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Live From...
Scott Peterson Sentenced to Death; Smart Guns
Aired March 16, 2005 - 15:00 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: First this hour, the last chapter beginning in a harrowing tale of marriage, betrayal and murder. Fertilizer salesman Scott Lee Peterson was sentenced to death today for killing his wife, Laci, who was seven months pregnant with the couple's child, Conner.
Standing by live as the story unfolds, CNN's Ted Rowlands in Redwood City, California -- Ted.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the trial segment of that saga came to an end here this morning, with Judge Alfred Delucchi sentencing Scott Peterson to death and ordering that he be transferred to San Quentin state prison within the next 10 days.
Before Judge Delucchi made the final sentence, Scott Peterson sat and listened as Laci Peterson's family, one by one, got up and said whatever they wanted to him. It was a very emotional morning. Brent Rocha, Scott Peterson -- or Laci Peterson's brother, Scott Peterson's brother-in-law, got up and called Peterson a coward. He said he went out on January 4, a few weeks after his sister was missing, and he bought himself a gun.
And he said: I'm glad I didn't kill you, Scott. I'm glad that I made the right decision, so that you can sit and stew.
The most emotional portion of this was when Sharon Rocha got up and spoke to Scott Peterson, talking about her daughter that she'll never be able to see again, talking about the grandson that she'll never meet, never get to see, never get to spend time with.
Peterson did not waver, did not show any emotion while sitting there and listening. At times, he made eye contact. At times, he didn't. His father did have an outburst in court at one point. He eventually left, along with his mother.
Outside of court, jurors addressed the media. They were present; 13 of the jurors were present. They sat in the jury box. They said they were confident in their decision. Also outside the courthouse, Ron Grantski, Laci Peterson's stepfather, had this to say to reporters and supporters that were outside the courthouse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON GRANTSKI, STEPFATHER OF LACI PETERSON: Our family's going to make it. We're stronger because of this. And Scott got what he deserved. We're fortunate we have this law that we have. It's a double murder. He killed our grandson and our daughter. Every state should have it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: And the Rochas said they will be part of a news conference tomorrow in Modesto to further talk about the case. But, for now, the trial of Scott Peterson is over. He is headed to death row -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ted Rowlands outside the courthouse, thank you so much.
Now the search for Jessica Lunsford and the man being sought for questioning. In the next few hours, we expect to learn the name of a man first described as a person of interest revealed today by sources as a convicted sex offender. Jessica Lunsford is 9 years old. She was last seen exactly three weeks ago tonight in her bedroom in Citrus County, Florida. She was gone the next day.
CNN's Sara Dorsey has the developing story from the Citrus County sheriff's Department -- Sara.
All right, we lost contact with Sara. We will try and get that fixed. We will bring you back to Florida, Citrus County, Florida, in just a moment.
Moving to other news, other California courtroom news, that is, the lead investigator in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial basically tells the defense, stay tuned for further developments. Other people may have come forward with additional allegations against the pop singer and the case is still active, according to Sergeant Steve Robel.
Robel's comments came in response to a defense question about whether police jumped the gun and should have waited for more information before searching Neverland last November. Robel says investigators decided to draw up a search warrant and serve it when they did because of the concerns that evidence would have been moved or destroyed.
Now back to that search for Jessica Lunsford and how police are coming forward saying they are looking for a sex offender that may be involved in the case.
Sara Dorsey now live from Citrus County, Florida -- Sara.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, in only a little two and a half hours, we expect to learn who this person of interest is in the case of missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford.
Now, just a short time ago, the sheriff's office came out confirming what CNN has been reporting, that this man is, indeed, a registered sex offender and was living in this particular area. Now, he apparently has been seen and actually picked up in Savannah, Georgia. He was there, picked up by police on an unrelated incident, but was let go because they had no order to hold on to this man. One law enforcement source tells us that they believe that this guy is on the run, but investigators here will not confirm that. They are only saying that they have gotten this man's name. It's come up several times in the course of this investigation. They will not say if there is any evidence linking him, physical evidence, linking him to this particular case.
And Mark Lunsford, Jessica's father, says he has no idea who this man could possibly be.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUTH LUNSFORD, GRANDMOTHER OF JESSICA: Whoever it is, I hope they come forward. And it could be a number of people. I don't know anything about this man. But, you know, it could be the man on the street that you don't suspect.
MARK LUNSFORD, FATHER OF JESSICA: I have confidence in my sheriff's department and I truly believe in my heart that my daughter is coming home. I just don't know when. Sometimes, it's a little hard to swallow, but you just swallow it and YOU keep searching, because that's what she wants ME TO do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: And there are several sex offenders that have been looked at throughout the course of this investigation. That is standard procedure. But our sources tell us the one thing that makes this man different is That there is an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failure to check in with his probation officer.
The sheriff will not tell us how significant he thinks this man is., only that his investigators need to talk to him and possibly they can gain more information -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: What about the polygraph test that the grandmother took and the red flags it raised? Sara, do you know anything more about that?
DORSEY: Yes.
The sheriff came out yesterday saying that Ruth Lunsford, the grandmother, Jessica's grandmother, was given a polygraph test and there were two red flags that were raised. The sheriff will not tell us at all on what questions or what types of things they were talking about when those red flags came up. He did say the FBI spoke in length then with Ruth after that and that there is a possibility that nerves and stress could play a part.
Mark Lunsford, Jessica's dad, defended both his mom and his dad saying, you know, I've known these people for years, I know them better than any of you, and that they have nothing to do with this case.
PHILLIPS: All right, Sara Dorsey, thank you so much. And CNN is going to stay there, so is Sara, for the news conference scheduled by the Citrus County Sheriff's Department. The time, we're told, is 5:30 Eastern, 2:30 Pacific. We'll take it live.
And, in Atlanta today, memorial services for Julie Ann Brandau, who died in last Friday's courthouse shooting rampage. Brandau had been Judge Rowland Barnes' court reporter for 25 years. Both were shot and killed Friday, allegedly by rape suspect Brian Nichols, who was on trial in their courtroom.
Also today, more troubling evidence that the shooting spree could have been averted or at least minimized. "The Atlanta Journal- Constitution" reports that, after the rampage began, officers who went to search Nichols' jail cell found a handwritten list of names, including that of Judge Barnes.
Iraq's National Assembly officially convened today and members were challenged to strive for national unity. There's word that negotiators for the two majority parties have agreed in principle on all issues, except Islam's role in the new government. One man is working hard to keep Islam out of Iraqi law.
CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Baghdad to tell us about him.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, good evening.
A largely ceremonial day, important one, at that, as the 275 members of the Iraqi National Assembly were sworn in. Absent from today was (AUDIO GAP)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So this is:
RAMAN (voice-over): The sword used by Saddam's son to kill.
YONADAM KANNA, ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN LEADER: It was used by Uday teams beheading people and cutting their hands.
RAMAN: Today held by a man long persecuted by the former regime. Yonadam Kanna is leader of Iraq's tiny Assyrian Christian community. Sentenced to death by Saddam for plotting against the government, he now occupies what were the offices of the Fedayeen, the regime's brutal henchmen.
KANNA: Politically, at that time, we were fifth-degree citizens. Arab Sunni were the first for sure, the Baathist one.
RAMAN: But Kanna's concerns now are about where Iraq is headed and his challenge is a daunting one. He is the sole representative of the Assyrian Christian Party in the National Assembly.
KANNA: A lot of joint targets as Iraqis, so the secular or the liberal or the patriotic members are with us. And we are together now. I am not alone. RAMAN: A year ago, Kanna held up Iraq's transitional law, the first step towards a new constitution. It left unresolved the place of Islam in governing Iraq, and that remains the great debate facing the new National Assembly. Not surprisingly, as a Christian, Kanna opposes Islamic role.
KANNA: We have to keep the direction on the correct way, not to go for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the -- bin Laden and Zarqawi's way, and not for the fanaticism of other religious parties.
RAMAN: But away from the politics and the everyday violence, he finds sanctuary in his church and strength in his religion.
KANNA: And we feel very comfortable and get confident and relaxed. So, we are more close to peace when we are in the church.
RAMAN: A singular voice praying that a similar peace will one day prevail throughout his country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: And, Kyra, apologies for those technical difficulties.
One man's story in what is a seminal and important day in Iraq, but largely ceremonial. The pressure now on for that government to take formation and for democracy here, Kyra, to take root.
PHILLIPS: Aneesh Raman, thank you so much.
And you can log on to CNN.com/Iraq for a guide to the new Iraq government and an in-depth look at the changing nation.
One thing that might have stopped Friday's courthouse killings is a smarter gun that, believe it or not, knows its owner.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD SEBASTIAN, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: It really makes the decision while you're pulling the trigger. There is no activation period here. While you grab the gun and you pull the trigger, that's when we're making the identity read.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Coming up, amazing high-tech weapons that could actually save lives.
And, later, Martha Stewart's latest fashion accessory. It's one she does not recommend, says it is a bit uncomfortable. I don't know what the deal is with the shoes.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, you do hear it quite a number of times. Someone gets ahold of another person's gun and fires. And it happened last week in the Atlanta courthouse killings. The tragedy is providing ammunition now to manufacture so-called smart guns, which can only be fired by their owners.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick shows us how they work.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This automatic being fired by officer Robert Ohala (ph) is no ordinary gun. It's a smart gun, or at least a prototype of one. When it's perfected, this weapon will allow only Officer Ohala to fire it, not a criminal and certainly not a child.
SEBASTIAN: It really makes the decision while you're pulling the trigger. There is no activation period here. While you grab the gun and you pull the trigger, that's when we're making the identity read.
FEYERICK: Donald Sebastian heads up research and development at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Five years ago, state lawmakers asked him to find out if guns could be made safer and smarter.
MICHAEL RECCE, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: And the first stage usually is something like this.
FEYERICK: Associate professor Michael Recce was tapped to find the answer. And though he didn't know a lot about guns, he did know a lot about human behavior.
RECCE: One of the things that I was struck by is how dynamic behavior, certain types of behavior are so repeatable, like the way you grab a pen or a golf club.
FEYERICK: The professor discovered the same was true of guns.
RECCE: We used police officers and students. We had them grab a plastic gun. And we look at where their hand went. And we saw that, repeatedly, their hands were always going to the same place.
FEYERICK: So, the professor and his team of graduate students placed tiny sensors in this handgrip.
RECCE: As the person grabs the gun, their fingers will touch some of these grips, some of these sensors and their pressure measurements will then -- will be measured over time.
FEYERICK: Measured and used as a key to unlock a gun in a tenth of a second, even by a novice.
(on camera): I had more control over the gun.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.
FEYERICK: Not that I'm used to holding the gun, but it feels the same. Each time I fired it, it feels exactly the same.
(voice-over): Not everyone is a fan of the new technology. Chris Cox lobbies for the National Rifle Association.
CHRIS COX, NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION: This high-tech is high- risk. It's unsafe. It's unproven, and it's unreliable. And a less reliable gun is a dumber gun.
FEYERICK: In truth, the so-called smart gun is at least two years from being ready. Inventors point out even ordinary guns misfire.
SEBASTIAN: The gun itself it's not foolproof. The electronics won't be foolproof. But we can ensure that we've taken the technology to the level required, that it actually is better than current reliability of a mechanical gun.
FEYERICK: In the future, a single gun can be programmed so that many shooters can use it.
(on camera): You're telling me that you could actually input the hand sensors of 100 people and the gun would be able to be activated by 100 people, as long as they're authorized users?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure. How many numbers can you have in your cell phone?
FRED CORRUBIA, PARAMUS POLICE CHIEF: It would actually have to used by the working officer. You would have to be able to shoot it left-handed, right-handed and from various positions which we might encounter in an actual street scene. I want to make sure the gun never goes to the point that it fails for us.
FEYERICK (voice-over): Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And a check of the financial markets straight ahead. also, Jeanne Moos with the 21st century version of the ball and chain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Did you shave your leg here?
MUHAMED SACIRBEY, UNDER HOUSE ARREST: No. But I think this actually rubs so much that it...
MOOS: Takes the hair off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Obviously, that's not Martha Stewart, but, as you know, Martha Stewart has traded in her prison uniform for something a little less comfortable. You know what we're talking about. And, no, she's not wearing those shoes, I promise you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(FINANCIAL UPDATE) PHILLIPS: Well, people may joke about the fashion police, but, for Martha Stewart, that new ankle accessory isn't an option. As a proven trendsetter, Stewart can take comfort in these facts. Not only are others following in her footsteps. There are entrepreneurs ready and willing to help her get through the next five months without breaking her style stride.
CNN's Jeanne Moos with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Where once Martha's ankle was bare, now there's something like this there. And suddenly, everybody's wearing them.
TONY DANZA, TALK SHOW HOST: Hi, I'm Tony Danza. And I'm under house arrest because really, you know, if you're not under house arrest you're really nobody.
MOOS: Talk about getting attached to a story.
DEBORAH NORVILLE, MSNBC: I wanted to know what it's like to be a prisoner in your own home.
MOOS: Oh, for the good old days when an anklet was a piece of jewelry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "DOUBLE INDEMNITY")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a honey of an anklet you're wearing Mrs. Dietrichson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: And that's a honey of an ankle you're wearing, Mr. Sacirbey.
SACIRBEY: It's like a little striptease.
MOOS: Muhamed Sacirbey used to be Bosnia's U.N. ambassador. Now he's being investigated for misuse of Bosnian government funds, something he vehemently denies. Sacirbey is tethered to his Staten Island apartment by an ankle bracelet just like Martha's.
We call this ankle cam.
SUSAN SACIRBEY, MUHAMED SACIRBEY'S WIFE: It's a little black box. I tell him not to let it be his scarlet letter.
MOOS: Sacirbey's wife is so glad to have him home from jail, she doesn't mind that he can only go as far as the trash chute. They have a nickname for the ankle bracelet.
M. SACIRBEY: Bling-bling.
MOOS: The bling-bling on his ankle transmits to this unit, attached to a special phone line. If he strays too far, the system alerts central monitoring.
You wear it to bed, you wear it in the shower.
(on camera): Did you shave your leg here?
M. SACIRBEY: No. But I think this actually rubs so much that it...
MOOS: Takes the hair off.
M. SACIRBEY: Takes the hair off, yes.
MOOS (voice-over): Martha has mentioned it makes exercising difficult. On the bright side, maybe you'll fall in love with the guy who services your ankle bracelet, like in the movie "Cherish."
On the not-so-bright side...
(on camera): Do you have to pay for this?
M. SACIRBEY: Yes. It's about $100 a month.
MOOS (voice-over): But at least for the guy in long pants, you practically have to crawl on all fours to notice it.
(on camera): In order to wear skirts?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you need to cover it. You need to cover it, or you're going to be marked.
MOOS (voice-over): So shoe designer Robert Degenia (ph) designed a line of shoes that would hide Martha's ankle bracelet. Remember her poncho look?
(on camera): This is a twofer. This one, you cover the ankle bracelet and you reference back to the famous poncho.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
MOOS (voice-over): Speaking of great outfits, some say Spider- Man was the inspiration for the ankle bracelet, that a judge in New Mexico suggested the idea after seeing a villain slap a tracking device on Spider-Man.
Think of the average bracelet as a modern day ball and chain. All it needs is the right shoe.
(on camera): What size is Martha?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She is -- we're still getting updates on that, but I think she's a 9 1/2.
MOOS (voice-over): The new line of Martha inspired shoes is called Just Out, shoes you can break your ankle in but not your ankle bracelet.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, that wraps up this Wednesday edition of LIVE FROM.
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 March 16, 2005 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First this hour, the last chapter beginning in a harrowing tale of marriage, betrayal and murder. Fertilizer salesman Scott Lee Peterson was sentenced to death today for killing his wife, Laci, who was seven months pregnant with the couple's child, Conner.
Standing by live as the story unfolds, CNN's Ted Rowlands in Redwood City, California -- Ted.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the trial segment of that saga came to an end here this morning, with Judge Alfred Delucchi sentencing Scott Peterson to death and ordering that he be transferred to San Quentin state prison within the next 10 days.
Before Judge Delucchi made the final sentence, Scott Peterson sat and listened as Laci Peterson's family, one by one, got up and said whatever they wanted to him. It was a very emotional morning. Brent Rocha, Scott Peterson -- or Laci Peterson's brother, Scott Peterson's brother-in-law, got up and called Peterson a coward. He said he went out on January 4, a few weeks after his sister was missing, and he bought himself a gun.
And he said: I'm glad I didn't kill you, Scott. I'm glad that I made the right decision, so that you can sit and stew.
The most emotional portion of this was when Sharon Rocha got up and spoke to Scott Peterson, talking about her daughter that she'll never be able to see again, talking about the grandson that she'll never meet, never get to see, never get to spend time with.
Peterson did not waver, did not show any emotion while sitting there and listening. At times, he made eye contact. At times, he didn't. His father did have an outburst in court at one point. He eventually left, along with his mother.
Outside of court, jurors addressed the media. They were present; 13 of the jurors were present. They sat in the jury box. They said they were confident in their decision. Also outside the courthouse, Ron Grantski, Laci Peterson's stepfather, had this to say to reporters and supporters that were outside the courthouse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON GRANTSKI, STEPFATHER OF LACI PETERSON: Our family's going to make it. We're stronger because of this. And Scott got what he deserved. We're fortunate we have this law that we have. It's a double murder. He killed our grandson and our daughter. Every state should have it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: And the Rochas said they will be part of a news conference tomorrow in Modesto to further talk about the case. But, for now, the trial of Scott Peterson is over. He is headed to death row -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ted Rowlands outside the courthouse, thank you so much.
Now the search for Jessica Lunsford and the man being sought for questioning. In the next few hours, we expect to learn the name of a man first described as a person of interest revealed today by sources as a convicted sex offender. Jessica Lunsford is 9 years old. She was last seen exactly three weeks ago tonight in her bedroom in Citrus County, Florida. She was gone the next day.
CNN's Sara Dorsey has the developing story from the Citrus County sheriff's Department -- Sara.
All right, we lost contact with Sara. We will try and get that fixed. We will bring you back to Florida, Citrus County, Florida, in just a moment.
Moving to other news, other California courtroom news, that is, the lead investigator in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial basically tells the defense, stay tuned for further developments. Other people may have come forward with additional allegations against the pop singer and the case is still active, according to Sergeant Steve Robel.
Robel's comments came in response to a defense question about whether police jumped the gun and should have waited for more information before searching Neverland last November. Robel says investigators decided to draw up a search warrant and serve it when they did because of the concerns that evidence would have been moved or destroyed.
Now back to that search for Jessica Lunsford and how police are coming forward saying they are looking for a sex offender that may be involved in the case.
Sara Dorsey now live from Citrus County, Florida -- Sara.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, in only a little two and a half hours, we expect to learn who this person of interest is in the case of missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford.
Now, just a short time ago, the sheriff's office came out confirming what CNN has been reporting, that this man is, indeed, a registered sex offender and was living in this particular area. Now, he apparently has been seen and actually picked up in Savannah, Georgia. He was there, picked up by police on an unrelated incident, but was let go because they had no order to hold on to this man. One law enforcement source tells us that they believe that this guy is on the run, but investigators here will not confirm that. They are only saying that they have gotten this man's name. It's come up several times in the course of this investigation. They will not say if there is any evidence linking him, physical evidence, linking him to this particular case.
And Mark Lunsford, Jessica's father, says he has no idea who this man could possibly be.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUTH LUNSFORD, GRANDMOTHER OF JESSICA: Whoever it is, I hope they come forward. And it could be a number of people. I don't know anything about this man. But, you know, it could be the man on the street that you don't suspect.
MARK LUNSFORD, FATHER OF JESSICA: I have confidence in my sheriff's department and I truly believe in my heart that my daughter is coming home. I just don't know when. Sometimes, it's a little hard to swallow, but you just swallow it and YOU keep searching, because that's what she wants ME TO do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: And there are several sex offenders that have been looked at throughout the course of this investigation. That is standard procedure. But our sources tell us the one thing that makes this man different is That there is an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failure to check in with his probation officer.
The sheriff will not tell us how significant he thinks this man is., only that his investigators need to talk to him and possibly they can gain more information -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: What about the polygraph test that the grandmother took and the red flags it raised? Sara, do you know anything more about that?
DORSEY: Yes.
The sheriff came out yesterday saying that Ruth Lunsford, the grandmother, Jessica's grandmother, was given a polygraph test and there were two red flags that were raised. The sheriff will not tell us at all on what questions or what types of things they were talking about when those red flags came up. He did say the FBI spoke in length then with Ruth after that and that there is a possibility that nerves and stress could play a part.
Mark Lunsford, Jessica's dad, defended both his mom and his dad saying, you know, I've known these people for years, I know them better than any of you, and that they have nothing to do with this case.
PHILLIPS: All right, Sara Dorsey, thank you so much. And CNN is going to stay there, so is Sara, for the news conference scheduled by the Citrus County Sheriff's Department. The time, we're told, is 5:30 Eastern, 2:30 Pacific. We'll take it live.
And, in Atlanta today, memorial services for Julie Ann Brandau, who died in last Friday's courthouse shooting rampage. Brandau had been Judge Rowland Barnes' court reporter for 25 years. Both were shot and killed Friday, allegedly by rape suspect Brian Nichols, who was on trial in their courtroom.
Also today, more troubling evidence that the shooting spree could have been averted or at least minimized. "The Atlanta Journal- Constitution" reports that, after the rampage began, officers who went to search Nichols' jail cell found a handwritten list of names, including that of Judge Barnes.
Iraq's National Assembly officially convened today and members were challenged to strive for national unity. There's word that negotiators for the two majority parties have agreed in principle on all issues, except Islam's role in the new government. One man is working hard to keep Islam out of Iraqi law.
CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Baghdad to tell us about him.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, good evening.
A largely ceremonial day, important one, at that, as the 275 members of the Iraqi National Assembly were sworn in. Absent from today was (AUDIO GAP)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So this is:
RAMAN (voice-over): The sword used by Saddam's son to kill.
YONADAM KANNA, ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN LEADER: It was used by Uday teams beheading people and cutting their hands.
RAMAN: Today held by a man long persecuted by the former regime. Yonadam Kanna is leader of Iraq's tiny Assyrian Christian community. Sentenced to death by Saddam for plotting against the government, he now occupies what were the offices of the Fedayeen, the regime's brutal henchmen.
KANNA: Politically, at that time, we were fifth-degree citizens. Arab Sunni were the first for sure, the Baathist one.
RAMAN: But Kanna's concerns now are about where Iraq is headed and his challenge is a daunting one. He is the sole representative of the Assyrian Christian Party in the National Assembly.
KANNA: A lot of joint targets as Iraqis, so the secular or the liberal or the patriotic members are with us. And we are together now. I am not alone. RAMAN: A year ago, Kanna held up Iraq's transitional law, the first step towards a new constitution. It left unresolved the place of Islam in governing Iraq, and that remains the great debate facing the new National Assembly. Not surprisingly, as a Christian, Kanna opposes Islamic role.
KANNA: We have to keep the direction on the correct way, not to go for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the -- bin Laden and Zarqawi's way, and not for the fanaticism of other religious parties.
RAMAN: But away from the politics and the everyday violence, he finds sanctuary in his church and strength in his religion.
KANNA: And we feel very comfortable and get confident and relaxed. So, we are more close to peace when we are in the church.
RAMAN: A singular voice praying that a similar peace will one day prevail throughout his country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: And, Kyra, apologies for those technical difficulties.
One man's story in what is a seminal and important day in Iraq, but largely ceremonial. The pressure now on for that government to take formation and for democracy here, Kyra, to take root.
PHILLIPS: Aneesh Raman, thank you so much.
And you can log on to CNN.com/Iraq for a guide to the new Iraq government and an in-depth look at the changing nation.
One thing that might have stopped Friday's courthouse killings is a smarter gun that, believe it or not, knows its owner.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD SEBASTIAN, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: It really makes the decision while you're pulling the trigger. There is no activation period here. While you grab the gun and you pull the trigger, that's when we're making the identity read.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Coming up, amazing high-tech weapons that could actually save lives.
And, later, Martha Stewart's latest fashion accessory. It's one she does not recommend, says it is a bit uncomfortable. I don't know what the deal is with the shoes.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, you do hear it quite a number of times. Someone gets ahold of another person's gun and fires. And it happened last week in the Atlanta courthouse killings. The tragedy is providing ammunition now to manufacture so-called smart guns, which can only be fired by their owners.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick shows us how they work.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This automatic being fired by officer Robert Ohala (ph) is no ordinary gun. It's a smart gun, or at least a prototype of one. When it's perfected, this weapon will allow only Officer Ohala to fire it, not a criminal and certainly not a child.
SEBASTIAN: It really makes the decision while you're pulling the trigger. There is no activation period here. While you grab the gun and you pull the trigger, that's when we're making the identity read.
FEYERICK: Donald Sebastian heads up research and development at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Five years ago, state lawmakers asked him to find out if guns could be made safer and smarter.
MICHAEL RECCE, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: And the first stage usually is something like this.
FEYERICK: Associate professor Michael Recce was tapped to find the answer. And though he didn't know a lot about guns, he did know a lot about human behavior.
RECCE: One of the things that I was struck by is how dynamic behavior, certain types of behavior are so repeatable, like the way you grab a pen or a golf club.
FEYERICK: The professor discovered the same was true of guns.
RECCE: We used police officers and students. We had them grab a plastic gun. And we look at where their hand went. And we saw that, repeatedly, their hands were always going to the same place.
FEYERICK: So, the professor and his team of graduate students placed tiny sensors in this handgrip.
RECCE: As the person grabs the gun, their fingers will touch some of these grips, some of these sensors and their pressure measurements will then -- will be measured over time.
FEYERICK: Measured and used as a key to unlock a gun in a tenth of a second, even by a novice.
(on camera): I had more control over the gun.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.
FEYERICK: Not that I'm used to holding the gun, but it feels the same. Each time I fired it, it feels exactly the same.
(voice-over): Not everyone is a fan of the new technology. Chris Cox lobbies for the National Rifle Association.
CHRIS COX, NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION: This high-tech is high- risk. It's unsafe. It's unproven, and it's unreliable. And a less reliable gun is a dumber gun.
FEYERICK: In truth, the so-called smart gun is at least two years from being ready. Inventors point out even ordinary guns misfire.
SEBASTIAN: The gun itself it's not foolproof. The electronics won't be foolproof. But we can ensure that we've taken the technology to the level required, that it actually is better than current reliability of a mechanical gun.
FEYERICK: In the future, a single gun can be programmed so that many shooters can use it.
(on camera): You're telling me that you could actually input the hand sensors of 100 people and the gun would be able to be activated by 100 people, as long as they're authorized users?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure. How many numbers can you have in your cell phone?
FRED CORRUBIA, PARAMUS POLICE CHIEF: It would actually have to used by the working officer. You would have to be able to shoot it left-handed, right-handed and from various positions which we might encounter in an actual street scene. I want to make sure the gun never goes to the point that it fails for us.
FEYERICK (voice-over): Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And a check of the financial markets straight ahead. also, Jeanne Moos with the 21st century version of the ball and chain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Did you shave your leg here?
MUHAMED SACIRBEY, UNDER HOUSE ARREST: No. But I think this actually rubs so much that it...
MOOS: Takes the hair off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Obviously, that's not Martha Stewart, but, as you know, Martha Stewart has traded in her prison uniform for something a little less comfortable. You know what we're talking about. And, no, she's not wearing those shoes, I promise you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(FINANCIAL UPDATE) PHILLIPS: Well, people may joke about the fashion police, but, for Martha Stewart, that new ankle accessory isn't an option. As a proven trendsetter, Stewart can take comfort in these facts. Not only are others following in her footsteps. There are entrepreneurs ready and willing to help her get through the next five months without breaking her style stride.
CNN's Jeanne Moos with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Where once Martha's ankle was bare, now there's something like this there. And suddenly, everybody's wearing them.
TONY DANZA, TALK SHOW HOST: Hi, I'm Tony Danza. And I'm under house arrest because really, you know, if you're not under house arrest you're really nobody.
MOOS: Talk about getting attached to a story.
DEBORAH NORVILLE, MSNBC: I wanted to know what it's like to be a prisoner in your own home.
MOOS: Oh, for the good old days when an anklet was a piece of jewelry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "DOUBLE INDEMNITY")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a honey of an anklet you're wearing Mrs. Dietrichson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: And that's a honey of an ankle you're wearing, Mr. Sacirbey.
SACIRBEY: It's like a little striptease.
MOOS: Muhamed Sacirbey used to be Bosnia's U.N. ambassador. Now he's being investigated for misuse of Bosnian government funds, something he vehemently denies. Sacirbey is tethered to his Staten Island apartment by an ankle bracelet just like Martha's.
We call this ankle cam.
SUSAN SACIRBEY, MUHAMED SACIRBEY'S WIFE: It's a little black box. I tell him not to let it be his scarlet letter.
MOOS: Sacirbey's wife is so glad to have him home from jail, she doesn't mind that he can only go as far as the trash chute. They have a nickname for the ankle bracelet.
M. SACIRBEY: Bling-bling.
MOOS: The bling-bling on his ankle transmits to this unit, attached to a special phone line. If he strays too far, the system alerts central monitoring.
You wear it to bed, you wear it in the shower.
(on camera): Did you shave your leg here?
M. SACIRBEY: No. But I think this actually rubs so much that it...
MOOS: Takes the hair off.
M. SACIRBEY: Takes the hair off, yes.
MOOS (voice-over): Martha has mentioned it makes exercising difficult. On the bright side, maybe you'll fall in love with the guy who services your ankle bracelet, like in the movie "Cherish."
On the not-so-bright side...
(on camera): Do you have to pay for this?
M. SACIRBEY: Yes. It's about $100 a month.
MOOS (voice-over): But at least for the guy in long pants, you practically have to crawl on all fours to notice it.
(on camera): In order to wear skirts?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you need to cover it. You need to cover it, or you're going to be marked.
MOOS (voice-over): So shoe designer Robert Degenia (ph) designed a line of shoes that would hide Martha's ankle bracelet. Remember her poncho look?
(on camera): This is a twofer. This one, you cover the ankle bracelet and you reference back to the famous poncho.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
MOOS (voice-over): Speaking of great outfits, some say Spider- Man was the inspiration for the ankle bracelet, that a judge in New Mexico suggested the idea after seeing a villain slap a tracking device on Spider-Man.
Think of the average bracelet as a modern day ball and chain. All it needs is the right shoe.
(on camera): What size is Martha?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She is -- we're still getting updates on that, but I think she's a 9 1/2.
MOOS (voice-over): The new line of Martha inspired shoes is called Just Out, shoes you can break your ankle in but not your ankle bracelet.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, that wraps up this Wednesday edition of LIVE FROM.
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