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Shoe Bomber Richard Reid Faces Sentencing

Aired January 30, 2003 - 11:31   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: He has admitted to trying to blow up a jetliner with nearly 200 people on board. Today, shoe bomber Richard Reid faces sentencing in federal court.
CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena joins us live from Boston with that story -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka.

Reid did arrive early this morning under heavy guard, accompanied by U.S. federal marshals. But there are some last minute wrangling going on right now. The defense lawyers have asked for his sentencing to be postponed on all but one of the charges against Reid. They want certain classified information declassified. The prosecution says that that's just an unreasonable request, that the classified information they're talking about is peripheral to this case, and they're asking that things move forward as planned.

If they do move forward as planned, we expect to hear from several victims who were aboard that American Airlines flight, several members of the crew and some passengers. We could also hear from Reid himself if he chooses to speak. It's his prerogative. He's not a mandated to do so. The government says that so far, he's expressed no remorse. The bottom line here, he faces at least 60 years in prison, if not life without parole.

Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kelli Arena, from Boston, thank you very much.

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 January 30, 2003 - 11:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: He has admitted to trying to blow up a jetliner with nearly 200 people on board. Today, shoe bomber Richard Reid faces sentencing in federal court.
CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena joins us live from Boston with that story -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka.

Reid did arrive early this morning under heavy guard, accompanied by U.S. federal marshals. But there are some last minute wrangling going on right now. The defense lawyers have asked for his sentencing to be postponed on all but one of the charges against Reid. They want certain classified information declassified. The prosecution says that that's just an unreasonable request, that the classified information they're talking about is peripheral to this case, and they're asking that things move forward as planned.

If they do move forward as planned, we expect to hear from several victims who were aboard that American Airlines flight, several members of the crew and some passengers. We could also hear from Reid himself if he chooses to speak. It's his prerogative. He's not a mandated to do so. The government says that so far, he's expressed no remorse. The bottom line here, he faces at least 60 years in prison, if not life without parole.

Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kelli Arena, from Boston, thank you very much.

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