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American Morning
Muhammad in Court Today
Aired November 08, 2002 - 09:02 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Want to get to Manassas, Virginia quickly right now. There is movement this morning in the sniper case.
The hearing for suspect John Muhammad has just ended there in Prince William County and Kathleen Koch standing by outside the courthouse with more -- what did you learn, Kathleen? Good morning.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, what this was something called a capeous (ph) hearing for John Allen Muhammad, and the judge in the case, circuit -- Prince William's circuit judge, Herman Whisenant, announced, basically, the charges against Muhammad, first capital murder indictment for the murder on October 9 of Dean Harold Meyers at a local gas station. That is part of a new Virginia statute, antiterrorism statute, in the commission of an act of terrorism with an intent to intimidate the public at large. Another capital murder indictment for the murder of Dean Harold Meyers under another capital murder law in Virginia, the commission of murder of at least one person, more than one person within a period of three years.
Then, a third, a conspiracy indictment for conspiring between October 2 and October 9 to commit a felony, that felony being murder, and then finally, fourth, use or display of a firearm with the intent -- in an intimidating manner while committing a felony.
Now, after the judge read out the charges, he asked Muhammad if he wanted to have counsel, to which Muhammad replied, "I don't understand, sir." Then the judge said, Well, we will appoint one for you. And then Muhammad said, "I thought I already had counsel. I don't know what to say, sir."
So Judge Whisenant basically recessed, saying that everyone would come back here again on November 13 at 9:30, at which point they would appoint counsel and attorney to represent John Allen Muhammad in these proceedings, and we are expecting a press conference in about another half hour by the prosecuting attorneys, Prince William prosecuting attorneys, in this case -- Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Kathleen Koch in Manassas. Thank you, Kathleen.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 8, 2002 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Want to get to Manassas, Virginia quickly right now. There is movement this morning in the sniper case.
The hearing for suspect John Muhammad has just ended there in Prince William County and Kathleen Koch standing by outside the courthouse with more -- what did you learn, Kathleen? Good morning.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, what this was something called a capeous (ph) hearing for John Allen Muhammad, and the judge in the case, circuit -- Prince William's circuit judge, Herman Whisenant, announced, basically, the charges against Muhammad, first capital murder indictment for the murder on October 9 of Dean Harold Meyers at a local gas station. That is part of a new Virginia statute, antiterrorism statute, in the commission of an act of terrorism with an intent to intimidate the public at large. Another capital murder indictment for the murder of Dean Harold Meyers under another capital murder law in Virginia, the commission of murder of at least one person, more than one person within a period of three years.
Then, a third, a conspiracy indictment for conspiring between October 2 and October 9 to commit a felony, that felony being murder, and then finally, fourth, use or display of a firearm with the intent -- in an intimidating manner while committing a felony.
Now, after the judge read out the charges, he asked Muhammad if he wanted to have counsel, to which Muhammad replied, "I don't understand, sir." Then the judge said, Well, we will appoint one for you. And then Muhammad said, "I thought I already had counsel. I don't know what to say, sir."
So Judge Whisenant basically recessed, saying that everyone would come back here again on November 13 at 9:30, at which point they would appoint counsel and attorney to represent John Allen Muhammad in these proceedings, and we are expecting a press conference in about another half hour by the prosecuting attorneys, Prince William prosecuting attorneys, in this case -- Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Kathleen Koch in Manassas. Thank you, Kathleen.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
