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American Morning
Nathaniel Brazill Faces Sentencing
Aired July 26, 2001 - 09:01 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go ahead and start with a very serious story coming out of Florida today, a teen criminal who is facing very adult punishment. A sentencing hearing is under way this morning in Florida for a 14-year-old boy who shot and killed his teacher.
Our Mark Potter joins us now from West Palm Beach with the latest on the sentencing hearing for Nathaniel Brazill -- Mark, good morning.
MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
As you can imagine, it's been a very sad morning here at the Palm Beach County Courthouse at the sentencing hearing for Nathaniel Brazill. We've been hearing from the family members and the friends of Barry Grunow, the teacher who was shot and killed by Nathaniel Brazill last spring, a year ago this spring. They described him as a dedicated teacher and a loving family man.
Right now the court is hearing from a fellow teacher. Earlier it heard from Barry Grunow's father-in-law, who recommended a strong sentence to send a message to other young people in the community and to protect others from Nathaniel Brazill. Perhaps the most dramatic statement came from Pamela Grunow, Barry Grunow's widow. She read from a brief statement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM GRUNOW, VICTIM'S WIDOW: I do not know what price Nathaniel should pay for taking Barry's life. I cannot make a recommendation because it is not my job. I do not have the wisdom. I am at a loss and I do not feel I can be objective. I only hope that I can contribute something to this difficult decision. I hope that as a society we can somehow create good out of this sad loss of the public servant and the great guy that I loved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POTTER: The court also heard from Steve Grunow, that's Barry's brother. He talked about Barry's relationship with his students and with his family and he recommended that Nathaniel Brazill be given a life prison sentence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) STEVE GRUNOW, VICTIM'S BROTHER: Nothing good is going to happen here. This whole thing is a horrible situation. But, at least if the murderer is put into prison for life, that will help keep people in this community somewhat safe and it could also be a message to other young people or anybody in the community that no matter what someone's age is, taking someone's life is not OK, that it's totally inexcusable and it's not something that you can sort of slide out of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POTTER: And in another very sad moment, the court also heard from Barry Grunow's mother, Phyllis Grunow, who said she misses her son dearly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHYLLIS GRUNOW, VICTIM'S MOTHER: This was not an accident. I feel Nathaniel should be punished to the fullest extent of the law so he cannot do this to anyone else. No family should have to go through this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POTTER: Now, under Florida's very stiff gun sentencing law, Nathaniel Brazill will face at least a 25 year prison sentence. He could be sentenced, however, to life in prison. The defense is arguing for the minimum sentence. The defense also says that later in the day they'll put his parents on the stand and that Nathaniel Brazill himself is expected to make a brief statement. His attorneys say that he will apologize to the Grunow family -- Daryn, back to you.
KAGAN: Mark, who else do we expect to hear to speak on Nathaniel's behalf?
POTTER: We also will hear from, according to his attorney, from a couple of psychologists and an education specialist. They're expected to talk about the influences of violence in the culture on young people and the influence of guns on them. And I believe that's about it, maybe seven witnesses for the defense. The question is whether the judge will actually sentence the young boy today, if he'll have time to do that. This hearing is moving very quickly, though, and it appears that Judge Richard Wennet may have time at the end of the day to actually impose the sentence on 14-year-old Nathaniel Brazill -- back to you.
KAGAN: All right, we will continue to follow that hearing. Mark Potter in West Palm Beach, thank you.
And in response to recent school violence, a teachers union now is offering a free homicide insurance benefit for its members. The National Education Association says it's a $150,000 benefit and would be paid to families of NEA members killed by school violence. Safety officials say 29 school staff members have died violently at work since 1992.
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