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American Morning

Nathaniel Brazill Learns Fate Today

Aired July 27, 2001 - 11:14   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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: To a courtroom in Florida, where a young boy will learn shortly whether he will go to prison for the rest of his days or whether a judge will show mercy. Nathaniel Brazill shot and killed his teacher on the last day of school last year. The 14-year-old now was tried as an adult and today he will be sentenced as one.

CNN's Mark Potter is standing by for the sentencing in West Palm Beach, Florida -- Mark, good morning again.

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Stephen.

That sentencing will begin in about 15 minutes and the sentence itself will range from 25 years to life. And what's important to know about that is that there is no time off for good behavior because he's being sentenced under the very strict gun law. So, if, for example, the judge imposes a 35 year prison term, it's 35 years to the day.

Now, yesterday we had the sentencing hearing here. It took almost all day to get through it. Relatives and others got their chance to express their feelings about this to the judge and often, as you can imagine, it was quite dramatic and sad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): The last witness of the day was Nathaniel Brazill himself. The 14-year-old read a prepared statement, and apologized to the community and the family of Barry Grunow, the teacher he shot and killed last year.

NATHANIEL BRAZILL, CONVICTED MURDERER: I am sorry for the pain I have caused the Grunow family. Mr. Grunow was a great man and a great teacher. I'm sorry I took him away from you. I have been thinking a lot about how his kids will feel when they are my age. I have been thinking a lot about Mrs. Grunow, and how alone she is.

POTTER: The court also heard from Nathaniel Brazill's parents. His father expressed his sorrow to the Grunow family. Polly Powell, his mother, asked the court for mercy for her son, and also addressed the Grunows.

POLLY POWELL, BRAZILL'S MOTHER: We know you're hurting. I know you're hurting. As a mother, even though Mr. Grunow is gone, Nathaniel is gone from me right now, too. I just pray that one day you all forgive him for what he has done.

POTTER: The prosecution's witnesses included Barry Grunow's relatives, friends and colleagues, who talked about Barry's love for his family and his students.

JOHN HLAWKA, VICTIM'S FATHER-IN-LAW: We all lost somebody very near and dear to us, who can't be replaced. He was a person who saw a need, and he tried to help.

POTTER: Barry Grunow's widow also read a brief and emotional statement.

PAMELA GRUNOW, WIDOW: 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.

POTTER: Some of the Grunow family members asked that Brazill be sentenced to life in prison, a recommendation echoed by the prosecutor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

POTTER: The defense argued that because Nathaniel was only 13 at the time that he shot Barry Grunow, that he should be given the minimum sentence allowed by law, and that's 25 years. Again, 25 years with no reduction for good behavior -- Stephen, back to you.

FRAZIER: Mark, thank you.

We will, we just want to let our viewers know as we look at pictures from just outside that courtroom that we will be returning to it at about 11:30 or whenever the judge enters to pronounce his sentence of 14-year-old Nathaniel Brazill.

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