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Tape of Muhammad's Name Change Proceeding Released

Aired October 28, 2002 - 14:33   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.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: On CNN's LIVE FROM, we not only report, we also follow up, and there is something to follow up in the case of the D.C. area sniper case. Patty Davis joins us with something new. Patty, the voice of?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It is the first time, Marty, that we've heard John Allen Muhammad's voice. Now, this audio recording from a Web site called the SmokingGun.com. It was April 2001. John Allen Muhammad in Washington state's Pierce County court asking to have his name changed from John Allen Williams to John Allen Muhammad, he says for religious reasons. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, Mr. Williams, you are petitioning to have your name changed?

JOHN ALLEN MUHAMMAD: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is your current legal name?

MUHAMMAD: My current legal name is John, John Allen Williams.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. And what is the new name by which you wish to be known?

MUHAMMAD: John Allen Muhammad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And why do you desire to be known by this new name?

MUHAMMAD: For religious purposes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you changing your name for any other reason?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you changing your name to defraud or mislead any person or creditor?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you involved any legal proceedings other than this name change?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you under supervision of any probation department that requires you to report a change of address?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll go ahead and grant you a name change.

MUHAMMAD: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can go back out to the front counter to get your paperwork out front, OK?

MUHAMMAD: Do I need anything else?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you don't.

MUHAMMAD: I don't need (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for paperwork? I don't need to bring it with me?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, we can't. You need to go home, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yours is already (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MUHAMMAD: I feel cheated.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are fairly routine.

MUHAMMAD: All right. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIS: A pretty jovial proceeding there at the end. You will note the judge asked Muhammad if he's involved in any other legal proceedings. Well, in fact, in April 2001, when this court proceeding was going on, Muhammad says no, the name change granted. In fact, he misled the court. Our digging finds that he was involved in a divorce proceeding, trying to have his divorce from his second wife resolved at the time, Marty.

SAVIDGE: And the sound of laughter, very disturbing, given what he faces today. Patty Davis, thank you very much for joining us with that update.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 28, 2002 - 14:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: On CNN's LIVE FROM, we not only report, we also follow up, and there is something to follow up in the case of the D.C. area sniper case. Patty Davis joins us with something new. Patty, the voice of?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It is the first time, Marty, that we've heard John Allen Muhammad's voice. Now, this audio recording from a Web site called the SmokingGun.com. It was April 2001. John Allen Muhammad in Washington state's Pierce County court asking to have his name changed from John Allen Williams to John Allen Muhammad, he says for religious reasons. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, Mr. Williams, you are petitioning to have your name changed?

JOHN ALLEN MUHAMMAD: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is your current legal name?

MUHAMMAD: My current legal name is John, John Allen Williams.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. And what is the new name by which you wish to be known?

MUHAMMAD: John Allen Muhammad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And why do you desire to be known by this new name?

MUHAMMAD: For religious purposes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you changing your name for any other reason?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you changing your name to defraud or mislead any person or creditor?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you involved any legal proceedings other than this name change?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you under supervision of any probation department that requires you to report a change of address?

MUHAMMAD: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll go ahead and grant you a name change.

MUHAMMAD: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can go back out to the front counter to get your paperwork out front, OK?

MUHAMMAD: Do I need anything else?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you don't.

MUHAMMAD: I don't need (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for paperwork? I don't need to bring it with me?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, we can't. You need to go home, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yours is already (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MUHAMMAD: I feel cheated.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are fairly routine.

MUHAMMAD: All right. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIS: A pretty jovial proceeding there at the end. You will note the judge asked Muhammad if he's involved in any other legal proceedings. Well, in fact, in April 2001, when this court proceeding was going on, Muhammad says no, the name change granted. In fact, he misled the court. Our digging finds that he was involved in a divorce proceeding, trying to have his divorce from his second wife resolved at the time, Marty.

SAVIDGE: And the sound of laughter, very disturbing, given what he faces today. Patty Davis, thank you very much for joining us with that update.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com