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American Morning
For First Time Since Arrest, D.C. Area Sniper Suspects Will See Each Other
Aired October 01, 2003 - 08:11 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time since their arrest 11 months ago, D.C. area sniper suspects John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo will see each other this morning. Malvo will be called to court to appear at a pretrial hearing for Muhammad.
Jeanne Meserve is following the case now.
She is live in Manassas, Virginia this morning -- hi, Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.
Lee Boyd Malvo was brought here to Prince William County yesterday in preparation for today's court appearance, at which his defense team say he is expected to plead the fifth amendment.
It will be a fascinating court appearance because this is the first time Muhammad and Malvo have seen each other since their arrest on October 24. And there has been so much speculation about the relationship between these two men.
Malvo's defense team claims that he was brainwashed by the older man and they've claimed that only in recent months have they had much success in distancing the two of them.
One member of his defense team, Thomas Walsh, told CNN last night that he's a little worried about what might happen in the courtroom today. He's afraid, in his words, that Malvo might "slip back."
Malvo is in court today because Muhammad's prosecutors wanted to determine whether or not Malvo would testify in Muhammad's trial, which is slated to begin on October 14. By the way, Heidi, tomorrow the anniversary of the first of the sniper slayings -- back to you.
COLLINS: Jeanne, what will it mean for the case against John Allen Muhammad if Malvo doesn't appear for his later trial coming up in two weeks?
MESERVE: Well, it's a bit unclear what it's going to mean. As you will recall, Mr. Malvo is alleged to have made several statements to police after his arrest in which he talked about operating as a sniper team. The judge in the Malvo case has allowed much of those statements to be admitted in his trial. It's unclear at this point whether once Malvo invokes his right to fifth amendment, prosecutors in this case will seek to have those statements admitted here and whether or not they'll be successful -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Understood.
Jeanne Meserve in Manassas, Virginia this morning.
Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Will See Each Other>
Aired October 1, 2003 - 08:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time since their arrest 11 months ago, D.C. area sniper suspects John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo will see each other this morning. Malvo will be called to court to appear at a pretrial hearing for Muhammad.
Jeanne Meserve is following the case now.
She is live in Manassas, Virginia this morning -- hi, Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.
Lee Boyd Malvo was brought here to Prince William County yesterday in preparation for today's court appearance, at which his defense team say he is expected to plead the fifth amendment.
It will be a fascinating court appearance because this is the first time Muhammad and Malvo have seen each other since their arrest on October 24. And there has been so much speculation about the relationship between these two men.
Malvo's defense team claims that he was brainwashed by the older man and they've claimed that only in recent months have they had much success in distancing the two of them.
One member of his defense team, Thomas Walsh, told CNN last night that he's a little worried about what might happen in the courtroom today. He's afraid, in his words, that Malvo might "slip back."
Malvo is in court today because Muhammad's prosecutors wanted to determine whether or not Malvo would testify in Muhammad's trial, which is slated to begin on October 14. By the way, Heidi, tomorrow the anniversary of the first of the sniper slayings -- back to you.
COLLINS: Jeanne, what will it mean for the case against John Allen Muhammad if Malvo doesn't appear for his later trial coming up in two weeks?
MESERVE: Well, it's a bit unclear what it's going to mean. As you will recall, Mr. Malvo is alleged to have made several statements to police after his arrest in which he talked about operating as a sniper team. The judge in the Malvo case has allowed much of those statements to be admitted in his trial. It's unclear at this point whether once Malvo invokes his right to fifth amendment, prosecutors in this case will seek to have those statements admitted here and whether or not they'll be successful -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Understood.
Jeanne Meserve in Manassas, Virginia this morning.
Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Will See Each Other>
