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American Morning

Interview with George Parnham

Aired July 30, 2002 - 08:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to turn now to a bizarre murder case in Texas. Dr. Clara Harris, a Houston dentist, has been charged with murdering her husband. Witnesses say she ran her car over her husband three or more times, sometimes circling around in doughnuts late Wednesday night. It began with a screaming confrontation between Harris, her husband, and another woman who she accused of having an affair with her husband. It ended with her Mercedes parked on top of Dr. David Lynn Harris.
Clara Harris' attorney, George Parnham, joins us now from Houston -- good morning, thanks for being with us, sir.

GEORGE PARNHAM, CLARA HARRIS' ATTORNEY: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: Is there any doubt in mind -- in your mind that it was Clara Harris who killed her husband?

PARNHAM: There is no question at all, Paula, that the automobile that was driven by my client hit and ultimately caused the death of Dr. Harris, her husband. No question about that. I might add we're still in the process, obviously, of investigating all of the circumstances and factors that led up to this tragedy to include the circumstances of the tragedy itself. That issue is very clear.

ZAHN: But based on what you know so far, why do you think your client killed her husband?

PARNHAM: Paula, I think it is important to look into the mind's eye of a woman, and to try to analyze and make a determination of what, in fact, were the factors and circumstances that would create a mentality that caused her to be behind the wheel of that car. Who knows what happens to a loving wife, obviously a loving mother, a person who wanted to maintain the sanctity of the union with her husband when, unexpectedly, she is confronted with the picture and the reality of the very man that she loves in an embrace with another female. I don't know. I'll be in the process of trying to analyze and obtain these particular factors that will be important in letting us know what is in our mind's eye.

ZAHN: Are you inclined to basically tell the court she snapped?

PARNHAM: It is too early, Paula. The actions that occurred that evening have to be looked at with professional help, and I'm talking about accident reconstructionists, individuals that can analyze the scene to determine what actions were intentional, what actions were not intentional, what in effect happened to her. Was she there searching for the automobile? We just need to find out all of the circumstances and, of course, what I don't want to do is to try this case in the media. I will make every effort, once we find out what these circumstances are, to let those circumstances play out in front of a jury. I think that's important. But obviously, there is some ultimate issues that need to be addressed. The police report is not yet ready, and I have not talked to any eyewitnesses at the scene. I don't know what happened. And I might say the prosecutor is in the same boat. Both prosecutors, they're fine prosecutors, and honorable people. They are in the process of trying to get prepared as well. So it is very, very early in this legal game to speculate as to any type of defense that is going to be forthcoming on behalf of Mrs. Harris.

ZAHN: But you are going to have to confront the same information the prosecutors already have...

PARNHAM: There is no question about it.

ZAHN: ... and that is eyewitnesses' accounts of what happened, some of them describing her methodically going around in doughnuts, running over him, some of them say, three times. Some other witnesses say five times. Would you acknowledge this morning that it would make it much more difficult for you to say that she snapped?

PARNHAM: Paula, first of all, I don't know what the prosecutors have or do not have. I know for a fact that they don't have in their possession the investigative report from the police department. At least they did not as of last evening. They're in the process of putting together the circumstances to present to a grand jury.

Certainly, if we have multiple intentional and knowing run-overs, it obviously the more, the harder. But we still have to look at the mind's eye of a person who, prior to this incident, was absolutely impeccable in her behavior. This is not her lawyer talking. These are words of patients, of family members, his family members, to include -- to be included in that. People that have known the Harrises for years.

My major concern at this moment is not only representing my client, but to try to keep intact, as much as I possibly can, the memory of Dr. Harris for the sake of his children, their two twin boys, ages 4. There is a 16-year-old young lady out there from a previous marriage, who Dr. Harris was the father of, and I want to make sure that those kids continue to get through this as easily as possible.

ZAHN: All right. Well, Mr. Parnham, we appreciate your time, and should mention that that 16-year-old daughter by the victim happened to be there the night of this murder...

PARNHAM: You bet.

ZAHN: And we will be following...

PARNHAM: You bet.

ZAHN: ... this case right alongside you. Thanks for your time this morning...

PARNHAM: Thanks, Paula.

ZAHN: ... and thanks for giving us -- what preview you could of how this might transpire. Thanks again for your time.

PARNHAM: Thanks for your attention. Sure. See you.

ZAHN: Our pleasure.

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