Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Death Sentence in Connecticut for Stephen Hayes; Strengthening Ties With India; Retailers Hiring 600,000 Temps; Meet the 'Hug Lady'

Aired November 08, 2010 - 11:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. Live from Studio 7 at CNN world headquarters, the news and information you need for Monday, November 8th.

President Obama in India, focusing on jobs for out-of-work Americans. He is focusing, too, on the new sanctions on Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We can make it clear that even as every nation has the right to peaceful nuclear energy, every nation must also meet its international obligations, and that includes the Islamic Republic of Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Stranded Qantas passengers hope to fly out of Los Angeles today. The airline says oil leaks will keep its super jumbos grounded for another three days.

And she is a sucker for a man in uniform. A USO volunteer who is always at the airport with hugs for America's war heroes.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.

Those stories and your comments right here, right now in the CNN NEWSROOM.

A story happening now, a news conference by the NAACP live this hour from Douglasville, Georgia. The organization will discuss the beating death of 18-year-old Bobby Tillman this weekend.

Four Georgia teenagers were in court last hour to face murder charges. One suspect reportedly boasted he'd beat the next person who walked in the door. It happened at a party in suburban Atlanta. Fifty-seven people -- 57 -- stood by and did nothing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One fellow fell on the ground. Another fellow kicked him. But there was a whole lot of kids around them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The sheriff says no drugs or alcohol were involved. We are going to bring you more on this horrific case when Douglas County Sheriff Joe Miller joins me next hour.

Today, a jury in Connecticut picks up with the penalty phase in a horrific murder trial. Jurors deliberated through the weekend trying to decide whether Steven Hayes should get the death penalty or life in prison. The same jury convicted Hayes of killing a mother and her two daughters in a brutal 2007 home invasion.

We are updating the case in today's edition of "Sunny's Law." Sunny Hostin from "In Session," on our sister network, truTV, is in New Haven.

And it's fairly chilly there, Sunny. We won't keep you long. But we just want to get an update on the trial and the jury deliberations right now.

How long has this jury been out deliberating?

SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION" ON TRUTV: The jury has been out deliberating almost 17 hours, Tony. Yesterday, they stopped at around 4:15. They indicated to the judge that they had enough and they wanted to come back today for day four. So it's been four days and almost 17 hours.

HARRIS: Yes. Sunny, can you give us an indication as to why this is taking so long? And are you surprised that it's taking this long?

HOSTIN: I am not surprised that it's taking this long. I think a lot of people thought that this evidence was so overwhelming, this crime was so heinous, so cruel, so depraved, that there was no question that Steven Hayes would get the death penalty. But there are six capital counts that this jury has to discuss, has to talk about.

And so, of course I'm not surprised that it is taking this long. It's windy out here, but it certainly is hot in the courtroom, Tony.

I will tell you, these jurors today look spent. They look tired. They're exhausted. There are no smiles in the courtroom today.

HARRIS: OK, Sunny. We're going to let you run. Boy, you're about to get tossed around out there.

Sunny Hostin for us in New Haven, Connecticut.

Sunny, appreciate it. Thank you.

She was snatched from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Eight years later, Elizabeth Smart is set to face her accused kidnapper in court. The trial of Brian David Mitchell resumes today in Salt Lake City. A judge rejected a defense request to move the proceedings out of Utah. Smart is scheduled to testify in detail this week about her ordeal during nine months of captivity.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's get to a quick market check here.

The markets have been open for just a little past 90 minutes? So how is the day progressing so far? It's not a good number.

We are down in negative territory, as you can see for yourself here. We're down 68 points.

And Roger, you just mentioned that the Nasdaq is down, what, 6? Down 6. OK.

Here's what we're going to do for you. We do it for you every day here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We will keep you posted on those numbers throughout the day.

So, retailers ramping up hiring for the holiday season. The CNN Money team has "Top Tips" for you that you need to get one of those jobs.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The U.S. standing shoulder to shoulder with India. That's the vision outlined by President Obama today in a speech to India's parliament.

CNN's Dan Lothian is traveling with the president in New Delhi.

Dan, good to see you.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, Tony.

HARRIS: Any takeaways from the president's remarks?

LOTHIAN: Well, two things. First of all, you heard the president announce that the U.S. was endorsing India to have a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. That was fully expected. It was what India really wanted.

It gives them a standing in the world community and gives them the opportunity to be involved in major decision-makings on the world stage. And this is obviously a country that the United States is looking to the future, a place where you can expand trade and ultimately create jobs back at home. That's the second part of what president was talking about today, this partnership, this growing partnership between the U.S. and India.

We've already heard billions of dollars in deals already announced, including the 10 C-17 military aircraft that India will be buying. So it really is, you know, this growing market here for U.S. goods that, ultimately, as the president is pointing out, will create those jobs at home.

HARRIS: So, Dan, I understand there were some, shall we say, tense moments with the media trying to get into one of the president's meetings. A lot of folks watching will probably say, good, but maybe you could tell us what happened. LOTHIAN: That's right. Well, first of all, it was for the president's -- this press conference between the president and Prime Minister Singh.

It took me a while to get in because I had to go through about six different checkpoints to get in there, but for one of the bilat (ph) meetings, the press pool that was following the president into the meeting were being kept out by security. There was some pushing, there was some shoving. At one point, White house spokesman Robert Gibbs had to put his foot in the door and threaten to pull the president out of the bilat (ph) if U.S. reporters were not allowed to go in. In the end, they were allowed to go in -- Tony.

HARRIS: Oh, boy. A scrum in New Delhi. All right.

LOTHIAN: That's right.

HARRIS: Dan, good to see you. Appreciate it. Yes, the gaggle takes on new meaning.

All right. Thank you, Dan.

A twinkle of Christmas optimism to tell you about. One survey says the holiday season will be the best for temporary workers since 2007.

The CNN Money team's Christine Romans all over the story with "Top Tips" for us.

Christine, good to see you. Tell us who is hiring, first of all.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Tony.

Well, retailers like just about everyone you can think of at the mall expected to add about 600,000 jobs. The outplacement from Challenger, Gray & Christmas gives us this tally.

That's up from last year, way up from 2008. Look it, Tony. Remember 2008 and 2009? The retailers were not so sure that the outlook was going to be so good. But the retail outlet looking a little better right now.

Think beyond the mall, though. Charles Purdy is the senior editor at Monster HotJobs, and he recommends looking to temp agencies who may need workers in a variety of industries to cover for employees who are on holiday vacations. He also recommends looking into catering companies, restaurants, delivery companies.

You know, UPS is hiring. They tend to get busy at this time of year.

Keep in mind, you're going to have work Black Friday and you might have to work Christmas Eve. So, for God's sake, Tony, don't go in there and say, "I would like a temporary job but I don't want to work Black Friday." You're not going to get the job.

HARRIS: Yes. If folks have been paying attention to your tips, that's not the approach. If you are out there looking, how can you snag one of these holiday gigs?

ROMANS: First of all, look right now. Right now is when you need to start looking. Even if you don't have experience in retail or customer service, you need to tweak your resume right now, highlight your ability to deal with people or stressful situations. Hit the mall with a stack of resumes in your hand.

Here's the key, Tony. Again and again, the employment experts tell me you must apply in person. It's often the person that's standing right in front of you, the hiring manager, is the one who gets that job.

So they're looking right now. You happen to walk in with a resume and you're able to say, look, customer service is key for me, this is how I have done it before, boom, right there you might be hired.

HARRIS: That is terrific stuff. OK, Christine. Let's do this -- let's have you right back after the break here.

ROMANS: Sure. I've got more.

HARRIS: And when you talk to you again, tell us how to make some of those temporary jobs permanent.

Let's do this -- let's take a quick break.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

ROMANS: OK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. Christine Romans is back with us now.

Christine, before the break, we promised folks that you would tell all of us how to make that seasonal job permanent. At least give us the best shot at doing this. Where do we start?

ROMANS: All right. Do the best job you can every single day. Don't burn any bridges. Because according to a recent CareerBuilder survey, Tony, 40 percent of employers who are hiring seasonal workers say they are going to likely transition some of those people into full-time work.

You want that full-time work to come out of the holiday job. Right?

HARRIS: Absolutely.

ROMANS: So, if you want to parlay into a full-time position, Charles Purdy of Monster HotJobs says you need to show you're serious about the job from the very beginning. Be reliable, willing to work overtime.

The holidays are busy for all kinds of businesses. You've got to stand out that you are willing to go above and beyond. If you're working in a high-stress environment, you have got to keep your cool, keep customers happy, show results. That will make you a valued employee.

And if you don't land a full-time job immediately after the holidays, guess what? Don't lose touch with the manager or with the HR director. Let them know that you're available to come back for special events in the future, that you're interested in another position.

You never know when that work is going to become available down the road, Tony. Do not burn bridges.

And you know what? This is something else. The minute you get the temporary job, say, "And listen, if this works out for you and works out for me, I would really love to be considered for a full-time position down the road." Make it very clear from the get-go that you are willing to stick around.

HARRIS: That is so smart. Oh, wow, a perfect segue to your new book, "Smart is the New Rich." You're selling some copies of that book, aren't you? Say yes.

ROMANS: I'm selling a few of them, Tony.

HARRIS: Say yes.

ROMANS: What chapter are you on right now? Tell me.

HARRIS: You know what? Because I've got a strange living situation, I just got the book that you sent me in the mail like three days ago. So I'm just getting started. It's a strange story that I'll share with you.

ROMANS: You can tell me later off line.

HARRIS: I will.

ROMANS: OK. Thanks, Tony.

HARRIS: Christine, appreciate it. See you next hour. Thank you.

(NEWSBREAK)

HARRIS: You know, Americans aren't getting nearly enough sleep. We've heard that time and time again, right? But we didn't realize it was quite this bad.

A new study finds -- this is where you come in, so wake up. Hello? Forty percent of Americans admit they've fallen asleep during -- ready? -- A, sex; B, driving; or C, work?

The answer in 75 seconds. Don't go to sleep!

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So, the question we asked you before the break was this: What activity do 40 percent of Americans admit they have fallen asleep on?

A is sex. Have you fallen asleep during sex? You can tell me. B, driving, or, C, work?

The answer is -- wait for it, wait for it -- yes, driving. Forty percent of Americans tell AAA they have fallen asleep behind the wheel at some point.

Here we go: tweets, posts, videos. We're online just as you are looking for the best of the best, right? D.D., Derek Dodge, with a look at what's trending right now.

Here's the thing, Derek. I want to know what's trending, the hottest, list toppers. All right? So if we're going to do this and make it work -- and we are, right?

DEREK DODGE, CNN DIGITAL PRODUCER: We are.

HARRIS: I need the hottest of at the moment it's happening. Can you give me that?

DODGE: I got you. So, right now, Conan returns is a trending story.

HARRIS: Well, we love this story. Yes. Yes. He's our guy now.

DODGE: He's our guy. The show starts tonight, 11:00 p.m. on TBS.

HARRIS: Right. Right. After George Lopez.

DODGE: After George Lopez.

I thought this was interesting. He sent out a tweet last night.

HARRIS: Look at him.

DODGE: About -- you know the Fail Whale on Twitter, so when Twitter goes down? Unfortunately, we all see the Fail Whale. It's not something you want to see, but the artist who created this created a Conan version.

HARRIS: Right?

DODGE: So, check out the Conan Fail Whale in honor of Conan returns tonight on TBS.

HARRIS: OK. Is this it? OK.

DODGE: Pretty cool, huh?

HARRIS: Yes. Look at that.

DODGE: OK. There's another story I want to talk about.

HARRIS: All right.

DODGE: It's the most shared story on Facebook. It has to do with the pope.

OK. So the pope is in Spain. He is consecrating (INAUDIBLE). And he supposedly was speaking out against the Spanish laws for gay marriage and supporting abortions, legal abortions, that sort of thing.

So, anyway, a whole bunch of people, about 200 or so, lined up to stage a gay kiss-in along the pope's route. So you see the Pope Mobile.

HARRIS: Yes. Yes.

DODGE: And some people are demonstrating in front. Now, they're saying tens of thousands of people showed up to support the pope, and about 200 or so gay activists showed up to protest.

HARRIS: Now, that's one of the hot stories trending right now on Facebook right now?

DODGE: Facebook. The most shared story on Facebook.

HARRIS: OK. Terrific. That's a hot start. OK?

DODGE: Yes.

HARRIS: Are you with me again next hour?

DODGE: I think I am.

HARRIS: Derek Dodge, appreciate it, sir.

The day's best videos coming up next.

A trick play of epic proportions. Have you seen this yet? A quarterback walks past the defensive line to score.

We're back in a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: All right. Let's take a break. We're back in a moment.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK, this just in. We're learning there's a decision, a verdict, in Connecticut, in the penalty phase of the horrific murder trial. Jurors deliberated through the weekend trying to decide whether Stephen Hayes should get the death penalty or life in prison we. We understand the jury has made a decision and now there's this period of time when everyone has to be brought into the courtroom. The judge has to bring everybody back and the jury will come back and we will learn that decision. As you know, the same jury convicted Hayes of killing a mother and her two daughters in a brutal home invasion in 2007. We're going to try to raise our Sunny Hostin as soon as we get some information as to what that decision is. Again, the Connecticut jury is back with the decision in the penalty phase here, trying to decide life or death for Stephen Hayes. More on that as soon as we get it.

To politics now. The timing of a new book is raising eyebrows about the presidential race. Paul Steinhauser, part of the Best Political Team on Television, joining us live from the political desk in Washington.

And Paul, good to see you. What's crossing right now?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, Tony, lets' talk about that. A book co-authored, out today, by Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker. He is somebody we're thinking may want to run for the next Republican presidential nomination. The book is called "Valley Forge," sounds like maybe it's an ode to the Tea Party movement because its' about George Washington and a tough winter that he and the Continental Army spent in 1777. Brand new book out today, and we're looking also at where the former House speaker will be on the book tour. Tony, three stops next week, in Iowa on the book tour. Of course, Iowa, very, very important in that road to the White House. The caucuses there, of course, start the kickoff, the presidential primary season.

Hey, Dave Jenkins (ph), our cameraman, zoom right in here. I want to show you this, as well, Tony. Talking about 2012, but not the battle for the White House, the battle for the Senate. The Tea Party Express has a warning to some Republican senators -- 10 of them are up in 2012. That's not a lot -- more Democrats are up than Republicans. But 10 are up and the Tea Party Express are telling some who those they may consider too moderate, watch out, we're keeping our eyes on you. The Tea Party Express, of course, was very instrumental in knocking out Senator Bennet of Utah, and Senator Murkowski of Alaska. Two incumbent Republican senators in the primary process. So the Tea Party is saying, we're keeping our eyes on you. If you negotiate too much with Democrats, if you're not conservative enough, well, watch out. Tea Party Express, of course, pretty influential this year in this primary process.

Tony, one other thing. We're talking about 2012. Let's move right back to 2010. The election hasn't been over a week but there are still some races unresolved. And let's start in Connecticut where on Friday, CNN called or projected that the Democrat up there, the Democrat in the gubernatorial contest, Dan Malloy, the Mayor of Stamford, we projected him the winner. But the Republican in the race has not conceded yet. Tom Foley's a former ambassador. He's got an announcement in an hour or two. We're going to keep our eyes on that one. We'll see if he concedes. There was some vote discrepancies in Bridgeport so we'll keep our eyes on that one, as well.

Another gubernatorial contest, this could go a while, Tony. And I'm talking about Minnesota, where they're going to a recount, most likely. That recount would start next week and go into December. So it could be a while in Minnesota.

And finally, Alaska, that three-way wild Senate race. They don't even count the write-in votes until Wednesday. And Wednesday's going to be very important because the write-in votes, Senator Lisa Murkowski, she is running as a write-in candidate.

HARRIS: That's right.

STEINHAUSER: So we're keeping our eyes on Alaska. Tony, we're going to be here for you until every election is over. I promise you that.

HARRIS: Love it. Paul, appreciate it. Thank you, sir.

Your next political update in an hour. And for the latest political news, you know where to go. That's CNNPolitics.com.

Once again, we have a decision by the jury in Connecticut. Stephen Hayes' fate is being decided by that jury. We're in the penalty phase right now and we understand that the jury will be back soon, certainly has reached a decision as to life or death for Stephen Hayes. We'll be back in just a moment with more information on this breaking news story. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Once again, we want to give you a quick update on what we're learning out of Connecticut. The jury trying to decide life or death for Stephen Hayes has reached a decision. Hayes, as you know, was found guilty by the same jury of murdering a mother and her two daughters brutally, horrifically in 2007. We understand from our sister network, TruTV "In Session" that Stephen Hayes has been sentenced to die, sentenced to death for this 2007 brutal home invasion and murder.

Let's listen in to "In Session" on our sister network.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: The Hawke family, the Petit family, they've all said they just wanted justice to be done. They wanted God's will to be done. And obviously the will of the people of Connecticut in this case is that Stephen Hayes be given the death penalty.

I am not surprised but this was a very thoughtful and insightful jury. They took a long time to come to this very hard decision. We know now he has been given the death penalty on one of the six capital felony counts. But I would imagine that we will hear the same thing for all of the rest because the count that he's been given the death penalty on is the fourth count, which means that that was for the two or more murders, so it was for all three murders. So given that fact, my sense is that he will be given the death penalty for each and every capital count here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. Mike Brooks, you've been watching this from the beginning with us. What do you think? Do you think it's going to be the same thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely. I totally agree with Sunny. If there ever was -- I've been saying this all along -- if there was ever a case where the death penalty case should be given, it is this case. I think the state of Connecticut also, because they were going to abolish the death penalty in the state.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This changed a lot of minds of the people in the state.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It changed a lot of minds. It really did. And should this come up for vote again, people are going to remember this trial. Could there be other cases like this ever? We hope never another case like this, but it could happen again. But still, the citizens of Connecticut most likely will vote the death penalty down. But they kept it in place for these two perpetrators.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You say two perpetrators and that's a good thing I wanted to point out. Josh Komisarjevsky trial comes up next year on this. And Stephen Hayes' defense attorneys really tried to paint him as a human being, as a follower, saying Joshua Komisarjevsky was the leader of this whole thing. He's the one that was so brutal. That Komisarjevsky is the one that was so malevolent. And they were trying to make the case that Stephen Hayes was just basically following his orders.

So you wonder, Mike and let me ask you. We've got a criminal defense attorney here with us now. What do you think this case might mean to Komarsarjefsky's case coming up. And, again, if you're just joining us, we understand here, death for Stephen Hayes in the killings of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, if I were the other co-defendant's council, I'd be on the phone with client's approval and say, can we get a guilty plea and get life sentences without parole. That's what I would try to do because the state has proven they can not only get a convict for the homicides and aggravated assults --

(END OF COVERAGE)

HARRIS: All right. Our sister network TruTv covering the decision by the jury in Connecticut, death for Stephen Hayes. As you recall, Stephen Hayes was found guilty a month ago of 16 of the 17 charges he faced against him -- nine counts of capital murder and four counts of kidnapping for killing Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48 years old, and her daughters, 17 yearly Hayley Petit and 11-year-old Michaela Petit. They died in that attack in the host horrific way imaginable. Stephen Hayes sentenced to death.

Let's take a break. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So this man doesn't even need an introduction. What's all that, oh, the big play? We branded the segment. Max, we've got a title for the segment. The Big Play. The game people play. How about that?

MAX KELLERMAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I love it. A branded segment. Tremendous.

HARRIS: Max Kellerman from HBO Sports joining us.

Max, let's focus. I've got to resist my desire to take a big, hard, hate-filled shot at the Cowboys for losing. But let's focus on the winners for a moment here from the weekend. In your mind, is Zenyatta a winner even though the miracle mare didn't win in her final start?

KELLERMAN: Yes. I mean, it's funny because the press creates a narrative and people get emotional attachments to athletes, in this case, horse. So almost what happens, they wind up a winner. Blame is the better horse, won the race, should be the horse of the year. But Zenyatta, and really just the entire narrative was so dramatic the way she continually fell behind and closed strong but here finished against another strong closer, so couldn't quite come back. Yes, she's the horse that the history will record it seems to me.

HARRIS: Yes. Narratives or athletes or in this case, a horse. You do believe that a horse is an athlete, don't you, Max Kellerman?

KELLERMAN: I don't know. I think of this sometimes. There must be a cheetah somewhere, right, running in the plains who's faster than the horse? So why isn't the cheetah an athlete?

But the funny thing about horses. You talk to horse experts, and I did today, and they'll tell you that some horses have an eye for the finish line and they know where it is, they have this competitive instinct that kicks in. And Zenyatta is almost universally considered one of those horses. She knew where the finish line was and really charged hard for it.

HARRIS: Now, let's switch gears here. The Chilean miner Edison Pena -- he seemed to take New York by storm. You're there. So what was that experience like? Did he, in fact, take the city by storm? I mean, first "Letterman," where he's singing and dancing and then finishing the marathon.

KELLERMAN: No doubt about it. I mean, this guy charmed, I think, the country from New York City. The "Letterman" -- getting up and singing Elvis, and then the marathon. And what's so interesting to me, Tony, is how something that should be considered physical torture is something that someone aspires to. It's all mind games, right? So he's trapped in this mine, running, preparing for a marathon, essentially. And then he finally gets out of this mine and it's really torturous conditions and he decides to run 26 miles. To me that would be physical torture. That might be worse than being trapped in a mine.

HARRIS: I'm running to every fast food restaurant I can find.

All right. And one final note here, this is just an appreciation here, Max, of the great Roger Federer, right? I love this guy. He won his 65th professional tournament yesterday in his home city right there in Switzerland, Basel, Switzerland. He's one ahead of the great Pete Sampras now for career wins.

What do you think of this guy who continues to beat the kids? A couple of bumps in the road, right? At an age and in a sport where to be, look, staring at 30 is like watching and waiting for your AARP card in the mailbox, right?

KELLERMAN: Yes. Other than gymnastics, I can't think of a popular sport -- although that tennis is not as popular as it once was in this country. But still, a mainstream sport like that where people are considered old -- athletes are considered old and actually their performance declined at such an early age. He's three ahead of Sampras in grand slams. And the only difference may be with Sampras is that his chief adversary Agassi, didn't real mature or come into his own until late in his career.

So Sampras had put enough distance between himself and his Joe Frazier to his Muhammad Ali, whereas Federer has Nadal, who's only a couple of years younger -- four or five years younger -- and Nadal is starting to make a case for himself. This is really interesting how it plays out and who is the considered the really -- the greatest of this this era between those two, I think.

HARRIS: Well, I will tell you what. That guy Federer is all class, all of the time. You're not bad yourself there, Max Kellerman.

Good to see you. See you later in the week?

KELLERMAN: Likewise, Mr. Tony.

HARRIS: All right, sir.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, some returning service members get parades. One woman thinks they deserve something a bit more personal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETTY ROSE BOWERS, "THE HUG LADY": I'm a sucker for a man in uniform and I hug them because I want them all to know that they're appreciated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: We take to you one of the world's busiest airports to meet the hug lady. That's next in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Veterans day is Thursday, and if you're flying into Atlanta, in uniform any day of the year, be warned, you're going to get a hug.

Our photojournalist William Walker (ph) takes us to meet the hug lady.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BETTY ROSE BOWERS, "THE HUG LADY": My name is Betty Rose Bowers and I'm at the Atlanta airport.

Welcome home. God bless you. Where are ya'll heading?

We welcome the troops as they are coming in for their two weeks of R&R.

Where are you coming from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Afghanistan.

BOWERS: They're coming in from Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq.

Welcome home. Where's home?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Alabama.

BOWERS: I've been told that I've been affectionately been called "The Hug Lady."

God bless you. Thank you.

I'm a sucker for a man in uniform and I hug them because I want them all to know that they're appreciated. Seeing a serviceperson see his child, his baby for the first time, probably just a matter of weeks old, little baby, and he got to see her for the first time. If that doesn't bring tears to your eyes, then you're pretty heartless.

That's worth all the pictures in the world, isn't it?

Having that father se his baby, that was great. It's unbelievable the feeling that it gives you. Or seeing a little girl see their mother or daddy and just run, I mean, just run into their arms.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm waiting on my son. He's coming home from Kabul.

Welcome home, Slate. Love you, love you.

BOWERS: Parents seeing their sons or daughters that they haven't seen for several months. I can't tell you how many times I have shed tears.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, thank you.

BOWERS: But good tears. Happy tears.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm happy he's here in one piece and safe and sound.

BOWERS: I have a grandson who's in the Army. I can't help but want to put my arms around these young people and I want them to know that they're cared about and that we're proud of them. And what they're doing, they're putting their lives out for us. You're welcoming them home. They deserve a hug.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: I've got to tell you, we will have more of these stories all week in the CNN NEWSROOM. And tune in Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern for a one-hour special. You can also visit CNN CNN.com/heroes.

We are getting ready to speak to Sheriff Phil Miller of Douglas County, Georgia. His department is investigating the beating death of a teenager while dozens of people allegedly stood by and did nothing.

Also next hour, a family of four missing nearly a week in the Pacific, found alive. You'll want to hear that story, next in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Death for Stephen Hayes, it is the sentence handed down moments ago in a horrific murder trial in Connecticut. The same jury convicted Hayes of killing a mother and her two daughters in a brutal home invasion in 2007.

Sunny Hostin from "In Session" on our sister network TruTV is in New Haven.

Sunny, first of all, my understanding is, correct me if I'm wrong may be the better way to start this, this need to be a unanimous decision by this jury, correct?

HOSTIN: That is right. It had to be unanimous not only on each and every of the six counts, Tony, but unanimous on every single step they had to go through. And they had to go through looking at four different steps. So this jury really came together in the I suppose 18 hours that they were deliberating on these verdicts.

HARRIS: Well, Sunny, I think we talked about this earlier, and I asked the question, were you surprised that it took that many horse hours to come to this verdict when you consider the evidence in this case? You weren't surprised. Tell us why.

HOSTIN: No, I was not surprised because the Supreme Court always says, Tony, that death is different. It's the ultimate punishment. Because of that, there are all these statutory safeguards that are in place before a jury determines that someone should be put to death. So they had a lot of work to do here. They had to look at non- statutory mitigating factors. (AUDIO GAP). They had to look at this crime all over again, decide whether or not it was heinous and depraved and cruel. And then they had to weigh the two together for each and every of the six counts. Because oftentimes when we hear about these death penalty cases, and they're only reviewing one count, or perhaps two counts. This jury was reviewing six capital counts. So they really had a lot of work to do.

HARRIS: And Sunny, looking forward here, there is one other trial still to come, correct?

HOSTIN: That is correct. That is the trial of Joshua Komisarjevsky. Apparently that is going to begin in January of 2011 The prosecution's theory here is that he was the ring leader, he was the more evil of the two. So, given that Stephen Hayes, who was allegedly the follower here, has been found guilty of all of these crimes and given death, it does not bode well for that case and that defendant and that defense.

HARRIS: OK. Sunny Hostin, boy, sorry, we can barely hear you.

One of the suggestions as we were with listening to our colleagues over at TruTv was that if you are that next defendant, maybe the thing you do after this decision by this jury is to call the prosecutors and try to strike a deal as quickly as possible. We'll see how that plays out.