surveillance aircraft to spy on missile launch sites. The north also designated a non-sail zone around their east coast between now and July 10th, raising concerns that it might test-fire a short or mid-range missile soon.
HOLMES: President Obama is calling the actions by Iran's hard- line leaders "outrageous." Meanwhile, Iran's president is calling on President Obama to butt out.
Elaine Quijano joins us now live from Washington this morning. Elaine, good morning. Fair sow say slowly but surely President Obama's talk is getting tougher?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely, T.J. And you mentioned the word "outrageous" there. Despite some harsh rhetoric from Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President Obama is still holding that regime responsible for the violence against protesters of Iran's disputed election.
The president made that very clear during an appearance yesterday in the Oval Office with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The violence perpetrated against them is outrageous. Despite the government's efforts to keep the world from bearing witness to that violence, we see it, and we condemn it.
As I've said before, the Iranian people will be the ultimate judge of their government's actions. But if the Iranian government desires the respect of the international community, then it must respect the rights and heed the will of its people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: President Obama there appearing with Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor. Now, as he has done before, President Obama, though, did not go so far as to say that he did not believe, basically, the outcome of Iran's disputed elections.
T.J., as you know, this is president who has been trying to walk that very fine line between denouncing the violence by the Iranian regime, and then also not being seen as somehow interfering with Iran's internal affairs.
HOLMES: But as we said, that talk seems to be getting a little tougher. Not as fast as some would like, but still getting a little tougher.
Well, he's trying to manage things all around the world, still has a lot to manage right here at home. And a bit of a win for the president this week on clean energy?
QUIJANO: That's right. A huge political victory, although a narrow one when it comes to the votes. We're talking about the House yesterday passing the climate bill, passing by just seven votes.
Now, besides health care, this is really a key part of President Obama's domestic agenda. And basically this centers on the idea of making it more expensive for power companies to produce electricity from burning fossil fuel.
Here's the president in his radio address today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Instead of increasing the deficit, it's paid for by polluters who currently emit dangerous carbon emissions. It provides assistance to businesses and families as they make the gradual transition to clean energy technologies.
It gives rural communities and farmers the opportunity to participate in climate solutions and generate new income. And above all it will protect consumers from the costs of this transition so that in a decade the price to the average American will be just about a postage stamp a day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: So President Obama there in his weekly web address trying to make the case that energy legislation is something that basically needs to be done now. But, also, he believes there are ways to mitigate the cost for consumers.
You know, opponents, T.J. they say that's really not the case. Then say these power companies are just going to pass along their own increased costs to consumers so that people like you and me will be paying the price. This debate really is just going to heat up over the months ahead, T.J., because the president wants a bill on his desk before the end of the year -- T.J.?
HOLMES: We will -- he'll take it as he can get it. Seven votes, but he'll take the slim victory. It continues, though. Elaine Quijano, thank you so much, from Washington this morning.
QUIJANO: Sure.
NGUYEN: Another story that we are following very closely, of course, is that of Michael Jackson. He was on the verge of another comeback before his death, and his last one was, what, back in the 1990s. We'll talk to a man who was behind a 1993 Jackson production that actually put him back in the spotlight.
HOLMES: Also, Michael Jackson, you'll hear from him in a moment, in his own words.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL JACKSON, SINGER: The children are our future, and without them mankind will become extinct. I would do my schooling for three hours with the tutor, and right after that I'd go to the recording studio and record. And I would record for hours and hours until it was time to go to sleep. So it'd be nighttime.
And I remember going to the recording studio, and there was a park across the street. And I'd see all the children playing, and they'd be rooting and making noise, and I would cry. It would make me sad that I would have to go and work instead.
Oh, there's a lot of is sadness about my past life and adolescence, and my father, and all of those things. It just made me very, very, very sad. OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: So he would tease you, make fun of you?
JACKSON: Yes.
WINFREY: Did he ever beat you?
JACKSON: Yes.
WINFREY: He did?
JACKSON: Yes.
WINFREY: And that was difficult to take, getting beaten and going on stage and performing?
JACKSON: Yes.
WINFREY: And why would he beat you?
JACKSON: Because he -- he saw me -- he wanted me to -- I guess, maybe, I don't know if I was his golden child or whatever it was. Some may call him a strict disciplinarian, or whatever, but he was very strict, very hard, and very stern. Just a look would scare you.
WINFREY: Were you scared of him?
JACKSON: Very frightened. There's been times he would come to see me and I would get sick. I would start to regurgitate.
WINFREY: As a child or as an adult?
JACKSON: Both.
WINFREY: Both.
JACKSON: He's never heard me say this. I'm sorry. Please, don't be mad at me.
Just think, nobody thought this would last.
(APPLAUSE)
JACKSON: If you really want to know about me, there's a song I wrote, which the most honest song I've ever written. It's the most honest biographical song I've ever written. It's called "Childhood." You should listen to it. That's the one you really should listen to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, you just heard Michael in his own words. And back in 1993, the reclusive star poured his heart out to Oprah Winfrey. John Watkin, in fact, the man who set up that 90 minute interview joins me now live from Los Angeles with some really extraordinary stories to share with us. The first thing I want to ask you, John, is what was it like to meet Michael Jackson? As you were setting that up, trying to do that interview and get it, know, put together, what was it like meeting Michael Jackson, the man, behind the camera?
JOHN WATKIN, OWNER, PLANET GRANDE: Well, you know, the first thing I remember when we went out there, the first thing we did is, we went out to shoot promos with him out at Neverland.
And I remember him walking towards me, and he was this icon. You know, this image that we'd all seen so many times. And then as he walked towards me, I remember shaking his hand, and his hand was kind of clammy and sweaty, and I suddenly realized there was a real person behind the mask.
NGUYEN: And what was that real person like? You've described him as kind of Peter Pan-like.
WATKIN: Everybody knows about Neverland. When you go there, it was -- there was little piped flute music coming out of every rock. And he really -- he was like a Peter Pan figure.
In fact, when we were there, he was being followed around by a gaggle of kids who would follow him around everywhere, taking him -- and they'd follow him around the grounds and, of course, up to the amusement park, which was an extraordinary thing sow see, just being followed around by this little group of kids and jumping on the rides and having fun.
NGUYEN: It had to be odd to see a man grasping for his childhood, though a man of extraordinary fame, extraordinary talent, at the same time very savvy in the business, but still searching for something seemed like he could never find.
WATKIN: Yes. You know, he -- I mean, as we were working on that Oprah special, we got to see an enormous amount of footage of him. The Michael Jackson library is hugely extensive. I think every single television appearance he ever made with himself and with the Jackson 5 is in that library.
And we got to see an enormous amount of material nobody had ever seen before. And there were lots of signs about how, I think, how difficult stardom was for him. He was such a natural performer, but he gave up so much, so much as a childhood to be in the spotlight.
NGUYEN: And I'm reading here too, you have a personal theory after meeting him why Michael Jackson turned out the way he did, how his life made a difficult and different turn of events. And when you look at him as a little boy and how he was on stage and really studying the business, and the man that Michael Jackson became.
WATKIN: Well, the thing that I noticed is that he was absolutely beautiful as a child. He was just spectacularly gorgeous looking little boy, you know, the footage of him at five-years-old in the Motown auditions, his first television appearances. And then I think as adolescence hit, he went into a classic kind of gawky teen phase, but it was very pronounced to him. And there is footage of him, I guess it's around 13 or 14, where you can see his nose has begun to change shape, his skin having issues and having problems.
And I just thought how at the time how traumatic that must have been for him to have made this very sudden transition from this beautiful little kid to the kind of gawky, unattractive teenager.
And the theory we all discussed back when we were doing the show is that in many ways this was the sort of the -- this was the tripping point for him. He didn't want to grow up. He didn't want to become this -- he didn't like what he was seeing in the mirror.
So he started to change all that. As soon as he could, he changed the shape of his nose. As soon as he could, he changed the texture of his skin. And I think when you have all of that money and nobody saying no to you, you can do anything you want. And I think he said I'm not going to grow up. I'm going stay as Peter Pan forever.
NGUYEN: All right, John Watkin, sharing some of your memories of Michael Jackson as you met him during that shoot there with Oprah Winfrey. Thanks so much for your time and insight today. We do appreciate it.
WATKIN: Thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, Troy Davis does remains on death row waiting, wondering if the highest court in the land will step in and hear his case after decades of hearings, recanted testimony, questions surrounding the murder of a Georgia police officer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Almost 20 years I've been trying to get somebody to listen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, we are listening this morning, and this lady's going to be here doing the talking. Good morning to you. We're going to be talking to you right after the break. This is Troy Davis' sister.
Your nephew will be along as well, a nephew many people might not realize that your brother, even from death row, has played a major role in that young man's life. We're talking to them both right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, a death row inmate is almost out of time. We're talking about Troy Davis. He has been on death row some 18 years, and he may be getting his final shot now. The Supreme Court is taking up his case, or deciding whether or not they want to take up his case. And we could hear from them on Monday. Meanwhile, let's get you caught up on the case now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do we want?
CROWD: Justice!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When do we want it?
CROWD: Now!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am.
CROWD: Troy Davis.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are.
CROWD: Troy Davis.
REP. JOHN LEWIS, (D) GEORGIA: I said it before, and I'm convinced more than ever before that he is an innocent man.
HOLMES: But for 18 years the courts ruled otherwise, upholding Troy Davis' death penalty sentence. Now there may be only one step left for the convicted cop killer, the U.S. Supreme Court.
BEN JEALOUS, NAACP PRESIDENT: We have dealt with the case in Georgia, Troy Davis a man who appears to be stone cold innocent that this country is still willing to put to death on procedural grounds.
HOLMES: Davis landed on Georgia's death row for shooting off- duty Savannah police officer Mark McPhail. News crews and witnesses seemed abundant that night in August of 1989.
This footage shows a fellow police officer doing CPR on McPhail in the back of an ambulance. Yet after the trial, seven of the prosecution's nine key witnesses changed their story. Several claimed police forced them to name Davis. One of those witnesses is Monty Holmes.
MONTY HOLMES, WITNESS: They were trying to get me to say he did it. But he didn't do it.
HOLMES: Over the years, support for Davis has grown with the help of Amnesty International. Pope Benedict, Bishop Tutu, and former President Jimmy Carter have all called for a new trial.
Even former FBI Director William Sessions joined forces with other retired judges, justices, and prosecutors to ask the Supreme Court to send the case back.
But there are those who feel just as strongly that Davis is a cold-blooded killer. Savannah police major Edward Reagan headed the homicide investigation. He has not returned calls from CNN, but two years ago told us he stood by the arrest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no doubt in my mind we arrested the right person.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, after 18 years of court battles both sides of this case agree on one thing, that if the Supreme Court denies Davis's request for a new trial, he will likely face a speedy execution.
However, his sister, Martina Carreia, has heard that before, and fought long and hard to prove her brother's innocence. Also her son, which is Troy Davis' nephew Antone. There he is this morning, joining us from D.C.
And your mom let out a big old smile when she saw your face in D.C., because you're there on a young scholars program, Antone, certainly something you can be proud of.
But explain to our viewers, Antone, just what role your uncle has played in your life even as he has been on death row.
ANTONE CORREIA, TROY DAVIS' NEPHEW: Well, my uncle, he has played a great part in my life, because he has told me and shown me how the friends that you have, and they can sometimes think you're friends, but they can turn on you quick and fast in a hurry.
And he has also told me to stay in my books, saying as long as I keep up with my education that I'll go as far as I want. And he has said that, you know, just to keep reading, keep doing, keep my family, you know, happy. Just watch out for my grandmother and my mother, and everything's going to be all right.
HOLMES: Martina, let me bring you in here. It sounds like your son is speaking, you know, hearing him there, he is talking about all of these things that any uncle, anybody in your family, any father would do, no matter ...
MARTINA CORREIA, TROY DAVIS' SISTER: Yes.
HOLMES: And this is happening at death row. But still, it doesn't sound like death row has gotten in the way of him getting the lessons from this family member.
M. CORREIA: No. When we go and visit Troy, he wants to know how my son is doing, his education. He wants to see his progress reports, report cards. If he's talking in class or something, he gives him tough love, and discipline. But he always tells him that family comes first, but your education can take you around the world.
HOLMES: And Antone, I know your uncle since you've been born -- you're 15. He's been own death row for 18 years. So this is all of have known of him. So how do you essentially, in a lot of ways, or can you even block it out in way and see him and look up to him as your uncle? A. CORREIA: Well, I mean, like my uncle always told me he will be out of jail. He will come out of jail sometime soon. Just keep praying for him. And even though he's in jail, that's not blocking me from knowing -- trying to get to know my uncle. I still love him to death and everything, but the jail thing is just another place where he is, just a good distance from where I live.
So as long as we can travel there and see him, I will be OK. It's not anything that hurts me or harms me, keeping me from loving him or nothing like that. It's just another place that he's in and I'm not.
HOLMES: And certainly you two are hoping for a good outcome on Monday, a decision from the Supreme Court. I'll share here your brother, of course, was convicted in the murder of Savannah police officer. That officer killed back in 1989.
That officer's mother says, I'll put a quote up for viewers here, saying "All the evidence and everything brought out then proved him guilty. But after 20 years of your yelling, Troy Davis yelling I'm not guilty, he is convinced. I am convinced he is."
You have been with this case. You've been down this road three times with your brother, essentially thinking you were saying good-bye to him. Even if the Supreme Court doesn't take up the case, you're not done yet?
M. CORREIA: No. And my heart goes out to the family. But we worked just as hard for them as we do for Troy. And when you have a case with no physical evidence, no DNA, nothing linking you to the crime but nine eyewitnesses, and seven recanted, and nine new witnesses, you have to fight.
And, you know, it's not that we've been just yelling about it. We have the documentation to prove it. But they're trying to execute Troy based on procedure and technicality, not base and innocence and facts of the case. And all we've been asking for is a hearing to review this new evidence.
HOLMES: And I'm going to wrap it up here. Antone with you, finally, tell me what your thoughts are going into -- I mean, you've been around this case plenty enough in your life that you know exactly what's happening here. So your thoughts on what's coming up on Monday and going forward with your uncle?
A. CORREIA: My thoughts for Monday, you know, I'm just going to keep praying, hope that the Supreme Court takes the case, doesn't deny the case. And my uncle has faced death row -- execution three times. And you now, I'm not hoping for the worst, and I'm not -- I just want to hope for the best. So I'm not nervous or anything. I hope everything's going to be all right. And if it doesn't I know my uncle still loves me.
HOLMES: You know what, Antone, I'm so glad we could get you on this morning. I look forward to meeting you at some point. And for our audience, ladies and gentlemen, this is a straight A student we're looking at here, and he is in D.C., like I said, not here in the studio, because he's there on program for young scholars, and that young man wants to one day find a cure for cancer.
Antone, we are expecting big things from you, young fellow. So enjoy your time up there, stay out of trouble, and we'll see you.
A. CORREIA: I will, thank you.
HOLMES: And Martina, thank you as well. You've got obviously a good boy, and everybody can see it. So thank you so much, and we'll be following the case on Monday.
M. CORREIA: Thank you so much.
HOLMES: All right -- Betty?
NGUYEN: Very well spoken.
Reflecting on a legend -- close friends are sharing personal stories about Michael Jackson, including singer Tony Orlando, who met the reclusive star when he was just 12 years old.
But before we get to that, we wanted to give a chance to revisit one of Michael Jackson's greatest projects, "We are the World." The U.S. Aid for Africa charity raised millions of dollars and gave us all a chance to impact our world. And the idea lives on. Just go to CNN.com and click on "impact" for more. There you can find a link to U.S. Aid for Africa. The clips from "We are the World" as well are on that site. That's CNN.com/impact.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Singer Tony Orlando was another longtime friend of Michael Jackson. And Orlando says the two actually met when he was only 12 years old, and he had happier recollections of Michael Jackson.
NGUYEN: In fact, we talked with Tony Orlando by phone earlier this morning to get some of his memories.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: What do you think of Michael Jackson the man as he grew up? And the friendship that both of you had, how did that grow?
TONY ORLANDO, SINGER (via telephone): Well, the thing that amazed me about Michael was that it was a very interesting kind of change in him that when we was 12 years old he was a very mature 12 years old. He was almost a boy-man. Then as he approached his adult years, it reversed. He became a man-child.
NGUYEN: Why was that, do you think?
ORLANDO: I just think that Michael missed his childhood. We've heard this time and time again, you know. But I think that Michael very much related to Disney, to Peter Pan, to the flight, to children. NGUYEN: Was it escapism?
ORLANDO: Well, I think it was less escapism and more trying to live something that you and I and most of us take for granted, and that is just our everyday childhood. I think that he wanted very much to be that little boy. And as he got older it became more important to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Orlando says one of Jackson's hit songs "We are the World" was ahead of his time. He says the spirit of that song is what is needed right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, it was most likely the biggest Internet event in history. So many people flocked to the web that major Web sites actually crashed.
HOLMES: Yes. Josh Levs is taking a look at some of that stuff for us. Morning to you again, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you guys. I've never seen anything like this. It's incredible. Main story, CNN.com, a huge spread on it. I've never seen anything like that for any one entertainer.
Check out this headline we have -- "Jackson dies, almost takes Internet with him." And we explain down here, this is one artist rendering about how Twitter shut down. I can click on another picture here that shows you from Google trend. Look at that. They're calling it volcanic what happened there.
I have some graphics here. I want to talk you through the big sites that were affected. Go to the first one right here, which is Google News, one of the main places online people get their news. It was inaccessible for more than half hour, because there so many people searching for Michael Jackson news, some computer systems thought it might have been a spam attack.
The next one now, TMZ, first place that reported this online, they had outages for a while. You also had Twitter crashing. A lot of people couldn't get ton to Twitter that wanted to tweet about it. Next Wikipedia got overloaded, so many people trying to get into that page on Michael Jackson and learn or change it.
Then "Los Angeles Times," the first news organization to confirm the death, they had outages as well. And finally AOL Instant Messenger, AIM, they had outages as well, people who wanted to communicate about it.
And this CNN.com statistic, this is really interesting. Their traffic over here, on CNN, jumped fivefold in the hours after that was announced, and 20 million page views in one hour. We haven't seen anything like that. It was a massive Internet explosion at that moment, and obviously pate of people getting information.
Since then we keep learning more and more, and it's all right here, CNN.com, guys.
NGUYEN: All right Josh, we do appreciate it.
LEVS: Thank guys.
HOLMES: Good morning, everybody. It's 11:00 at the CNN center in Atlanta, Georgia, where we sit. Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Yes, hello everybody. And I'm Betty Nguyen.
It's 8:00 in Los Angeles, where the story does continue to be told right here. We continue to follow it, and especially the investigation into the untimely death of Michael Jackson. There is no word of funeral arrangements just yet, but Jackson's body is now at an undisclosed mortuary.
And the big question is still this, how did he die? The coroner has ordered more tests, and CNN the Susan Roesgen is outside his office in L.A. What is the coroner looking for specifically, toxicology tests?
