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American Morning

Trial of Four Men Charged With Kidnapping and Killing Pearl Ends

Aired July 10, 2002 - 08:04   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the trial ends. Now for the verdict. The Pakistan trial of four men charged with kidnapping and killing "Wall Street Journal" correspondent Daniel Pearl has ramped up and our Tom Mintier is on the case for us in Islamabad. He checks in now live -- Tom.

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

This case was supposed to only last for seven days. It ended up going on for 12 weeks. Today the final summation by the prosecutor ended the case. The defense attorney, one of the defense attorneys finished this morning and then the prosecution finished this afternoon.

Now, the prosecution has asked for the death penalty for all four defendants in this case. The judge has indicated that everyone is going to come back on Monday, where he will probably render a verdict in this case.

This is not a case that was heard by a jury, but by a judge. And the judge has told everyone to come back on Monday, that he will probably issue his verdict then.

In Pakistan, this charge of kidnap, murder and terrorist activities, does, indeed, carry the death penalty, but it was just announced this afternoon by the chief prosecutor that the government is, indeed, seeking the death penalty against all four defendants -- Leon.

HARRIS: Tom Mintier in Islamabad.

Thank you very much, Tom. Take care.

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