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Interview With John Barnett

Aired July 11, 2002 - 14:27   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: No doubt you've seen the video by now. You're looking at it right here on the big screen, and that is 15-year-old Donovan ,Jackson claiming that his civil rights were definitely affected.

Well, Thelma Gutierrez now joining us live from Orange County telling us -- well, I guess has word from a lawyer now -- I'm just getting the information in my ear, Thelma. What do you have?

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. Ever since this videotape was released, as you well know, it has unleashed a public fury against Officer Jeremy Morse, a three-year veteran of the Inglewood police force. His attorney, John Barnett, joins us now. He says his client is being tried in the media.

Thank you for joining us, Mr. Barnett. You also say that elected officials are convicting him in the media.

JOHN BARNETT, ATTORNEY FOR JEREMY MORSE: Yes, the mayor of the city pronounced him guilty prior to trial, and that is particularly disturbing given the past events in Los Angeles' history. He has pronounced him guilty, even though the mayor has taken an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, which provides for the presumption of innocence, and this creates a very difficult problem because it misleads the public. It misleads the public into believing that there's some basis upon which he made that statement. And when officers are there after convicted, then the public takes drastic action.

GUTIERREZ: But Mr. Barnett, you have a videotape that has been aired around the world. We see your client taking a hand-cuffed 16- year-old, slamming him onto a car and then hitting him in the face. How can you refute that?

BARNETT: Well, because we will put that videotape into context, and we will explain those things that you cannot see on the videotape. You cannot see what the subject is doing with his hands just prior to being hit in the face.

GUTIERREZ: What are you saying, that he...?

BARNETT: I'm saying that he took action which required that he be punched. And that the facts will show that the use of force was restrained, given all of the circumstances. GUTIERREZ: Now, it has been reported that while Donovan Jackson had his hands behind his back in handcuffs, that he made contact with Officer Morse?

BARNETT: Well, it has been reported. And I will say that -- without saying what my client has told me -- I will say this: That those reports are consistent with the video, in other words that the video does not disprove that statement.

GUTIERREZ: Talk to me about that statement. Elaborate a little bit.

BARNETT: Well, it's reported that the individual, the subject, after being placed on the vehicle, grabbed the testicles of the officer. And thereafter, he was punched. And I think that that's consistent with all of the evidence that we have seen and will be seeing.

GUTIERREZ: How is Jeremy Morse doing right now? What is his state of mind?

BARNETT: I think that he is -- has put his faith in the system, and that he is appropriately concerned, given the avalanche of negative publicity.

GUTIERREZ: Has he been watching the media reports? Has he seen this videotape?

BARNETT: I'm sure that he's seen the videotape. I don't know whether he's watching the media coverage.

GUTIERREZ: Did he realize that he was being taped at the time?

BARNETT: I'm not going to answer that question.

GUTIERREZ: And what is his reaction to the public outcry?

BARNETT: Well, I think that for any officer who has spent at least three years risking his life every day to protect the community, that it is disconcerting that there would be a public outcry without hearing both sides of the case, and without there being a full investigation.

So that, I'm sure, is disconcerting. But I think that he certainly is willing to let the system run its course.

GUTIERREZ: All right, attorney John Barnett, thank you very much. And, again, many other people have come forward, also claiming that Inglewood police officers, including Jeremy Morse, roughed them up at times.

And anyway, right now he is placed on paid administrative leave with the department. And, again, the department is investigating. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Thelma Gutierrez, live from Orange County. Thanks, Thelma.

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