Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Jury Deliberating in Embassy Bombing Trials

Aired May 18, 2001 - 10:05   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: You probably remember the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa. In that trial, a seventh day of deliberations is due to get underway at the bottom of the hour and CNN's Deborah Feyerick is in New York with more for us -- Hi, Deb.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Donna. Well, the jury has now had this case for seven days. They've been reviewing a lot of evidence. Yesterday they asked to relisten to testimony as to why the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya had been targeted in the first place.

And an FBI agent had testified that one of the defendants told him it was just considered an easy target, there were lots of Americans plus the ambassador at the time was a woman so they felt that it would attract a lot more worldwide attention.

Now, speaking of easy targets, the courthouse just behind me where this trial is being held is certainly not one of them. Security here has been tight for more than five years ever since the World Trade Center bombing trial was held in this very same courtroom.

Now, there are concrete barriers that are outside of the courthouse. They can withstand an impact of more than 30,000 pounds. Also, there's a hydraulic lift which prevents cars from going between the courthouses and the correctional center where the four defendants are being held.

All four of those defeated on trial for conspiracy to kill Americans, specifically in the U.S. Embassy bombings both in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Now, there are also cameras that are mounted across the street on an FBI building facing this courthouse and there are a lot of U.S. marshals at hand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM HOGAN, U.S. MARSHALS OFFICE: Going back to the World Trade Center case back in, after the explosion of the World Trade Center and the case was brought here to the Southern District of New York, we at that time beefed up security on the buildings and we have continued to keep security at a heightened level since that time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: The jury has not asked for any additional evidence since yesterday afternoon. Does that mean they're getting close to reaching their verdict? We're standing by -- Donna.

KELLEY: Deb Feyerick, thanks 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