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CNN Live At Daybreak

Italian Judge to Reexamine Detained Quaker's Case Monday

Aired August 10, 2001 - 07:44   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: A diplomatic tug of war is going on between the U.S. and Italy following last month's G8 Economic Summit in Genoa. At the center of it is a 21-year-old student, Suzanna (ph) Thomas. She's described as a devout Quaker, a religion which advocates non-violence, but this morning, she's still in an Italian jail, charged with associating with a violent anarchist group.

And joining us to talk about this case are Suzanna's parents, Cathy and Rick Thomas, with us from New Jersey, and the Thomas family attorney, Dick Atkins, who is in Philadelphia.

I want to start with the parents. First of all, how is Suzanna and when was the last time you spoke with her?

CATHY THOMAS, MOTHER OF DETAINED AMERICAN: Last time I spoke with her was Tuesday. I had a call about 8:30. She said she was well. That was the very first thing she said. But then yesterday, I received e-mail from a Quaker - an Italian Quaker who'd visited her in jail, and he also said that she was well and very concerned about everyone there.

CELLINI: But the Quaker group in Italy has served as a liaison for you now? They have become a support group for you, yes?

C. THOMAS: That's certainly true.

CELLINI: I want to talk to your attorney now, Dick Atkins.

And, Dick, what happens Monday in court when they are back in court in Genoa?

DICK ATKINS, ATTORNEY FOR THOMAS FAMILY: Monday's a really big day. This is a total reexamination of what the first judge did. The first judge considered all the cases together as a conspiracy with a 15-year penalty for pillaging and for conspiracy to commit devastation.

And on Monday the judge has the opportunity to set bail. What we would call bail, they would call it house arrest. There's an application in for house arrest, a form of it in which she would be living with a group of nuns and priests in a community where she would be able to do work. We're also hoping that the judge might go beyond that and then release her so that she could come back and do her senior year at Bryn Mawr. CELLINI: Past experience, is there anything you can draw on that might indicate what will happen -- what the judge's decision will be?

ATKINS: This is a unique case. And based on past experience, the answer would be no. But based on the immense amount of support from other countries and from people, we're very optimistic that she will be released from jail Monday or Tuesday, whenever the judge makes up his mind.

CELLINI: Cathy and Rick, this sounds so very clear. She's traveling as a journalist with an Austrian theater group and yet and still now, the jump is made to violent anarchist group. How difficult has that been for you to deal with?

C. THOMAS: Well, it's just unbelievable. The - she's had so - it's almost the extreme opposite of what she's charged that I still can't quite get my mind around it.

RICK THOMAS, FATHER OF DETAINED AMERICAN: Yes, it's just impossible to believe that she could have been involved with any kind of violence.

CELLINI: I think you're living a parental nightmare now. Your young daughter across...

R. THOMAS: Yes.

C. THOMAS: Yes.

CELLINI: ... the world in a jail, and can you tell us just what it's like day by day and just the anxiety you might be going through?

C. THOMAS: You know, we just focus on work. I get up about 6:00 in the morning, I go to the computer, I check e-mails from Italy, I telephone Italy, and then as the day progresses, I contact American people and just keep working until I drop, which for me is around midnight, 1:00.

CELLINI: Well, Dick Atkins, what happens if the decision doesn't go your way? Is there an appeals process? Have you looked that far ahead?

ATKINS: Yes, we have. There's a constant appeals process. And even though that usually doesn't occur, in this case, we're going to use every diplomatic effort, the pressure of the other European countries, including Austria and the U.K. and also Germany, and a constant supply of additional motions in order to get her out.

CELLINI: Well, Cathy and Rick Thomas and Dick Atkins, we wish you the very, very best and we'll certainly keep an eye out Monday to see how this all unfolds. Thank you very much.

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