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Suspected Militants Killed In Dagestan; U.S. Clinches First Olympic Gold Medal; Olympic Sponsors Back Equality For All; Woody Allen: "I Did Not Molest Dylan"; DNA Evidence Overturns Convictions; Olympics A Pinnacle For Putin; Ring Glitch Not Shown In Russia; Friends Testify In "Loud Music Trial"; Three Suspects Plead Not Guilty In Hoffman Case; MLK Children Fight Over His Bible And Nobel Prize

Aired February 08, 2014 - 12:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we have much more straight ahead in the NEWSROOM and it all gets to restart right now.

Hello again, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the top stories that we're following in the CNN NEWSROOM. Russia carries out a deadly raid in the shadows of the Sochi Olympic Games. The crackdown in Dagestan straight ahead.

And firing back, Woody Allen writes a column in "The New York Times" addressing allegations he sexually assaulted his adopted daughter. Hear his side of the story and his daughter's response straight ahead.

Plus, key testimony is underway right now in a murder trial that has made headlines across the country. A Florida man kills a teenager after getting into a fight over loud music being played from the car. Was it self-defense? Our legal guys weigh in this hour.

Russian forces aren't letting up on their intense security operations surrounding the Olympic Games. A Russian security source tells CNN Special Forces carried out a deadly raid in the Republic of Dagestan targeting a group of suspected militants.

Our Ian Lee joins us now live from Sochi. So Ian, what more are you learning about this operation?

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, five militants were killed in the operation and one person was captured. This is part of the militant group that was tied to the bombings that we saw last December in Volgograd where over 30 people were killed by suicide bombers there. And this just highlights the ongoing security operation around these Olympic Games.

Here in Sochi, you're not hearing anything about these raids. Russian TV is all about the Olympics. There's somewhat of a media blackout going on, but the Russians are taking security serious and Dagestan isn't that far from where we are right here. The Russians do not want to see anything that happened in Volgograd happened here and thus, we're seeing these sorts of operations take place -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So, Ian, apparently, there is a lot of concern over you know cybersecurity. How athletes or even tourists might be protected against hackers. What more is being said about that or what at least is the strategy?

LEE: Well, the U.S. State Department has said that when you come here to Russia, just expect that all your communications, whether it be phone calls, any Internet activity is going to be monitored by the Russian authorities. The Russian authorities have said, you know, this is something that is going to happen. They say that it's because of this ongoing threat of terrorism. That they want to make sure that these Olympic Games are secure.

And just kind of give you the highlight of what they're monitoring. That is going on. Earlier, a Russian official has said they have videos clips from hotel rooms of people leaving the water on and destroying their rooms. This highlighted a lot of privacy concerns that the Russian officials were monitoring guests. They said it's not the case, but there is a lot of concern about privacy here at these games.

WHITFIELD: All right, Ian Lee, thanks so much in Sochi.

And some big news on the medal front, the U.S. actually won its first gold medal today. Sage Kotsenburg clinched first place in the snowboard men's slopestyle event. That is one of the new snowboarding events. He tweeted this, "Wow, I just won the Olympics, bringing back the first gold here to the USA." And then this is what he told reporters later.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAGE KOTSENBURG, U.S. GOLD MEDALIST: It feels like a dream right now. Just winning a gold on the first day and the first event of slopestyle ever being in the Olympics is seriously the craziest thing ever. You know, like, I thought about it a little bit, but I never really, I don't know. I didn't really think it would happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, here's a look at the medal count, where it all stands right now. We'll have of course more on all the Olympic events, the winner, losers and all the highlights later on this hour. Of course, you can always get complete results at CNN.com.

All right, if you're someone who pays attention to commercials, then you definitely caught this one perhaps last night.

So, this is the new ad for Chevrolet. The first to feature gay families during an Olympic broadcast according to GLAAD, this comes at a time when a fairly new Russian law banning gay propaganda has drawn international criticism. And Chevy isn't the only U.S. corporation sending a message of equality. Our Erin McPike has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid the spectacle of the opening ceremonies, the United States sent a message to Vladimir Putin that Russia's antigay propaganda law is wrong. In the U.S. delegation, two prominent former and openly gay Olympians, figure skater, Brian Boitano and hockey player, Kaitlin Cahow. President Obama drove the point home on NBC.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We wanted to make very clear that we do not abide by discrimination in any forms, including on the base of sexual orientation. One of the wonderful things about the Olympics is that you were judged by your merit.

MCPIKE: Around the world, activists are demanding that big corporate Olympic sponsors go further than the general support for LGBT rights they've expressed so far and specifically condemn the Russian law. And they're pressuring NBC to cover the controversy.

(on camera): Groups like the Human Rights Campaign are keeping a close watch on the network during the two week event and ramping up the pressure on the game's sponsors.

TY COBB, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN: I think Coca-Cola and McDonald's, several of the IOC corporate partners have been leaders in the movement here in the U.S., but they've been silent when it comes to defending LGBT rights in Russia.

MCPIKE (voice-over): They're praising AT&T for calling the Russian law, quote, "Harmful to LGBT individuals and families and it's harmful to a diverse society. They point to Google, which changed its home page to a rainbow theme and posted the Olympic charter, calling for every individuals to have the possibility of practicing sport without discrimination of any kind. Madonna and other celebrities have spoken out. Back state side in Washington, gay rights groups are holding fundraisers to keep the momentum alive for their counterparts in Russia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All we're worried about is when the lights are out in Sochi and the athletes go home, it will be a terrible time for LGBT people in Russia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCPIKE: And we reached out to both McDonald's and Coca-Cola, and both of these corporations provided statements to us saying that value diversity and they do not condone discrimination of any kind, but they didn't go so far as to specifically condemn that Russian antigay propaganda law that stirred up really so much controversy, but I would say that gay rights groups have viewed this as a big opportunity over the next two weeks to really push their message -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Erin McPike, thanks so much in Washington.

Joy and relief in a New York courtroom, after more than two decades in prison, we'll tell you what a set of convicted murders, what set them free and what they're feeling.

An next, Woody Allen is giving his take on accusations of sexual assault against him and he says it's the last time he's talking.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Woody Allen is telling his side of the story in an ongoing feud with his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow and former partner, Mia Farrow. In a new op-ed in the "New York Times," Allen said he never molested Dylan and he blamed Mia Farrow for planting the story in Dylan's mind. Alexandra Field is following the story for us. So Alexandra, what more is Wooden Allen saying in this op-ed?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, throughout his op-ed, he really takes aim at his ex, Mia Farrow, saying that she is the one who coached Dylan these allegations came to light more than 20 year ago. At the time, the couple of 12 years was separating. Now Woody Allen has written this op-ed, it will be published in "The New York Times" tomorrow and he issues a full denial of the allegations, which have again resurfaced.

Here's what he writes. He says quote, "I did not molest Dylan. I loved her and hope one day she will grasp how she has been cheated out of having a loving father and exploited by a mother more interested in her own festering anger than her daughter's well-being."

Now, that op-ed was released yesterday. It will be published tomorrow, but Dylan Farrow has already come up with her own response. Here's what she had to say about Woody Allen's defense. This is a quote now. She says, "Once again, Woody Allen is attacking me and my family in an effort to discredit and silence me, but nothing he says or writes can change the truth. For 20 years, I have never wavered in describing what he did to me. I will carry the memories of surviving these experiences for the rest of my life."

Now, Dylan has been holding to this story for more than 20 years since she was a girl of 7 years old. That was her response this morning. As for Woody Allen, he is now saying that the op-ed is his only comment. He won't be discussing the matter any further -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And then, what does Woody Allen say about his son, Ronan Farrow because not only has Ronan been outspoken about his thoughts alleged molestation, but there have been a lot of discussions about who his real dad, his biological dad is.

FIELD: This family feud, which has been going on, certainly playing out publicly and Woody Allen does touch on the question of Ronan Farrow's paternity in that op-ed. Here is what he says. He basically acknowledges that Ronan looks a bit like Frank Sinatra specifically pointing to the blue eyes and his facial features.

And then he basically goes on to say that if Ronan is in fact the son of Frank Sinatra, then it is a sign that Mia Farrow was deceitful and lied as far as representing Ronan as Woody Allen's son during their custody hearing. So he does sort of leave the door open, but acknowledges these rumors, which have been circulating.

WHITFIELD: All right, Alexandra Field, thanks so much in New York.

All right, also in New York, free at last. Two men convicted on murder as teenagers spent more than two decades in a New York maximum security prison until new DNA evidence proved they couldn't have killed Antonio's Yarboro's mother, sister and cousin. One, just 15 years old at the time, told Piers Morgan police coerced a confession out of him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHARRIF WILSON, EXONERATED AFTER 21 YEARS: Many years, I felt horrible that I had to do that and that I actually did it knowing that we wasn't guilty for a crime we didn't commit. But I just felt horrible and I felt horrible then and I still feel horrible now that we had to go through this whole process just to get justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And after all this time, who wouldn't understand their reaction?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONIO YARBOUGH, DNA EVIDENCE OVERTURNED CONVICTION: I haven't slept yet. I've been up for over two days now. I have no words right now. I'm just extremely happy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So, the D.A. says because of the new evidence, their 1992 convictions would not stand up in court again.

All right, the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, sure to have a nickname, Putin's games. So, what's at stake for the Russian leader in these games? All of that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Russian President Vladimir Putin was in the spotlight during the Olympics opening ceremony and according to Sochi's organizer, he was pleased with the results. That white hot spotlight will be on him for the rest of the games and that may be just what he wants. Here's Nick Paton Walsh.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Behind the grandeur, the scale, the exorbitant cost is one goal, one man's place in Russian history restoring the state to its Soviet glory. Friday's opening ceremony is the pinnacle of the 14 years at the helm for this KGB veteran, but like much of Putinism, his uncompromising pursuit of total power, it favors the state over the people.

His initial deal with Russia was simple. He dragged it from a war in Chechnya and economic chaos to a fragile stability where a middle class grew fast. A peace of mind Russians welcomed, a singular, sober figure finally in charge, even if the prize was the loss of nearly all their freedoms. His most opened adversary, Mikael Hodorkovski had his business empire crushed and was only released from jail perhaps to soften Russia's image ahead of Sochi.

This is Putin's games even in his creation redolent of his ear. The road and ski jump that cost $9 billion, about the same as the GDP of Laos, money claimed lost to embezzlement inefficiency, the decision to hold it in the only place in Russia where winter snow isn't guaranteed, almost defying the impossible about the soviets in their prime.

And above all, the enduring threat of attack from crazed radical suicide bombers, an extremism that simply didn't exist in Russia when Putin came to power and that critics say was forged from a modern insurgency by his hammer and anvil strong man approach. This is Putin's moment perhaps his peak. Russia's boom is deflating the middle class he created, demanding more political power. He may wish the lights and spectacle never fade. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Sochi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: I'm joined now by Angela Stent, the director of the Center for Russian Studies at Georgetown University. She is also the author of "The Limits Of Partnership U.S. Russian Relations in the 21st Century." Good to see you, Professor again.

ANGELA STENT, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR RUSSIAN STUDIES AT GEORGETOWN: Great to be back.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, today, a lot of folks are talking about the glitch. There were a couple of glitches with the opening ceremony, namely this one of the Olympic rings. We saw it in the U.S. on television. One of the lights didn't expand into a ring. Instead, it looks like a snow flake, but in Russia, people instead saw a video from a rehearsal where it did work properly. Is this an example of the kind of control this country wants to have over kind of the global perception of these Olympic Games ultimately?

STENT: Well, it definitely is. Don't forget that you know, television, most of the TV in Russia is controlled by the state and they wanted their population to see everything working very well and no glitches. Now, of course, the fact that in other countries, people have seen it, it means that Russians on the Internet will be able to watch it, but it's Putin desire to show that Russia is back and everything is working well in Russia.

WHITFIELD: Wow, and this really, I guess many have said, you know, this is Putin's games. That he very much wants this to be representative of where he should be, on the global stage. Is that really who he is in your view?

STENT: Yes. It definitely does. I mean, he fought very hard in the 2007 to get those games for Russia against all odds. If you think about it, it's in a town, which has a subtropical climate. You can see all those palm trees. It's in a very dangerous neighborhood. Reports before we came on. It cost $50 billion. This is very much about who he is. By sheer will power, staging these games, sort of in Soviet fashion as Nick said and to show that they can control things and that Russia is back and that the world should respect Russia, should give it the respect that it used to have when the Soviet Union still existed.

WHITFIELD: You know, the opening ceremonies were painstakingly choreographed, which brings us to this next, you know, kind of glitch, in some people's view, this controversial figure, a former figure skating champ, Irina Rodnina, lighting the caldron at the stadium. Just a year ago, she was blasted as a racist, tweeting a photo of Obamas with a super imposed banana, in this photograph, yet, she is selected to play a very pivotal and prominent role in the Olympic Games.

Certainly, this was not an oversight. I mean, Russian authorities couldn't have forgotten what took place last year. So was this a very deliberate kind of snub at the U.S. by way of using Rodnina?

STENT: I would hesitate to say it's a deliberate snub at the U.S. or at President Obama, although it is indeed a very offensive tweet. I would say it's more an example of the broader theme that Putin has been pushing in the last six months. Odd culture, civilization is as good as yours in the west. Don't tell us what to do. This also relates to all the LGBT legislation and the controversies, and you have to respect us for who we are and if you don't like it, that's too bad. I think that's what this symbolizes.

WHITFIELD: Angela Stent, Georgetown University, thank you so much. Appreciate your insight.

STENT: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Family and friends of actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, are mourning in private with the investigation into his death is front page news. Later, what's next for the suspect's police think are connected to the heroin found in Hoffman's apartment?

And next, the U.S. off to a flying start clinching the first Olympic gold medal in the Sochi games.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Spectacular start for the Team USA in Sochi at least when it comes to the medal board. Norway just got another gold, however but we got the first Olympic gold medal. Joining me right now, Andy Scholes, loving it that we got it in snowboarding.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: A really good deal, now I want to warn everybody, spoiler alert, this won't be on TV until later today. If you don't want to know what happens, run away.

WHITFIELD: But do come back.

SCHOLES: Slopestyle was the first event to give out medals this morning. It's the new event this year in the Olympics where snowboarders do crazy jumps after making insanely -- crazy tricks -- corking it.

There you go, American, Sage Kotsenburg, he wowed the crowd with tricks never seen before. He scored 93.5 on his first run down the mountain. That was good enough for he gold. Now, Kotsenburg, an Idaho native, a really laid back dude. He tweeted this earlier today. "Whoa, how random is this? I made the finals at the Olympics." That's so awesome. Fredricka, he was in disbelief again after actually winning the gold.

WHITFIELD: That was so cute.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAGE KOTSENBURG, U.S. GOLD MEDALIST, SLOPESTYLE: I'm really stoked to just, I can't believe this is all in one day, too. Feels like already a week ago that it happened because it's just been already so crazy, but so stoked to be here and just like representing the USA for sure and being part of the first slopestyle team for the U.S. is pretty cool and then bringing home the gold is just icing on the cake.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: He's by far my favorite Olympian. I don't know if anyone's going to top him.

WHITFIELD: I like him a lot.

SCHOLES: All right, here's a look at the overall medal count, Norway at the top with four. Netherlands in second place with three and there's the United States right behind them with their one gold medal. That's for now. Keep an eye out on American skier, Hannah Kearney though, she in the free style moguls later this afternoon. She is one of the favorites in the event.

I don't know if you've seen this, this was all over social media this morning. More trouble in the Sochi bathrooms. This time, American bobsledder, Johnny Quinn got trapped inside one of them, but he took matters into his own hands. He just smashed his way through the door to get out.

WHITFIELD: He was like, I must get out, I have an event.

SCHOLES: He's a former Packers wide receiver. He posted that photo on Twitter right there. It's the hashtag #sochijailbreak. Pretty funny.

WHITFIELD: I don't know if I want to mess around, breaking the law there, breaking down a door.

SCHOLES: You've seen more pictures of Sochi bathrooms than any other Olympics combined in the history of the Olympics.

WHITFIELD: That has been crazy stuff, a very fun stuff. I appreciate it. Nice impersonation. I like it. We're going to have much more of the NEWSROOM after this. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A teenager is shot dead after an altercation over loud music outside a gas station and right now, in Jacksonville, Florida, a jury is trying to decide if it's murder. They're hearing the case against Michael Dunn accused of murdering 17-year-old Jordan Davis. Davis' friends who were in the SUV, the night of the shooting told their side of the story. Here's Tory Dunnan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LELAND BRUNSON, WITNESS, FRIEND OF JORDAN DAVIS: When I reached in and touched him, blood appeared on my fingers.

TORY DUNNAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Dunn, the man charged with first degree murder in the Jordan Davis case, looked on as witnesses relived the night the 17-year-old was shot and killed. Davis' best friend, Leland Brunson, among those who testified.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you love Jordan Davis?

BRUNSON: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you lying for Jordan Davis?

BRUNSON: No.

DUNNAN: He was sitting next to Davis in the back of a red SUV when an argument over loud music broke out at a Jacksonville gas station.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's fair to say he asked for a common courtesy, just to lower the music, correct?

BRUNSON: Yes.

DUNNAN: Another teen in the SUV said Dunn who was in his parked car next to them asked turn to down the music. Thompson described it in court as pretty loud and said Dunn told them --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Turn the music down, I can't hear myself think.

DUNNAN: Everyone agrees the music was turned down, but that's when things escalated between Davis and Dunn.

CORY STROLLA, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: But isn't it true that Jordan Davis said to you -- that turn it back up?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

DUNNAN: Thompson testified he did exactly that and that he turned the music back up. It's at that point the timeline gets fuzzy. Dunn told investigators he heard threats and then saw a weapon.

MICHAEL DUNN, ACCUSED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER: I saw a barrel come up on the window, like a single shot shotgun where there's a barrel. See this part of the barrel, that part of the barrel and it was either a barrel or a stick, but sir, they're like we're going to kill you.

DUNNAN: Dunn by his own admission says he pulled out a gun that he kept in his glove compartment and he says in self-defense -- fired multiple times. Jordan Davis was shot. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did the driver do with the gun when he grabbed it from the glove compartment?

BRUNSON: He cocked it back.

DUNNAN: As for Michael Dunn's claims of being threatened with a weapon first, police say they never found a weapon inside the teen's SUV. In court, all three teens maintained they never had a weapon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you got out of the car in the plaza, did you take anything out of your car?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you take a shotgun and shove it under a car that was in the parking lot?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you try to throw it out on the South Side Boulevard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, sir.

DUNNAN: One officer who arrived shortly after the shooting described what he saw.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw a young, black male sitting on the driver's side rear passenger seat, sobbing uncontrollably. He was cradling another young black male's head.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Our legal guys joining us now to talk more about this, Avery Friedman in Cleveland and Richard Herman in Las Vegas. All right, this is just so sad. So, jurors are hearing today from the lead evidence tech who testified that no weapons were found in that SUV. No sticks, nothing of that nature. So, Avery, what more are we likely to learn from this witness? How critical is this?

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, all these witnesses are palling up the evidence, Fredricka, and it's another, we're back in Florida again. Here we go with an annoyance by some people converting it into feeling they have the right to pull a gun and kill somebody. Whether it's in the theater or some texting, whether somebody believes someone's in the wrong neighborhood.

And in a case like this, where the noise was too loud coming from somebody else's radio, this is extraordinary and in a case like this, if I'm prosecuting, line up all the witnesses, independent witnesses, put on the ballistics and by the end of next week, Fredricka, the prosecution's case should be done.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So Richard, you know, we heard some dramatic testimony from these young men in the car especially Jordan's best friend. How impactful? RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, the testimony is very good when it comes in from the prosecutor, but then on cross- examination, Fred, what happens is the screw gets unscrewed and you find out that some of these witnesses have criminal histories. The driver was out violating curfew and you hear a story the crime scene was not well established, that the drivers, the driver in the car could have taken them away for a period of time, ditched potential weapons, then returned to the gas station.

You know, Fred, as a criminal defense attorney, you have to decide whether or not the case is even defensible and here, sadly, well sadly for some, this case appears very defensible. And again in the sunshine state, in the self-defense state, where these cases seem to garner a lot of sympathy for the shooter, I think that there's a lot to work with for the defense position.

WHITFIELD: So, talk more about the alleged shooter. I guess I don't have to say alleged because he admits to doing it. Michael Dunn fled the scene, drove to a bed and breakfast with his girlfriend, ordered a pizza, stayed the night, and then drove home where he was eventually apprehended. What will the jurors interpret from that kind of behavior? How could that possibly bode well for him?

FRIEDMAN: I don't think it can. I mean, it's so callous and so deliberate. It's so uncivilized. If you're involved, you believe you have a legitimate defense. The first thing you're going to do is call 911. You want the police there. But the idea he left the scene, Fredricka, got a pizza, took off from there, is extraordinarily incriminating and I think practically, I think he's in a lot of trouble right now.

WHITFIELD: And lots of parallels are being drawn with the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case. You know, so Richard, we're also seeing some familiar faces, same prosecutors that were in that George Zimmerman trial. You're now seeing in this case as well. These jurors have to remember that. It was a very highly publicized case. How influential could that potentially be in this case, Richard?

HERMAN: Well, they didn't do so good in Zimmerman, so they might fall apart in this case as well, Fred. I think they are prepared, but you know, it's going to come down to this. The state of mind of the shooter and whether or not the jury believes his position that he felt or reasonably feared for his life, that he saw a shotgun coming out of the car at him, that he heard the victim say I'm going to kill you. It's getting, we're going to get on now, it's getting on now.

It was this realistic, was it something that's reasonable? If the jury buys that, Fred, he's going to be acquitted. That's how it's going to come down in this case. It's not a black and white case although it is a black and white case. It's not on the law and you know, there is fodder here for a jury to come back.

FRIEDMAN: The powerful line, Fredricka, by Thompson, who quotes Dunn saying are you talking to me? What does he think, it's Robert De Niro? This is extraordinary. So, you know, again, we'll see how this plays out. HERMAN: But it emanates from loud music, like someone throwing popcorn at you, now it's loud music. It's ridiculous.

WHITFIELD: It is terrible. All right, Avery, Richard, thanks so much. We have another case we're going to talk about. Bring it up there. We're going to talk a little bit later as we delve more into another legal case. Thanks so much.

All right, police round up several suspects in the investigation into drugs found in Philip Seymour Hoffman's apartment, but could any of them be charged in his death? Avery and Richard will be back on that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Family and friends of Philip Seymour Hoffman say goodbye to the actor at a private funeral service in Manhattan. It was held at a Catholic Church on Park Avenue. Hollywood stars were among those paying their respects. As Hoffman is being mourned and remembered, police are moving ahead with the investigation. Here's Alexandra Field.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD (voice-over): Wednesday night in a Manhattan courtroom, three people believed to be connected to the heroin found in Philip Seymour Hoffman's apartment were indicted on drug possession charges. Juliana Luchkiw and Max Rosenblum, both 22 were charged with misdemeanors, while 57-year-old Robert Vineberg, a felony. Their attorney saying all three pled not guilty.

DANIEL HOCHHEISER, MAX ROSENBLUM'S ATTORNEY: My client by all accounts I know of has nothing to do with Philip Seymour Hoffman. My client is not responsible for Philip Seymour Hoffman's death.

EDWARD KRATT, ROBERT VINEBERG'S ATTORNEY: This arrest and these charges have absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Hoffman's unfortunate death.

FIELD: A total of four suspects were arrested Tuesday night during this NYPD drug raid caught on camera not far from Hoffman's apartment. These photos show three of the arrests, the fourth person will not be prosecuted. The Manhattan DA saying there was no evidence he had any control over the drugs.

Investigators found 350 small bags of what's believed to be heroin labeled red bull and blacklist. Different brands from those found in Hoffman's apartment labeled ace of spades and ace of hearts. One of the suspects, Robert Vineberg, is a well-known jazz musician in the New York club scene. Investigators say they found most of the drugs in his apartment, adding that he had Hoffman's number this his cell phone. Vineberg's neighbors say they're surprised.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of the nicest people I've ever met. Smart. Yes, he goes out of his way to be nice. Great guy. Honestly. FIELD: Still unknown is what led Hoffman to relapse after 23 years of being sober. Some insight may come from his journal that investigators found in his living room.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A loving father --

FIELD: New York's Broadway community celebrating his life in a vigil still reeling from his death.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, that was Alexandra Field reporting. Our legal guys are back now, Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor in Cleveland and Richard Herman, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor joining us from Las Vegas.

All right, Gentlemen, Richard, you first, even if police determine that the heroin found in Robert Vineberg's apartment is the same drug that killed Hoffman, could he actually be held liable for the actor's death?

HERMAN: No. Absolutely not -- under New York law, in 1972, the appellate division, a high court in New York ruled that even if you sell drugs and those drugs later on kill your customer, you cannot be charged for the murder or manslaughter of that individual. So, that's New York law. It's not going to happen that way. This is unprecedented, Fred.

The amount of resources that have been put together in such a short period of time to make arrests, get search warrants, get a criminal indictment for Philip Seymour Hoffman's death. It's tragic. But Fred, people go to bed at night and dream to have a fantasy life like this individual had. He had the resources to treat his addiction. He had the ability to do it. He knew what he was doing.

He has to take responsibility for his own death. It was selfish. He had three children. He didn't take care of himself and for everyone now to bend over -- this man had the ability to treat himself and stop and do it.

WHITFIELD: So, sounds like you're saying there shouldn't be a criminal case whether it involves these alleged suspects or not. So, Avery, where do you come from on this? Should there be any kind of criminal investigation that should support the discovery of the circumstances surrounding Hoffman's death?

FRIEDMAN: Well, of course, there should be. The fact, you can't argue that you're dealing with a renowned actor, one of the great actors of our generation, but he was drug add led likely and that journal is going to help us understand that, but the idea that someone supplying and someone involved should have no responsibility either criminal or civil, to me, is not right.

I mean, I think NYPD is doing the right thing by assigning that kind of manpower, that kind of staffing to this investigation. And you know what? I think there's much more to this story I think Vineberg is smack in the middle of this thing. He's the only one charged with a felony and these other two are going to start singing to try to get out of this mess and they're going to implicate Vineberg even further.

WHITFIELD: But it is pretty remarkable that this kind of manpower would be assigned to this investigation when clearly after the death of anyone's overdose, it doesn't afford them these kinds of resources to try to get to the bottom of how the drugs came about, where they came from, so, Richard, that setting the stage, I guess it becomes an issue of fairness. Should all overdose cases be treated like this? Why just someone who is a celebrity?

HERMAN: I look for uniformity in the application of law and law enforcement and you don't see it. You see celebrity justice and then you see justice for the people that don't have money. It's not the same. There are drug overdoses of poor individuals every day in New York. You never see attention like this, but Avery, for you to say they're going to sing and this and that, Vineberg was charged with position with intent to sell based on the quantity he had. Had nothing to do with the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman and the other people were charged with low level misdemeanors, which would be slap on the wrist --

WHITFIELD: We're going to have to leave it there, unless Avery have a real quick thought.

FRIEDMAN: There's much more to be told here -- responsible for his own death. No doubt about that.

WHITFIELD: All right, Avery, Richard, thanks so much. Always good to see you. Appreciate it.

All right, a legal battle between the children of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. Why part of it involves this bible right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Martin Luther King Jr.'s children are locked in a bitter battle over two items he left behind, his Nobel Peace Prize and his traveling bible. The same one President Obama used when he was sworn in for his second term. Bernice King claims her brothers want to sell the items. This week, she took a strong stance to distance herself from her brothers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNICE KING, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S DAUGHTER: I wish to ask my friends in the media, the public and all the people of good will, respectfully from this point on, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from grouping me with my brothers.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Whoa. The family feud is now a legal battle. The civil rights leader's estate controlled by his sons has filed a legal complaint to force their sister to turn over the medal and the bible. Bernice King says she won't do that and she won't say who the items are set to be sold to or why, but she told CNN why it's important for her to stand on what she calls, quote, "the right side of history."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KING: I don't feel his legacy will ever be tainted because he's a world icon. He's a visionary leader that so many people around the world draw strength from, direction from. And I think that's well established in the world, global history and he's a leader, an icon of the ages and so, for us though, you know, that's one of the reasons why it was important for me to make it clear that I'd be on the right side of history, so 20, 30, 50, 100 years from now, it will be known that Bernice King did not support the selling of these sacred items.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It does seem all very tawdry. Can you tell us where the items are now and where you think they should be?

KING: At advice of legal counsel, I'm not able to say where they are, but my brothers are aware of where they are and you know, it was my hope even when the bible returned from the inauguration that it could have been on display at the King Center just as a footnote. That particular traveling bible had been on exhibition at the King Center for years. And so, you know, it's my hope that one day, it can be on display again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the medal?

KING: The medal's a little different. I mean, it's you know as you know, those medals are 23, 24 percent gold. It requires extreme security as you can imagine. I'm not sure of many medals that are displayed consistently, but at some point, you know, it would be my hope that for a limited time period, but we do have just so you know, we have a replica of the Nobel Peace Prize here at the King Center on display.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Reverend King, I know you mentioned before that your father, he copyrighted "I have a dream" speech and other works, that there wasn't anything inherently wrong with financial gain from his work, but you said you draw the line and you draw the line at the bible here because of principle, because of the items that you say they are trying to sell.

Is there any way that you think you can work this out with your brothers so that it doesn't get farther than it does, so that the lawsuit goes away and these precious things that the country values is put back on display and people can appreciate your father's accomplishments in that kind of way?

KING: Well, that's my hope and that's my prayer, that that will occur.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And CNN's attempts to contact the King brothers have been unsuccessful. This isn't the first time the King children have been at odds over the dad's estate. There have been other lawsuits over the years. Bernice hopes she and her brothers can reconcile. We have much more straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM and we will get a restart right now.

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