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Prosecution Gives Closing Argument in Michael Jackson Trial; Runaway Bride Sentenced; Study Links Painkillers to Breast Cancer; Cuba Exile Who Helped Brother Escape Forced to Stay

Aired June 02, 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.


CAROL LIN, ANCHOR: "Now in the News" -- closing arguments are under way in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial. The jury has been told it will get the case tomorrow. We're going to have a live update from the courthouse straight ahead.
Apple Computer agrees to settle a consumer class action lawsuit. It involved battery problems with older versions of its popular iPod music player. Apple plans to distribute vouchers good for $50 off most Apple products and services.

The Associated Press reports (NO AUDIO) George Mikan has died. Family members say he died last night and had been suffering from diabetes and kidney failure. Mikan led the Lakers to five NBA championships. He was 80 years old.

And a car bombing in Beirut kills a prominent Lebanese journalist. Samir Kassir had frequently criticized Syria's involvement in Lebanon. Authorities say the bomb apparently was planted in Kassir's car. His wife is requesting an immediate international investigation.

The jury could begin deciding Michael Jackson's fate as early as tomorrow. Closing arguments began this morning in the pop star's child molestation trial. So we're going to go live now to the courthouse in Santa Maria, California, for the very latest from CNN's Ted Rowlands -- Ted.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're back at it. Ron Zonen is the assistant district attorney who is delivering the closing argument, and he has been very clear, very concise and very compelling throughout his two hour plus closing argument to this point.

He talked about Neverland Ranch and Michael Jackson, saying that he groomed children there. He separated kids from parents, authority and discipline. He said that this is a case about exploiting and abusing a 13-year-old cancer survivor at the hands of an international celebrity.

He said the kids played at day and then at night they entered the world of forbidden at Neverland. They learned about human sexuality, said Zonen, from someone who is more than willing to be their teacher.

Zonen attacked the defense theory that this has all been made up by the accuser and the accuser's mother, saying the suggestion that all of this was planned is nonsense, unmitigated rubbish. He defended the mother in this case, saying that if you compare her to the mothers of the other alleged victims of Michael Jackson, she actually was the only one that pulled her child out of harm's way.

He put up a photo of Michael Jackson in the middle with four accusers on the outside, four -- four victims, according to the prosecution, of molestation, and he said if you believe one of them, the one that came in here and testified, well, then Michael Jackson is indeed a child molester.

He showed photos of nude boys which were found at Jackson's home. He also showed pornography which the boys in this case say were a part of what Michael Jackson did in terms of the grooming. They say that they were shown the pornography by Jackson.

He said Jackson's a problem drinker and that he gave the boys alcohol as part of the grooming process.

He was very animated, very clear, very focused. It's expected that he'll finish up within the next hour to save time for rebuttal. Tom Mesereau, Michael Jackson's attorney, is up next. Jackson showed up today with family members, brothers Randy and Jermaine and mom and dad.

It is expected that this jury will begin deliberating Jackson's fate as early as the end of the day today but most likely tomorrow morning -- Carol.

LIN: Ted, how is Michael Jackson handling listening to the closing arguments?

ROWLANDS: There's no visible reaction from Jackson or from any family members. Clearly, this has to be very difficult for them to listen to, and because Zonen is very effective in the way he is delivering this closing argument and really does paint a compelling picture towards Jackson's guilt.

It will be up to Tom Mesereau to try to do the exact same thing, painting a picture of innocence, but at this point, no reaction from Jackson or his family.

LIN: All right. Ted Rowlands, thank you very much.

In the meantime, a plea deal for the runaway bride. First thing this morning, Jennifer Wilbanks was in a Georgia courtroom, her first public appearance since disappearing days before her wedding.

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield outside the courthouse in Lawrenceville. Fred, so she finally made her court appearance. What actually happened?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She did indeed, Carol. Jennifer Wilbanks trying to come to terms with what she did. First, running away just days before her planned wedding, then showing up some 1,400 miles away, lying to authorities, and now paying the price for misleading those officials. Today with her fiance, John Mason, and other family members standing proudly by her side, she appeared in an Atlanta suburb county -- before an Atlanta suburb county judge, pleading no contest to making false statements to police.

Judge Ronnie Bachelor, no kidding on the name, sentenced her to two years probation, 120 hours of community service and ordered that she continue to receive mental health care. She must also pay the Gwinnett County sheriff's office $2,500 in restitution.

Now, earlier this week, Wilbanks paid the city of Duluth here in Georgia some $13,000 for some of the expenses incurred while she was reported missing. Her fiance, John Mason, reported her missing last April. Today, however, Wilbanks said tearfully she is remorseful.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER WILBANKS, RUNAWAY BRIDE: Your honor, I'm truly sorry for my actions, and I -- I just want to thank the Gwinnett County and the city of Duluth for all of their efforts. That's all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Now Wilbanks' attorney, Lydia Sartain, tried to get that charge reduced to a misdemeanor, but to no avail.

Meantime, the district attorney, Danny Porter, in a statement released today said, quote, "This is a good resolution of the matter, under all the facts of the case and taking into consideration Ms. Wilbanks' prior criminal record. Other than the overwhelming press scrutiny, this was a routine case handled in a routine manner."

And Wilbanks has prior convictions for shoplifting. However, the judge made it very clear today as long as she carries out her probation, the two years probation handed down today, that felony will be expunged -- Carol.

LIN: Fred, when we saw the video first coming in of her appearance at the courthouse, we were struck by two things. One, she's changed her look. Two, she was standing with her fiance or at least we still think he's her fiance. Do you know -- do you have any idea what her future plans are?

WHITFIELD: Well, her look has changed somewhat because remember during the time of her disappearance, she apparently had cut her own hair, and now, you know, giving a much more polished look to that shorter hair do, compared to the photographs that were disseminated during her alleged disappearance.

We don't know about the future plans. However, many people noticed here she was wearing her engagement ring, and the fiance, John Mason, was at her side. So you draw your own conclusions.

LIN: All right, Fred. Thank you very much, Fredricka Whitfield reporting live from Lawrenceville. Well so far, so good. The land appears to have stopped shifting in Laguna Beach, which means some California residents may be allowed back home today. About 1,000 people were evacuated when other homes started sliding down the hillside yesterday. Eighteen homes have been declared unsafe to enter for any reason. Residents of 11 other homes have been told they can go back only long enough to retrieve belongings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. DANELL ADAMS, LAGUNA BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT: I wouldn't have a lot of hope for those homes that have been red tagged. I think there's going to be, even in the surrounding homes, probably some structural work that will have to be done to stabilize them. We're accustomed to that here in Laguna Beach. The good news is there's a substantial amount of bedrock in the area, so hopefully most of those homes can be stabilized and reoccupied.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Geologists say the landslide was almost certainly a result of the massive rains that drenched the area this past winter.

News around the world right now.

Northern Iraq is the epicenter of insurgent violence today. Three suicide car bombings within a 45-minute span killed at least 18 people. At least 53 others were wounded in a series of attacks. One of the blasts taking place at a popular restaurant.

And in the Middle East, nearly 400 Palestinian prisoners are released today at Israeli checkpoints amid cheers and tears of joy. The releases are part of the cease-fire deal struck in February between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Israeli prime minister -- Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

And a war of words continues between the Bush administration and the human rights group Amnesty International. Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld have both slammed Amnesty's appraisal of the Guantanamo Bay military prison as a gulag of our times. Now the group's secretary-general asked for proof that prisoners are not being mistreated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IRENE ZUBAIDA KHAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: The administration's response has been that our report is absurd, that our allegation have no basis. And our answer is very simple. If that is so, open up these detention centers, allow us and others to visit them. Transparency is the best antidote to any misinformation or incorrect facts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: A man makes a sacrifice for his brother but it ends up costing him more than he ever imagined. The story of a family separated by the politics of Cuba and America, straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This week in history, Chinese troops kill and arrest pro-democracy protesters in 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Nineteen sixty-eight, presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy is shot and fatally wounded after giving a speech in Los Angeles.

Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh is convicted in 1997 on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy. That is this week in history.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Well, we've known how, what, and when for 30 years, and this week we learned who. Now, if there's any mystery left in the Deep Throat, Watergate, Woodward and Bernstein saga, it's why? Why did the No. 2 official at the FBI risk all to leak secrets to a couple of young reporters investigating a burglary? Don't ask Woodstein.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARL BERNSTEIN, FORMER "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTER: We had no idea of his motivations. And even now some of his motivations are unclear, but we have very little time. Bob and Felt in the garage had very little time together. There are fewer than 10 meetings and conversations in the course of a couple of years. And the object is to get as much information, as much context, as much certainty in the things we had obtained elsewhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Stop the presses, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are together tonight for an exclusive prime time interview with our very own Larry King. That kicks off a special two hour "LARRY KING LIVE" starting at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 Pacific, right here on CNN. And then at 10 p.m. Eastern Larry's guest is former "CBS Evening News" anchor and Watergate-era White House correspondent Dan Rather.

From the medical front, the results -- the results of a 10-year study focusing on common over the counter pain medications and a possible link to breast cancer. The numbers are far from rock solid but interesting enough for the medical community to take notice.

More from CNN senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been known for some time that painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen not only reduce pain and prevent heart disease but may also prevent cancer.

For example, listen to this. Studies have already shown that aspirin reduces certain polyps which could be pre-cancers for colon cancer. The question was this: could these same pain relievers also reduce the risk of breast cancer?

Well, researchers at the University of Southern California decided to put that to the test. A hundred and fourteen thousand women between the ages of 22 and 85 were part of what was called the California teacher study. At the beginning of the study, they were all breast cancer free. Six years later, nearly 2,400 of these women had breast cancer.

When they asked these women about their use of pain relievers, what they found was kind of surprising. Women taking ibuprofen every day for more than five years had a 50 percent higher risk for breast cancer. And women taking aspirin daily for more than five years had an 80 percent increased risk for a certain type of breast cancer, as well.

Now, researchers are being very careful here not to say that these painkillers cause breast cancer. Just want to make it clear that this particular study really can't be explained.

In fact, the American Cancer Society points out there have been at least 20 previous studies, and none of them have ever reported such an increased risk.

So the question, really, for you at home is this: what are you going to do? Well, if you're taking ibuprofen or aspirin for pain relief or to prevent heart disease, you should continue to do so.

But if you're taking these drugs as a means to prevent breast cancer, doctors say the verdict is still out on that one. So as always if you have any concerns, ask your doctor.

Dr. Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Also, check this out. It's not exactly your typical day at the beach. We've got the story behind one of our pictures of the day right after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Some of the most compelling pictures of the day. This one coming out of Australia, where the government was asking volunteers like this young boy to help push a group of beached whales, some false killer whales back out into the ocean. This group of volunteers here trying to help some of these whales actually regain some of their strength before they try to move them back out to sea.

One whale did die, but again a successful volunteer effort so far as 15 whales managed to get pushed back into the ocean while this group here trying to regain its strength. Amazing pictures.

Meantime, we're going to move onto the Cuban man who was living his dream but then took a chance, at least one chance too many. After risking his life to reach the United States, he is trapped in Havana again for doing a dangerous favor.

CNN's Lucia Newman reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERNARDO HEREDIA, FORMER EXILE: She's starting to walk, learning to walk.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This video is as close as Bernardo Heredia can get to his daughter, all because he made a sacrifice for his brother, a sacrifice that turned out to be bigger than he ever imagined.

Like thousands of Cubans, Bernardo Heredia left Cuba 11 years ago on a raft, barely making it to Florida alive. He settled in Las Vegas, fell in love with a Cuban-American and began raising a family while working as a taxi driver.

In March, he returned to Cuba for a two-week vacation.

HEREDIA: I come to visit my family, and talking to my brother, he was desperate to leave this country.

NEWMAN: So Bernardo Heredia agreed to help him. His brother Fidel, who looks almost exactly like him, used Bernardo's passport to leave the country, flew to Mexico, DHL'ed the passport back to Bernardo in Cuba and then crossed the border to the United States to get asylum.

But when he Bernardo came back here to the Havana airport to fly home to Las Vegas he was arrested. Immigration officials knew someone else had already left Cuba three days before on the same passport.

A month later, after confessing to the plan, he was released, but only from jail.

HEREDIA: They didn't charge me with anything. They just say you want to stay in this country there's going to be punishment. You're never going to leave this country by plane again, period.

NEWMAN: Bernardo says authorities confiscated his passport and his green card and told him he would replace his brother.

Now he chokes back tears as he watches the home video he brought with him to Cuba to show off his daughter. Back in Las Vegas, it's his brother who's now holding 2-year-old Angela Marie on his lap. Fidel Heredia is now living in Bernardo's house, happy to be in the U.S., but upset about his brother.

Would Fidel be willing to return to Cuba so Bernardo can go home?

FIDEL HEREDIA, BROTHER (through translator): I'd be willing to go back only if they first promised that nothing will happen to me, but it's been a long time since I've believed their promises.

NEWMAN: At first Bernardo's common law wife of 10 years was angry at both brothers.

MARIA FERNANDEZ, BERNARDO'S WIFE: I was mad, what about me? What about the baby?

NEWMAN: But after three months, anger has been replaced by despair.

FERNANDEZ: We never been separate since we've been together like this long, never. And I don't know if I'm going to see him again. And I wonder, you know, who's she going to grow up to be? She needs a daddy. She needs a father figure.

NEWMAN: Hundreds of miles away Bernardo is equally desperate to get home.

B. HEREDIA: All my life is over there. This country is telling that they don't want to arrest (ph). This is an arrest. What is the purpose to hold me here? What can they win?

NEWMAN (on camera): Here at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana, officials told him there was nothing they could do to help. Because although he lives in Nevada legally, he's not a U.S. citizen.

(voice-over) Bernardo says a month ago he tried leaving on a raft, like he did 11 years ago bit had to swim back after the raft capsized far offshore. He says he's not sorry he helped his brother. But it's hard to live with the price he is paying.

(on camera) What's the hardest part about all this?

B. HEREDIA: This.

NEWMAN: Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, older workers may be missing a chance to catch up on their retirement savings. Allan Chernoff joins me live once again from the New York Stock Exchange.

What's happening, Allan?

(STOCK REPORT)

LIN: Thanks, Allan.

In the meantime, lots brewing on the political front. Let's go to Judy Woodruff up in Washington and see what's happening on "INSIDE POLITICS" today.

Hi, Judy.

JUDY WOODRUFF, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Hi there, Carol. How are you? We'll see you tomorrow, too.

President Bush is on the road again today trying to build support for his agenda. I'll speak with to the counselor to the president, Dan Bartlett, about the challenges Mr. Bush faces.

And as we find out more about Deep Throat and the way the Watergate story unfolded, I'll talk with the man who ran the "Washington Post" at that time, Ben Bradlee.

"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: These are the headlines this hour.

Closing arguments began today in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. Each side gets up to four hours to sum up its position and then that's it. The jury could conceivably get the case tomorrow.

She's sorry, judge, truly sorry. Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks pleaded no contest today to a felony charge of making false statements to police. Her sentence: two years' probation, 120 hours of community service and a $2,500 fine.

The suburban Atlanta district attorney called today's developments a good resolution.

And are you a citizen of the iPod nation? Well, you may get a little something from Apple. The company today confirmed it's settling a class-action lawsuit. Unhappy iPod users claimed the battery in the popular MP3 player was only good for a few months. Apple is cutting $50 coupons and extended warranties for those who qualify.

Now to "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS."

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 June 2, 2005 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, ANCHOR: "Now in the News" -- closing arguments are under way in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial. The jury has been told it will get the case tomorrow. We're going to have a live update from the courthouse straight ahead.
Apple Computer agrees to settle a consumer class action lawsuit. It involved battery problems with older versions of its popular iPod music player. Apple plans to distribute vouchers good for $50 off most Apple products and services.

The Associated Press reports (NO AUDIO) George Mikan has died. Family members say he died last night and had been suffering from diabetes and kidney failure. Mikan led the Lakers to five NBA championships. He was 80 years old.

And a car bombing in Beirut kills a prominent Lebanese journalist. Samir Kassir had frequently criticized Syria's involvement in Lebanon. Authorities say the bomb apparently was planted in Kassir's car. His wife is requesting an immediate international investigation.

The jury could begin deciding Michael Jackson's fate as early as tomorrow. Closing arguments began this morning in the pop star's child molestation trial. So we're going to go live now to the courthouse in Santa Maria, California, for the very latest from CNN's Ted Rowlands -- Ted.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're back at it. Ron Zonen is the assistant district attorney who is delivering the closing argument, and he has been very clear, very concise and very compelling throughout his two hour plus closing argument to this point.

He talked about Neverland Ranch and Michael Jackson, saying that he groomed children there. He separated kids from parents, authority and discipline. He said that this is a case about exploiting and abusing a 13-year-old cancer survivor at the hands of an international celebrity.

He said the kids played at day and then at night they entered the world of forbidden at Neverland. They learned about human sexuality, said Zonen, from someone who is more than willing to be their teacher.

Zonen attacked the defense theory that this has all been made up by the accuser and the accuser's mother, saying the suggestion that all of this was planned is nonsense, unmitigated rubbish. He defended the mother in this case, saying that if you compare her to the mothers of the other alleged victims of Michael Jackson, she actually was the only one that pulled her child out of harm's way.

He put up a photo of Michael Jackson in the middle with four accusers on the outside, four -- four victims, according to the prosecution, of molestation, and he said if you believe one of them, the one that came in here and testified, well, then Michael Jackson is indeed a child molester.

He showed photos of nude boys which were found at Jackson's home. He also showed pornography which the boys in this case say were a part of what Michael Jackson did in terms of the grooming. They say that they were shown the pornography by Jackson.

He said Jackson's a problem drinker and that he gave the boys alcohol as part of the grooming process.

He was very animated, very clear, very focused. It's expected that he'll finish up within the next hour to save time for rebuttal. Tom Mesereau, Michael Jackson's attorney, is up next. Jackson showed up today with family members, brothers Randy and Jermaine and mom and dad.

It is expected that this jury will begin deliberating Jackson's fate as early as the end of the day today but most likely tomorrow morning -- Carol.

LIN: Ted, how is Michael Jackson handling listening to the closing arguments?

ROWLANDS: There's no visible reaction from Jackson or from any family members. Clearly, this has to be very difficult for them to listen to, and because Zonen is very effective in the way he is delivering this closing argument and really does paint a compelling picture towards Jackson's guilt.

It will be up to Tom Mesereau to try to do the exact same thing, painting a picture of innocence, but at this point, no reaction from Jackson or his family.

LIN: All right. Ted Rowlands, thank you very much.

In the meantime, a plea deal for the runaway bride. First thing this morning, Jennifer Wilbanks was in a Georgia courtroom, her first public appearance since disappearing days before her wedding.

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield outside the courthouse in Lawrenceville. Fred, so she finally made her court appearance. What actually happened?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She did indeed, Carol. Jennifer Wilbanks trying to come to terms with what she did. First, running away just days before her planned wedding, then showing up some 1,400 miles away, lying to authorities, and now paying the price for misleading those officials. Today with her fiance, John Mason, and other family members standing proudly by her side, she appeared in an Atlanta suburb county -- before an Atlanta suburb county judge, pleading no contest to making false statements to police.

Judge Ronnie Bachelor, no kidding on the name, sentenced her to two years probation, 120 hours of community service and ordered that she continue to receive mental health care. She must also pay the Gwinnett County sheriff's office $2,500 in restitution.

Now, earlier this week, Wilbanks paid the city of Duluth here in Georgia some $13,000 for some of the expenses incurred while she was reported missing. Her fiance, John Mason, reported her missing last April. Today, however, Wilbanks said tearfully she is remorseful.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER WILBANKS, RUNAWAY BRIDE: Your honor, I'm truly sorry for my actions, and I -- I just want to thank the Gwinnett County and the city of Duluth for all of their efforts. That's all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Now Wilbanks' attorney, Lydia Sartain, tried to get that charge reduced to a misdemeanor, but to no avail.

Meantime, the district attorney, Danny Porter, in a statement released today said, quote, "This is a good resolution of the matter, under all the facts of the case and taking into consideration Ms. Wilbanks' prior criminal record. Other than the overwhelming press scrutiny, this was a routine case handled in a routine manner."

And Wilbanks has prior convictions for shoplifting. However, the judge made it very clear today as long as she carries out her probation, the two years probation handed down today, that felony will be expunged -- Carol.

LIN: Fred, when we saw the video first coming in of her appearance at the courthouse, we were struck by two things. One, she's changed her look. Two, she was standing with her fiance or at least we still think he's her fiance. Do you know -- do you have any idea what her future plans are?

WHITFIELD: Well, her look has changed somewhat because remember during the time of her disappearance, she apparently had cut her own hair, and now, you know, giving a much more polished look to that shorter hair do, compared to the photographs that were disseminated during her alleged disappearance.

We don't know about the future plans. However, many people noticed here she was wearing her engagement ring, and the fiance, John Mason, was at her side. So you draw your own conclusions.

LIN: All right, Fred. Thank you very much, Fredricka Whitfield reporting live from Lawrenceville. Well so far, so good. The land appears to have stopped shifting in Laguna Beach, which means some California residents may be allowed back home today. About 1,000 people were evacuated when other homes started sliding down the hillside yesterday. Eighteen homes have been declared unsafe to enter for any reason. Residents of 11 other homes have been told they can go back only long enough to retrieve belongings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. DANELL ADAMS, LAGUNA BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT: I wouldn't have a lot of hope for those homes that have been red tagged. I think there's going to be, even in the surrounding homes, probably some structural work that will have to be done to stabilize them. We're accustomed to that here in Laguna Beach. The good news is there's a substantial amount of bedrock in the area, so hopefully most of those homes can be stabilized and reoccupied.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Geologists say the landslide was almost certainly a result of the massive rains that drenched the area this past winter.

News around the world right now.

Northern Iraq is the epicenter of insurgent violence today. Three suicide car bombings within a 45-minute span killed at least 18 people. At least 53 others were wounded in a series of attacks. One of the blasts taking place at a popular restaurant.

And in the Middle East, nearly 400 Palestinian prisoners are released today at Israeli checkpoints amid cheers and tears of joy. The releases are part of the cease-fire deal struck in February between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Israeli prime minister -- Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

And a war of words continues between the Bush administration and the human rights group Amnesty International. Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld have both slammed Amnesty's appraisal of the Guantanamo Bay military prison as a gulag of our times. Now the group's secretary-general asked for proof that prisoners are not being mistreated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IRENE ZUBAIDA KHAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: The administration's response has been that our report is absurd, that our allegation have no basis. And our answer is very simple. If that is so, open up these detention centers, allow us and others to visit them. Transparency is the best antidote to any misinformation or incorrect facts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: A man makes a sacrifice for his brother but it ends up costing him more than he ever imagined. The story of a family separated by the politics of Cuba and America, straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This week in history, Chinese troops kill and arrest pro-democracy protesters in 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Nineteen sixty-eight, presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy is shot and fatally wounded after giving a speech in Los Angeles.

Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh is convicted in 1997 on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy. That is this week in history.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Well, we've known how, what, and when for 30 years, and this week we learned who. Now, if there's any mystery left in the Deep Throat, Watergate, Woodward and Bernstein saga, it's why? Why did the No. 2 official at the FBI risk all to leak secrets to a couple of young reporters investigating a burglary? Don't ask Woodstein.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARL BERNSTEIN, FORMER "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTER: We had no idea of his motivations. And even now some of his motivations are unclear, but we have very little time. Bob and Felt in the garage had very little time together. There are fewer than 10 meetings and conversations in the course of a couple of years. And the object is to get as much information, as much context, as much certainty in the things we had obtained elsewhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Stop the presses, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are together tonight for an exclusive prime time interview with our very own Larry King. That kicks off a special two hour "LARRY KING LIVE" starting at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 Pacific, right here on CNN. And then at 10 p.m. Eastern Larry's guest is former "CBS Evening News" anchor and Watergate-era White House correspondent Dan Rather.

From the medical front, the results -- the results of a 10-year study focusing on common over the counter pain medications and a possible link to breast cancer. The numbers are far from rock solid but interesting enough for the medical community to take notice.

More from CNN senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been known for some time that painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen not only reduce pain and prevent heart disease but may also prevent cancer.

For example, listen to this. Studies have already shown that aspirin reduces certain polyps which could be pre-cancers for colon cancer. The question was this: could these same pain relievers also reduce the risk of breast cancer?

Well, researchers at the University of Southern California decided to put that to the test. A hundred and fourteen thousand women between the ages of 22 and 85 were part of what was called the California teacher study. At the beginning of the study, they were all breast cancer free. Six years later, nearly 2,400 of these women had breast cancer.

When they asked these women about their use of pain relievers, what they found was kind of surprising. Women taking ibuprofen every day for more than five years had a 50 percent higher risk for breast cancer. And women taking aspirin daily for more than five years had an 80 percent increased risk for a certain type of breast cancer, as well.

Now, researchers are being very careful here not to say that these painkillers cause breast cancer. Just want to make it clear that this particular study really can't be explained.

In fact, the American Cancer Society points out there have been at least 20 previous studies, and none of them have ever reported such an increased risk.

So the question, really, for you at home is this: what are you going to do? Well, if you're taking ibuprofen or aspirin for pain relief or to prevent heart disease, you should continue to do so.

But if you're taking these drugs as a means to prevent breast cancer, doctors say the verdict is still out on that one. So as always if you have any concerns, ask your doctor.

Dr. Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Also, check this out. It's not exactly your typical day at the beach. We've got the story behind one of our pictures of the day right after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Some of the most compelling pictures of the day. This one coming out of Australia, where the government was asking volunteers like this young boy to help push a group of beached whales, some false killer whales back out into the ocean. This group of volunteers here trying to help some of these whales actually regain some of their strength before they try to move them back out to sea.

One whale did die, but again a successful volunteer effort so far as 15 whales managed to get pushed back into the ocean while this group here trying to regain its strength. Amazing pictures.

Meantime, we're going to move onto the Cuban man who was living his dream but then took a chance, at least one chance too many. After risking his life to reach the United States, he is trapped in Havana again for doing a dangerous favor.

CNN's Lucia Newman reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERNARDO HEREDIA, FORMER EXILE: She's starting to walk, learning to walk.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This video is as close as Bernardo Heredia can get to his daughter, all because he made a sacrifice for his brother, a sacrifice that turned out to be bigger than he ever imagined.

Like thousands of Cubans, Bernardo Heredia left Cuba 11 years ago on a raft, barely making it to Florida alive. He settled in Las Vegas, fell in love with a Cuban-American and began raising a family while working as a taxi driver.

In March, he returned to Cuba for a two-week vacation.

HEREDIA: I come to visit my family, and talking to my brother, he was desperate to leave this country.

NEWMAN: So Bernardo Heredia agreed to help him. His brother Fidel, who looks almost exactly like him, used Bernardo's passport to leave the country, flew to Mexico, DHL'ed the passport back to Bernardo in Cuba and then crossed the border to the United States to get asylum.

But when he Bernardo came back here to the Havana airport to fly home to Las Vegas he was arrested. Immigration officials knew someone else had already left Cuba three days before on the same passport.

A month later, after confessing to the plan, he was released, but only from jail.

HEREDIA: They didn't charge me with anything. They just say you want to stay in this country there's going to be punishment. You're never going to leave this country by plane again, period.

NEWMAN: Bernardo says authorities confiscated his passport and his green card and told him he would replace his brother.

Now he chokes back tears as he watches the home video he brought with him to Cuba to show off his daughter. Back in Las Vegas, it's his brother who's now holding 2-year-old Angela Marie on his lap. Fidel Heredia is now living in Bernardo's house, happy to be in the U.S., but upset about his brother.

Would Fidel be willing to return to Cuba so Bernardo can go home?

FIDEL HEREDIA, BROTHER (through translator): I'd be willing to go back only if they first promised that nothing will happen to me, but it's been a long time since I've believed their promises.

NEWMAN: At first Bernardo's common law wife of 10 years was angry at both brothers.

MARIA FERNANDEZ, BERNARDO'S WIFE: I was mad, what about me? What about the baby?

NEWMAN: But after three months, anger has been replaced by despair.

FERNANDEZ: We never been separate since we've been together like this long, never. And I don't know if I'm going to see him again. And I wonder, you know, who's she going to grow up to be? She needs a daddy. She needs a father figure.

NEWMAN: Hundreds of miles away Bernardo is equally desperate to get home.

B. HEREDIA: All my life is over there. This country is telling that they don't want to arrest (ph). This is an arrest. What is the purpose to hold me here? What can they win?

NEWMAN (on camera): Here at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana, officials told him there was nothing they could do to help. Because although he lives in Nevada legally, he's not a U.S. citizen.

(voice-over) Bernardo says a month ago he tried leaving on a raft, like he did 11 years ago bit had to swim back after the raft capsized far offshore. He says he's not sorry he helped his brother. But it's hard to live with the price he is paying.

(on camera) What's the hardest part about all this?

B. HEREDIA: This.

NEWMAN: Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, older workers may be missing a chance to catch up on their retirement savings. Allan Chernoff joins me live once again from the New York Stock Exchange.

What's happening, Allan?

(STOCK REPORT)

LIN: Thanks, Allan.

In the meantime, lots brewing on the political front. Let's go to Judy Woodruff up in Washington and see what's happening on "INSIDE POLITICS" today.

Hi, Judy.

JUDY WOODRUFF, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Hi there, Carol. How are you? We'll see you tomorrow, too.

President Bush is on the road again today trying to build support for his agenda. I'll speak with to the counselor to the president, Dan Bartlett, about the challenges Mr. Bush faces.

And as we find out more about Deep Throat and the way the Watergate story unfolded, I'll talk with the man who ran the "Washington Post" at that time, Ben Bradlee.

"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: These are the headlines this hour.

Closing arguments began today in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. Each side gets up to four hours to sum up its position and then that's it. The jury could conceivably get the case tomorrow.

She's sorry, judge, truly sorry. Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks pleaded no contest today to a felony charge of making false statements to police. Her sentence: two years' probation, 120 hours of community service and a $2,500 fine.

The suburban Atlanta district attorney called today's developments a good resolution.

And are you a citizen of the iPod nation? Well, you may get a little something from Apple. The company today confirmed it's settling a class-action lawsuit. Unhappy iPod users claimed the battery in the popular MP3 player was only good for a few months. Apple is cutting $50 coupons and extended warranties for those who qualify.

Now to "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS."

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