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Kansas Police Investigate Potential BTK Serial Killer Link; Giambi Testifies in BALCO Investigation
Aired December 02, 2004 - 14:57 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The White House is getting into the holiday spirit. This morning, First Lady Laura Bush showed off this year's holiday decorations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: This room is always so beautiful, however it's decorated, but especially this year, with the snow-covered trees and the red tablecloth, the white tulips. I think it really makes a beautiful room and this is the room that, of course, all of our guests who will be coming to parties all over the holiday season, will be able to fill their plate.
And, as you can see back here behind us, we have Frosty the Snowman, made by Thaddeus Dubois, our pastry chef. So that's the dessert table that is set up back there. And then on each of the mantles in this room is one of the songs that American children know and remember, and we have "Rudolph" over here, and "Marshmallow World" on that one, "Frosty the Snowman" back here, and "Toy Land" on the other mantle, so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you want most for Christmas this year?
BUSH: Of course, I want peace. And I hope we have peace in the new year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, the holiday festivities continue in Washington tonight, as the president throws the switch on the National Tree at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour, top of the news. The date is firm. President Bush isn't budging on January 30th, the date set for Iraqi elections. He says despite the security concerns, it's time that Iraq's citizens went to the polls. More on that in just a moment.
Representing America in Afghanistan, Vice President Dick Cheney plans to attend Hamid Karzai's presidential inauguration next week. Cheney will be the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Afghanistan since the Bush administration launched that war on terror.
Sports and steroids. Word that Yankee slugger Jason Giambi has admitted using steroids. "San Francisco Chronicle" reports that he testified to that before a grand jury investigating a company suspected of selling steroids to athletes. We're going to talk shortly with one of the writers who broke that story.
First up this hour, eight unsolved homicides and three frightening letters are back in the news.
In Wichita, Kansas, police are investigating whether an arrest last night is linked to the BTK serial killer case.
Our Keith Oppenheim joins us now live with more -- Keith.
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
Wichita Police now have the results of DNA tests taken from that man who was arrested last night. And the results of those tests could be a pretty big deal and an indicator of whether or not this is going to be a big break in this case. The suspect being held is being held on pretty high bond for such charges, a warrant of charges of trespassing and housing code violations, and being held on more than $25,000.
Earlier this week, police released details they had about BTK in recent letters that they believe were sent by the killer, including that he was about 64, that he always lived near railroad tracks and that he was a railroad buff in general. And, indeed, we're told that the arrested man fits that description, about 64 years old and his home is by railroad tracks.
It was earlier this year that this old case got some new attention when police and the media began to receive letters believed to be from BTK. That pattern actually started way back between 1977 and 1979, when investigators in media outlets got similar letters that ultimately linked BTK to seven murders in Wichita.
Then, for reasons not known, those letters stopped for 25 years. And it wasn't until this spring when more mail was sent to the police and the press connecting BTK to an eighth murder. Kyra, there are a couple things that are getting our attention at this point.
For one, the police on the scene were believed to be from the BTK investigation. That's what our sources are telling us. They were seen leaving the house. And DNA testing taken on the arrested man is very much in the theme of what has happened in this long investigation. Many DNA samples were taken. This is yet another example of that.
But the police are being quite tight-lipped at this point. There is going to be a press conference tomorrow, but what we can say for sure is that this is a man who has been arrested on housing code and trespassing violations. And we have to see whether you can make a connection between that and the first of a series of eight murders, the first which began 30 years ago -- back to you.
PHILLIPS: And a lot of victims' families wanting closure. Keith Oppenheim, thanks so much -- Fred. FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A life worth saving. Scott Peterson's attorneys are trying to convince jurors of that as they present more witnesses on his behalf.
CNN's Ted Rowlands is at the courthouse in Redwood City, California -- Ted.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, a few moments ago, they broke for the noon recess here.
On the stand before the break was Janey Peterson, Scott Peterson's sister-in-law. And she was on the stand for about a half- an-hour. And this has been the most emotional testimony we have heard from the Peterson side, from the defense side, since they started their case yesterday. Janey Peterson broke down and wept a number of times during her testimony when talking about Scott and her memories of him growing up.
Scott Peterson also was seen crying in the courtroom during this testimony. And this is the first time we've seen this type of emotion coming from the defense side. Whether or not jurors are feeling that same emotion is unclear. Nobody on the jury broke down during these periods, as some of the jurors did when Sharon Rocha, Laci Peterson's mother, was on the stand.
Janey Peterson said, when she met Laci Peterson, she said she was bubbly and energetic and was the first of the Peterson family to meet her. Before Janey got on the stand, there were more friends of the family beforehand and friends of Scott Peterson, most notably Aaron Fritz, who was on the stand early this morning. This is a longtime friend of Scott Peterson from high school. He talked at great lengths about what a wonderful person Scott Peterson is and was growing up and what a great friend he was and talked about all of the wonderful things he did, not only for him as a friend, but also for the community, saying at times he would go to Mexico, to Tijuana, to help on missions there through the church.
Basically, this has been a couple days of people getting up, telling this jury that what you've heard the last five months is only a sliver of this man's life, and, up until this, he had been the perfect Boy Scout, if you will. And they are asking that the jury to spares his life.
WHITFIELD: Ted Rowlands, thanks so much, from Redwood City.
Turning now to Iraq, President Bush says elections must go forward there as planned at the end of January, despite ongoing violence. He made the comments as he met with Nigeria's president in the Oval Office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The elections should not be postponed. It's time for the Iraqi citizens to go to the polls, and that's why we are very firm on the January 30 date.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Insurgent activity and deadly consequences across Iraq today, and a U.S. soldier on patrol in Mosul is among the dead. Two local Iraqi officials also were killed in a drive-by shooting northwest of Baquba. Two people were wounded. And, in Baghdad, mortar attacks killed one person and wounded several others. At least two mortars landed inside the heavily fortified Green Zone.
Amid the violence and the chaos, there are some apparent success stories.
Our CNN international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in northern Iraq, where U.S. forces are helping to rebuild that region.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAJ. ROBERT SCHULTZ, CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER: That one's clogged, too. Poor shape.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When civil affairs officer Major Robert Schultz begins his day's work in Kurdish- controlled northern Iraq, he has much to be thankful for.
SCHULTZ: Is this -- is this the water closet facility that needs the most attention?
ROBERTSON: Unlike his fellow servicemen, an hour's drive to the south, Schultz finds the Kurds in the north actually welcome his help.
SCHULTZ: They say because what we have done here in this region, they don't want anything to happen to us. There are secret police that are out on the streets that are -- are watching us. Anything that goes wrong or looks suspicious, they're out there asking questions.
It looks like it's progressing pretty good. Got the walls up.
ROBERTSON: In the next 12 months, Schultz and his teams expect to spend more than $100 million, helping the Kurds strengthen their civil society.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's good; it's also raised off the ground. It gives you more control of the cameras.
ROBERTSON: Hastily arranged visits like this one, to check on the building work at a TV station they're helping, are enabling them to get more bang for their bucks.
SGT. OLLIE ROWE, CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER: Because we don't have to go through all the security measures here that they have to go through down there we're able to touch base with a lot more people and do a lot more things and network a lot better here.
ROBERTSON: That also made easier, they say, by good cooperation from their hosts. (on camera): The result is that, even with just a few civil affairs teams to cover 1.1 million people in an area the size of Rhode Island, they're able to work on a diverse number of projects, from aiding refugees and displaced people to helping out at hospitals, rebuilding schools, equipping and training the police, to helping advance women's issues.
(voice-over): Computer classes for women are supported. Laptops have been given for outlying communities, and plans are under way to help women learn to drive and maybe even help them develop a much need women's sports facility.
JULA HAJI, KURDISH WOMEN'S UNION (through translator): I hope in the south they will learn from us as they see us rebuild our country, that the more peace you have, the quicker you can do it.
ROBERTSON: But for all the optimism, there is anger the instability in the center of Iraq is costing the Kurds much wanted international aid.
MUSA ALI BAKIR, REFUGEE COORDINATOR: You cannot make all Iraq the victim of the middle of Iraq.
ROBERTSON: A point not lost on these civil affairs officers, who count themselves lucky to make a difference.
Nic Robertson, CNN, northern Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, you may recognize these faces, Aaron Stewart, the son of golfer Payne Stewart. Next to him, Lee Janzen. And we're going to find out about this special tournament they played in and how many strokes Aaron gave Lee.
Isn't that right, Aaron?
We'll be right back after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: He had unusual tastes in clothing, a swing that made golfers green with envy and an inspiring faith in God. It was five years ago that golf great Payne Stewart died in a tragic plane crash, but his legacy lives on. And his spirit is once again shining brightly, shining through his son Aaron and golf great Lee Janzen.
Lee and Aaron have come together for the father-son golf championship in Champions Gate, Florida, to honor a great golfer and a tremendous father.
Great to see you both.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: OK, Aaron, I'm serious, how many strokes did you give Lee? Be honest with me.
AARON STEWART, SON OF PAYNE STEWART: Well, I had to help him out a bit. It wouldn't have been fair.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: How did he play, Lee?
LEE JANZEN, PGA GOLFER: How did he play? Actually, we haven't been able to talk about how he played today, but we have played the last few days leading into the tournament, trying to get ready, playing practice rounds. And I see him steadily improving every day. And I think by the time the tournament starts, he's going to be ready to go.
PHILLIPS: All right, well, Lee, let's talk about this father-son tournament. Why did you want to do this? Why did you want to play with Aaron. And what gave you the idea to bring him into this tournament?
JANZEN: Well, I watched the tournament last year, and I've watched it over the last few years, anticipating the day that I'm going to play with my son in this tournament. And I have been looking forward to that day.
And I just started going through the thoughts of all the players that play in it and their sons and what they think about it. And after seeing Arnold Palmer playing with his grandson, it just sort of hit me that it doesn't necessarily have to be a father and son. And then I started thinking about Aaron, knowing that he would be playing in this tournament if Payne were here today.
So, considering that I'm eligible to play and Aaron is also eligible to play, I just thought, we'll ask the tournament and see what they think. And, obviously, the tournament had to invite us. And we are very grateful that they have decided to let us play. And since we found out, we've been looking forward to it.
PHILLIPS: Well, it's wonderful. It's awesome. You guys played in the pro-am today. You're going to be playing in the tournament this weekend.
Aaron, you know, your father was not only known as a tremendous golfer, but he was also very vocal about his faith, his journey with God before he passed. And if I remember correctly, you're the one that gave him that special bracelet that he wore, right?
STEWART: Yes, ma'am. I gave him the green WWJD bracelet.
PHILLIPS: Which, of course, means, what would Jesus do? Why did you give it to your dad?
STEWART: Well, I had it downstairs. And I just thought, well, I'll give this to dad, because I wasn't wearing it. So I just thought maybe he could wear it and show everybody his faith.
PHILLIPS: Well, I'm curious, as you get on to the links now and you play, do you feel your father when you're playing?
STEWART: Every once in a while, if I hit a shot, I'll think what would he say on that shot. And, sometimes, though, yes.
PHILLIPS: Now, Lee, you actually beat Payne Stewart in the U.S. Open in 1998. But you also noticed and a lot of other golfers noticed that he took it gracefully. There was something different about him that year. Tell us about that.
JANZEN: Well, 1993 and 1998, he showed me sportsmanship and graciousness that I try to put -- it's hard to put yourself in the same shoes. But, if I could, I'm not sure I could have possibly showed that kind of character that he showed, to be able to genuinely be happy for someone else's victory, even in your own defeat.
And it was very impressive, also inspiring. Since Payne's not here, he affected a lot of people with his life. And it's been an inspiration to me to somehow live my life in a way that maybe some day I can have an effect on people also the way he did.
PHILLIPS: Aaron, what do you want people to remember most about your father?
STEWART: What kind of person he was, not necessarily how great a golfer he was, although he was a really good guy, but his personality and how he treated people, like Lee said, how he was gracious in defeat and just generally how he treated people and treated everybody equal.
PHILLIPS: Aaron Stewart and Lee Janzen, what a wonderful pair. I'm sure Payne is looking down and he will be with you through this tournament this weekend, guys. Thank you so much for your time today.
STEWART: Thank you.
JANZEN: You're welcome. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Good luck.
JANZEN: Thanks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A stunning revelation about one of baseball's best, Yankee slugger Jason Giambi, word today that he told a grand jury he had knowingly used steroids, Giambi just one of the high-profile athletes who has testified in the investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. BALCO, as it's called, was suspected of distributing designer steroids to elite athletes. Its founder is one of four people indicted in the case.
Mark Fainaru-Wada, a sports writer for "The San Francisco Chronicle," has been following it from day one.
Fifteen months, Mark, you've been on this story. Tell me how you came across breaking the Giambi stuff. MARK FAINARU-WADA, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE": Well, just in the course of reporting the story, basically.
We've spent, as you said, 15 months and try and develop sources over that time. And we've been fortunate enough to break a number of stories, and this is just our latest. And it's just a byproduct of being, you know, fortunate enough, again, to get some people to cooperate with us and give us an opportunity to review the grand jury testimony.
PHILLIPS: And, in your article, you lay out the he said/she said, but sort of looking at another angle right now about the athletes and how trusting they were with this company, with these drugs. Why is that? When you look at the combination of the substances they were putting in their bodies, doesn't it seem a little surprising?
FAINARU-WADA: Yes. I mean, it is somewhat startling, I think, in some way that -- the combination of the drugs that were being taken and the willingness to take all these drugs.
I know, in Giambi's testimony, he talks about several pills he was taking that he seemingly doesn't know what they were. I think he says -- there's question at one point. His brother, who also testifies to the same kinds of stuff, is asked why he trusted Anderson. And I think there was a trust that rooted, both of them, trusted and rooted in his relationship with Barry Bonds. He is Bonds' personal trainer. He had worked with him for years.
And, you know, and in Jeremy's case, he saw that his brother was doing OK, and so he just figured that -- I think they just figured that there was a reason that they could trust him.
PHILLIPS: Well, this has a lot of eyes on Major League Baseball and its policy about drug testing and steroids. Here's what Bud Selig had to say earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUD SELIG, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COMMISSIONER: Look, we have drug testing as a result of that August 30, 2002, labor agreement. And while many have described it in ways that I don't necessarily agree with it, we do have drug testing. But we need a tougher policy with tougher penalties and other things. And that's still -- it's to me beyond debate. And so I am going to spend the coming months and make sure that we have that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right, it was really hard to hear him, but what he was saying is, we have drug testing, but we need a tougher policy beyond a debate about this. We could spend months on it.
Let's talk about that policy. Is it tough enough? Does it need to be changed? Is that the key to taking care of this problem?
FAINARU-WADA: Well, I don't know, frankly, that you will take care of this problem.
The Olympic movement has a very tough policy -- or a tougher -- certainly a much tougher policy. And one thing we've learned from the BALCO case is that there were track athletes using these substances for years undetected. And the only way reason that anybody ended up finding out is because there happened to be a federal investigation that broke loose.
So I don't know that you solve the problem necessarily. But baseball, certainly, by all accounts, talking to experts, critics, everybody, could have a far more significant policy. Right now, it's a policy that basically there's one test a year. It's during the season. So, essentially, you could be an athlete, you could be a player, you could use all the way in the off-season right up until spring training substances that would then clear out of your system prior to being tested, then get tested at some point in the season and then begin using against right after you've been tested, because you know you are not going to get tested again. So it's a policy many people see as toothless.
PHILLIPS: Mark, my final question. Obviously, you have got to be a good athlete to play Major League Baseball. Jason Giambi had to be a good player, but then you think, why do they have to take steroids? And does that lead us to believe, are they really as great of an athlete as we think they are?
FAINARU-WADA: Well, I think that's certainly going to be a question people are asking themselves. And I think it's an unfortunate aspect of the case, because, basically, anybody who's not using then is going to be questioned as well. And that's one of the really sad byproducts of the whole story. I think it's a legitimate question to ask.
These are fantastic athletes, obviously. And Giambi certainly is a phenomenal athlete. And I think it's really unfortunate. It's difficult to quantitate exactly how much impact the drugs would have. But, clearly, there's a belief amongst the athletes and the numbers would seem to bear out statistically that using these kinds of substances are going to help.
PHILLIPS: Mark Fainaru-Wada, sportswriter for "The San Francisco Chronicle," 15 months working on these stories with designer steroids and elite athletes, we'll be watching for more. Thanks, Mark.
FAINARU-WADA: My pleasure. Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well, Martin Scorsese's latest movie takes flight. "The Aviator" stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes and premiered last night in Los Angeles to soaring reviews.
Sibila Vargas is live in Los Angeles with more on this and the rest of today's entertainment news -- hello, Sibila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka. Lots of action in L.A. last night. It was a star-studded seat in Hollywood for the premiere of Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator." Tinseltown's (INAUDIBLE) walked the red carpet for the Howard Hughes epic, including the big man himself, Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays the eccentric tycoon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ACTOR: The man fit 20 different lifetimes into one lifetime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: And now Leonardo is playing the role of a lifetime. You can see him and the rest of the cast, including Kate Beckinsale, Jude Law, and Gwen Stefani when the movie opens December 17.
VARGAS: Well, from one big party to another, it was a huge night at VH-1's Big In '04 Awards.
(MUSIC)
VARGAS: Black Eyed Peas definitely got things started as some of the year's biggest pop culture newsmakers got their props, including Mr. Jamie Foxx, who walked away with the big entertainer of '04 award.
(MUSIC)
VARGAS: ... made the cut. Michael Moore, who received loud cheers from the Big Boat Rocker trophy, and Usher, got the big Musical Artist award. The Big In '04 Awards airs Sunday on VH-1. Looks like a good one -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Not bat at all. And I understand there are a couple singers that are spreading cheer in a big way, some other singers.
VARGAS: Yes, that's true.
Two performers who weren't on the Big In '04 list, but who are definitely doing something big for our troops are singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant. The duo will be broadcasting part of an upcoming Christmas tour live for our troops in Baghdad.
The Texas concert on December 6 will also be seen in 176 other countries on the armed forces radio television network.
Now, part of the deal includes an audio-video hookup that will enable some soldiers and their family members in the audience to see and talk to each other. That is awesome. The San Antonio performance is the fourth stop on the 14-city Simply Christmas With Amy Grant and Vince Gill tour.
Now, Fredricka, if that ain't big in '04, then, you know what? I don't know what is.
WHITFIELD: I know. That's one way to end the year. That's definitely a good, popular vote.
Thanks a lot.
VARGAS: Great Christmas present.
WHITFIELD: OK. Thanks a lot.
Well, that's going to do it for LIVE FROM.
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Aired December 2, 2004 - 14:57 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The White House is getting into the holiday spirit. This morning, First Lady Laura Bush showed off this year's holiday decorations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: This room is always so beautiful, however it's decorated, but especially this year, with the snow-covered trees and the red tablecloth, the white tulips. I think it really makes a beautiful room and this is the room that, of course, all of our guests who will be coming to parties all over the holiday season, will be able to fill their plate.
And, as you can see back here behind us, we have Frosty the Snowman, made by Thaddeus Dubois, our pastry chef. So that's the dessert table that is set up back there. And then on each of the mantles in this room is one of the songs that American children know and remember, and we have "Rudolph" over here, and "Marshmallow World" on that one, "Frosty the Snowman" back here, and "Toy Land" on the other mantle, so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you want most for Christmas this year?
BUSH: Of course, I want peace. And I hope we have peace in the new year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, the holiday festivities continue in Washington tonight, as the president throws the switch on the National Tree at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour, top of the news. The date is firm. President Bush isn't budging on January 30th, the date set for Iraqi elections. He says despite the security concerns, it's time that Iraq's citizens went to the polls. More on that in just a moment.
Representing America in Afghanistan, Vice President Dick Cheney plans to attend Hamid Karzai's presidential inauguration next week. Cheney will be the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Afghanistan since the Bush administration launched that war on terror.
Sports and steroids. Word that Yankee slugger Jason Giambi has admitted using steroids. "San Francisco Chronicle" reports that he testified to that before a grand jury investigating a company suspected of selling steroids to athletes. We're going to talk shortly with one of the writers who broke that story.
First up this hour, eight unsolved homicides and three frightening letters are back in the news.
In Wichita, Kansas, police are investigating whether an arrest last night is linked to the BTK serial killer case.
Our Keith Oppenheim joins us now live with more -- Keith.
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
Wichita Police now have the results of DNA tests taken from that man who was arrested last night. And the results of those tests could be a pretty big deal and an indicator of whether or not this is going to be a big break in this case. The suspect being held is being held on pretty high bond for such charges, a warrant of charges of trespassing and housing code violations, and being held on more than $25,000.
Earlier this week, police released details they had about BTK in recent letters that they believe were sent by the killer, including that he was about 64, that he always lived near railroad tracks and that he was a railroad buff in general. And, indeed, we're told that the arrested man fits that description, about 64 years old and his home is by railroad tracks.
It was earlier this year that this old case got some new attention when police and the media began to receive letters believed to be from BTK. That pattern actually started way back between 1977 and 1979, when investigators in media outlets got similar letters that ultimately linked BTK to seven murders in Wichita.
Then, for reasons not known, those letters stopped for 25 years. And it wasn't until this spring when more mail was sent to the police and the press connecting BTK to an eighth murder. Kyra, there are a couple things that are getting our attention at this point.
For one, the police on the scene were believed to be from the BTK investigation. That's what our sources are telling us. They were seen leaving the house. And DNA testing taken on the arrested man is very much in the theme of what has happened in this long investigation. Many DNA samples were taken. This is yet another example of that.
But the police are being quite tight-lipped at this point. There is going to be a press conference tomorrow, but what we can say for sure is that this is a man who has been arrested on housing code and trespassing violations. And we have to see whether you can make a connection between that and the first of a series of eight murders, the first which began 30 years ago -- back to you.
PHILLIPS: And a lot of victims' families wanting closure. Keith Oppenheim, thanks so much -- Fred. FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A life worth saving. Scott Peterson's attorneys are trying to convince jurors of that as they present more witnesses on his behalf.
CNN's Ted Rowlands is at the courthouse in Redwood City, California -- Ted.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, a few moments ago, they broke for the noon recess here.
On the stand before the break was Janey Peterson, Scott Peterson's sister-in-law. And she was on the stand for about a half- an-hour. And this has been the most emotional testimony we have heard from the Peterson side, from the defense side, since they started their case yesterday. Janey Peterson broke down and wept a number of times during her testimony when talking about Scott and her memories of him growing up.
Scott Peterson also was seen crying in the courtroom during this testimony. And this is the first time we've seen this type of emotion coming from the defense side. Whether or not jurors are feeling that same emotion is unclear. Nobody on the jury broke down during these periods, as some of the jurors did when Sharon Rocha, Laci Peterson's mother, was on the stand.
Janey Peterson said, when she met Laci Peterson, she said she was bubbly and energetic and was the first of the Peterson family to meet her. Before Janey got on the stand, there were more friends of the family beforehand and friends of Scott Peterson, most notably Aaron Fritz, who was on the stand early this morning. This is a longtime friend of Scott Peterson from high school. He talked at great lengths about what a wonderful person Scott Peterson is and was growing up and what a great friend he was and talked about all of the wonderful things he did, not only for him as a friend, but also for the community, saying at times he would go to Mexico, to Tijuana, to help on missions there through the church.
Basically, this has been a couple days of people getting up, telling this jury that what you've heard the last five months is only a sliver of this man's life, and, up until this, he had been the perfect Boy Scout, if you will. And they are asking that the jury to spares his life.
WHITFIELD: Ted Rowlands, thanks so much, from Redwood City.
Turning now to Iraq, President Bush says elections must go forward there as planned at the end of January, despite ongoing violence. He made the comments as he met with Nigeria's president in the Oval Office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The elections should not be postponed. It's time for the Iraqi citizens to go to the polls, and that's why we are very firm on the January 30 date.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Insurgent activity and deadly consequences across Iraq today, and a U.S. soldier on patrol in Mosul is among the dead. Two local Iraqi officials also were killed in a drive-by shooting northwest of Baquba. Two people were wounded. And, in Baghdad, mortar attacks killed one person and wounded several others. At least two mortars landed inside the heavily fortified Green Zone.
Amid the violence and the chaos, there are some apparent success stories.
Our CNN international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in northern Iraq, where U.S. forces are helping to rebuild that region.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAJ. ROBERT SCHULTZ, CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER: That one's clogged, too. Poor shape.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When civil affairs officer Major Robert Schultz begins his day's work in Kurdish- controlled northern Iraq, he has much to be thankful for.
SCHULTZ: Is this -- is this the water closet facility that needs the most attention?
ROBERTSON: Unlike his fellow servicemen, an hour's drive to the south, Schultz finds the Kurds in the north actually welcome his help.
SCHULTZ: They say because what we have done here in this region, they don't want anything to happen to us. There are secret police that are out on the streets that are -- are watching us. Anything that goes wrong or looks suspicious, they're out there asking questions.
It looks like it's progressing pretty good. Got the walls up.
ROBERTSON: In the next 12 months, Schultz and his teams expect to spend more than $100 million, helping the Kurds strengthen their civil society.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's good; it's also raised off the ground. It gives you more control of the cameras.
ROBERTSON: Hastily arranged visits like this one, to check on the building work at a TV station they're helping, are enabling them to get more bang for their bucks.
SGT. OLLIE ROWE, CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER: Because we don't have to go through all the security measures here that they have to go through down there we're able to touch base with a lot more people and do a lot more things and network a lot better here.
ROBERTSON: That also made easier, they say, by good cooperation from their hosts. (on camera): The result is that, even with just a few civil affairs teams to cover 1.1 million people in an area the size of Rhode Island, they're able to work on a diverse number of projects, from aiding refugees and displaced people to helping out at hospitals, rebuilding schools, equipping and training the police, to helping advance women's issues.
(voice-over): Computer classes for women are supported. Laptops have been given for outlying communities, and plans are under way to help women learn to drive and maybe even help them develop a much need women's sports facility.
JULA HAJI, KURDISH WOMEN'S UNION (through translator): I hope in the south they will learn from us as they see us rebuild our country, that the more peace you have, the quicker you can do it.
ROBERTSON: But for all the optimism, there is anger the instability in the center of Iraq is costing the Kurds much wanted international aid.
MUSA ALI BAKIR, REFUGEE COORDINATOR: You cannot make all Iraq the victim of the middle of Iraq.
ROBERTSON: A point not lost on these civil affairs officers, who count themselves lucky to make a difference.
Nic Robertson, CNN, northern Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, you may recognize these faces, Aaron Stewart, the son of golfer Payne Stewart. Next to him, Lee Janzen. And we're going to find out about this special tournament they played in and how many strokes Aaron gave Lee.
Isn't that right, Aaron?
We'll be right back after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: He had unusual tastes in clothing, a swing that made golfers green with envy and an inspiring faith in God. It was five years ago that golf great Payne Stewart died in a tragic plane crash, but his legacy lives on. And his spirit is once again shining brightly, shining through his son Aaron and golf great Lee Janzen.
Lee and Aaron have come together for the father-son golf championship in Champions Gate, Florida, to honor a great golfer and a tremendous father.
Great to see you both.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: OK, Aaron, I'm serious, how many strokes did you give Lee? Be honest with me.
AARON STEWART, SON OF PAYNE STEWART: Well, I had to help him out a bit. It wouldn't have been fair.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: How did he play, Lee?
LEE JANZEN, PGA GOLFER: How did he play? Actually, we haven't been able to talk about how he played today, but we have played the last few days leading into the tournament, trying to get ready, playing practice rounds. And I see him steadily improving every day. And I think by the time the tournament starts, he's going to be ready to go.
PHILLIPS: All right, well, Lee, let's talk about this father-son tournament. Why did you want to do this? Why did you want to play with Aaron. And what gave you the idea to bring him into this tournament?
JANZEN: Well, I watched the tournament last year, and I've watched it over the last few years, anticipating the day that I'm going to play with my son in this tournament. And I have been looking forward to that day.
And I just started going through the thoughts of all the players that play in it and their sons and what they think about it. And after seeing Arnold Palmer playing with his grandson, it just sort of hit me that it doesn't necessarily have to be a father and son. And then I started thinking about Aaron, knowing that he would be playing in this tournament if Payne were here today.
So, considering that I'm eligible to play and Aaron is also eligible to play, I just thought, we'll ask the tournament and see what they think. And, obviously, the tournament had to invite us. And we are very grateful that they have decided to let us play. And since we found out, we've been looking forward to it.
PHILLIPS: Well, it's wonderful. It's awesome. You guys played in the pro-am today. You're going to be playing in the tournament this weekend.
Aaron, you know, your father was not only known as a tremendous golfer, but he was also very vocal about his faith, his journey with God before he passed. And if I remember correctly, you're the one that gave him that special bracelet that he wore, right?
STEWART: Yes, ma'am. I gave him the green WWJD bracelet.
PHILLIPS: Which, of course, means, what would Jesus do? Why did you give it to your dad?
STEWART: Well, I had it downstairs. And I just thought, well, I'll give this to dad, because I wasn't wearing it. So I just thought maybe he could wear it and show everybody his faith.
PHILLIPS: Well, I'm curious, as you get on to the links now and you play, do you feel your father when you're playing?
STEWART: Every once in a while, if I hit a shot, I'll think what would he say on that shot. And, sometimes, though, yes.
PHILLIPS: Now, Lee, you actually beat Payne Stewart in the U.S. Open in 1998. But you also noticed and a lot of other golfers noticed that he took it gracefully. There was something different about him that year. Tell us about that.
JANZEN: Well, 1993 and 1998, he showed me sportsmanship and graciousness that I try to put -- it's hard to put yourself in the same shoes. But, if I could, I'm not sure I could have possibly showed that kind of character that he showed, to be able to genuinely be happy for someone else's victory, even in your own defeat.
And it was very impressive, also inspiring. Since Payne's not here, he affected a lot of people with his life. And it's been an inspiration to me to somehow live my life in a way that maybe some day I can have an effect on people also the way he did.
PHILLIPS: Aaron, what do you want people to remember most about your father?
STEWART: What kind of person he was, not necessarily how great a golfer he was, although he was a really good guy, but his personality and how he treated people, like Lee said, how he was gracious in defeat and just generally how he treated people and treated everybody equal.
PHILLIPS: Aaron Stewart and Lee Janzen, what a wonderful pair. I'm sure Payne is looking down and he will be with you through this tournament this weekend, guys. Thank you so much for your time today.
STEWART: Thank you.
JANZEN: You're welcome. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Good luck.
JANZEN: Thanks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A stunning revelation about one of baseball's best, Yankee slugger Jason Giambi, word today that he told a grand jury he had knowingly used steroids, Giambi just one of the high-profile athletes who has testified in the investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. BALCO, as it's called, was suspected of distributing designer steroids to elite athletes. Its founder is one of four people indicted in the case.
Mark Fainaru-Wada, a sports writer for "The San Francisco Chronicle," has been following it from day one.
Fifteen months, Mark, you've been on this story. Tell me how you came across breaking the Giambi stuff. MARK FAINARU-WADA, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE": Well, just in the course of reporting the story, basically.
We've spent, as you said, 15 months and try and develop sources over that time. And we've been fortunate enough to break a number of stories, and this is just our latest. And it's just a byproduct of being, you know, fortunate enough, again, to get some people to cooperate with us and give us an opportunity to review the grand jury testimony.
PHILLIPS: And, in your article, you lay out the he said/she said, but sort of looking at another angle right now about the athletes and how trusting they were with this company, with these drugs. Why is that? When you look at the combination of the substances they were putting in their bodies, doesn't it seem a little surprising?
FAINARU-WADA: Yes. I mean, it is somewhat startling, I think, in some way that -- the combination of the drugs that were being taken and the willingness to take all these drugs.
I know, in Giambi's testimony, he talks about several pills he was taking that he seemingly doesn't know what they were. I think he says -- there's question at one point. His brother, who also testifies to the same kinds of stuff, is asked why he trusted Anderson. And I think there was a trust that rooted, both of them, trusted and rooted in his relationship with Barry Bonds. He is Bonds' personal trainer. He had worked with him for years.
And, you know, and in Jeremy's case, he saw that his brother was doing OK, and so he just figured that -- I think they just figured that there was a reason that they could trust him.
PHILLIPS: Well, this has a lot of eyes on Major League Baseball and its policy about drug testing and steroids. Here's what Bud Selig had to say earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUD SELIG, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COMMISSIONER: Look, we have drug testing as a result of that August 30, 2002, labor agreement. And while many have described it in ways that I don't necessarily agree with it, we do have drug testing. But we need a tougher policy with tougher penalties and other things. And that's still -- it's to me beyond debate. And so I am going to spend the coming months and make sure that we have that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right, it was really hard to hear him, but what he was saying is, we have drug testing, but we need a tougher policy beyond a debate about this. We could spend months on it.
Let's talk about that policy. Is it tough enough? Does it need to be changed? Is that the key to taking care of this problem?
FAINARU-WADA: Well, I don't know, frankly, that you will take care of this problem.
The Olympic movement has a very tough policy -- or a tougher -- certainly a much tougher policy. And one thing we've learned from the BALCO case is that there were track athletes using these substances for years undetected. And the only way reason that anybody ended up finding out is because there happened to be a federal investigation that broke loose.
So I don't know that you solve the problem necessarily. But baseball, certainly, by all accounts, talking to experts, critics, everybody, could have a far more significant policy. Right now, it's a policy that basically there's one test a year. It's during the season. So, essentially, you could be an athlete, you could be a player, you could use all the way in the off-season right up until spring training substances that would then clear out of your system prior to being tested, then get tested at some point in the season and then begin using against right after you've been tested, because you know you are not going to get tested again. So it's a policy many people see as toothless.
PHILLIPS: Mark, my final question. Obviously, you have got to be a good athlete to play Major League Baseball. Jason Giambi had to be a good player, but then you think, why do they have to take steroids? And does that lead us to believe, are they really as great of an athlete as we think they are?
FAINARU-WADA: Well, I think that's certainly going to be a question people are asking themselves. And I think it's an unfortunate aspect of the case, because, basically, anybody who's not using then is going to be questioned as well. And that's one of the really sad byproducts of the whole story. I think it's a legitimate question to ask.
These are fantastic athletes, obviously. And Giambi certainly is a phenomenal athlete. And I think it's really unfortunate. It's difficult to quantitate exactly how much impact the drugs would have. But, clearly, there's a belief amongst the athletes and the numbers would seem to bear out statistically that using these kinds of substances are going to help.
PHILLIPS: Mark Fainaru-Wada, sportswriter for "The San Francisco Chronicle," 15 months working on these stories with designer steroids and elite athletes, we'll be watching for more. Thanks, Mark.
FAINARU-WADA: My pleasure. Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well, Martin Scorsese's latest movie takes flight. "The Aviator" stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes and premiered last night in Los Angeles to soaring reviews.
Sibila Vargas is live in Los Angeles with more on this and the rest of today's entertainment news -- hello, Sibila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka. Lots of action in L.A. last night. It was a star-studded seat in Hollywood for the premiere of Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator." Tinseltown's (INAUDIBLE) walked the red carpet for the Howard Hughes epic, including the big man himself, Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays the eccentric tycoon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ACTOR: The man fit 20 different lifetimes into one lifetime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: And now Leonardo is playing the role of a lifetime. You can see him and the rest of the cast, including Kate Beckinsale, Jude Law, and Gwen Stefani when the movie opens December 17.
VARGAS: Well, from one big party to another, it was a huge night at VH-1's Big In '04 Awards.
(MUSIC)
VARGAS: Black Eyed Peas definitely got things started as some of the year's biggest pop culture newsmakers got their props, including Mr. Jamie Foxx, who walked away with the big entertainer of '04 award.
(MUSIC)
VARGAS: ... made the cut. Michael Moore, who received loud cheers from the Big Boat Rocker trophy, and Usher, got the big Musical Artist award. The Big In '04 Awards airs Sunday on VH-1. Looks like a good one -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Not bat at all. And I understand there are a couple singers that are spreading cheer in a big way, some other singers.
VARGAS: Yes, that's true.
Two performers who weren't on the Big In '04 list, but who are definitely doing something big for our troops are singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant. The duo will be broadcasting part of an upcoming Christmas tour live for our troops in Baghdad.
The Texas concert on December 6 will also be seen in 176 other countries on the armed forces radio television network.
Now, part of the deal includes an audio-video hookup that will enable some soldiers and their family members in the audience to see and talk to each other. That is awesome. The San Antonio performance is the fourth stop on the 14-city Simply Christmas With Amy Grant and Vince Gill tour.
Now, Fredricka, if that ain't big in '04, then, you know what? I don't know what is.
WHITFIELD: I know. That's one way to end the year. That's definitely a good, popular vote.
Thanks a lot.
VARGAS: Great Christmas present.
WHITFIELD: OK. Thanks a lot.
Well, that's going to do it for LIVE FROM.
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