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American Morning

Talk With Brother of Sniper Victim

Aired October 21, 2003 - 08:07   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: This trial certainly will be closely watched, even without the controversy over John Allen Muhammad's insistence on representing himself. Muhammad is accused of killing Dean Meyers. He was shot to death a year ago in northern Virginia while pumping gas.
And his brother Bob was in the courtroom yesterday.

Bob Meyers back with us here on AMERICAN MORNING live from Virginia Beach.

Thanks for coming back, Bob.

Yesterday you told us you came to that trial to learn more about how your brother died.

What have you learned in court yesterday?

BOB MEYERS, BROTHER KILLED BY SNIPER: I learned a lot with respect to the details of the prosecution's case relative to the location that they have outlined from -- for the shooter, and also some of the details that occurred after the shooting with respect to the police securing the area and some of the actions that were taken there.

Also, I viewed a picture -- a photograph of my brother after the shooting, which was quite sensitizing.

HEMMER: Bob, what was it like to be in court with John Muhammad and to hear John Muhammad try and defend himself?

MEYERS: I view that as something that's his right. Certainly it's a strange circumstance for us in particular. But because we view it as a right that he has, we're just accepting that and kind of going with the flow.

HEMMER: The judge said -- and I'll show our viewers part of what he said yesterday toward John Muhammad after the request came in. "I have to tell you, I think that this is a mistake."

You just mentioned the word strange. Do you agree with the opinion of the judge in this case?

MEYERS: Well, I'm certainly not enough of a legal expert to know, but I would assume that his legal team would know better how to address the court than he would. So I accept what the judge said as a factual statement. HEMMER: Yes, are you concerned that this could make a mockery of what's happening in Virginia Beach?

MEYERS: No, I believe that the prosecution and the judge will keep an adequate reign on the proceedings so that it'll be OK.

HEMMER: Your brother Larry, before he took the stand yesterday, any reservations, any thoughts of him?

MEYERS: I'm sure that he had some concerns. He mentioned at a press conference after the day was done that he had had a conversation with god and dealt with the whole scenario, including having to view that grizzly picture just beforehand. But -- and also he expressed that he was happy to be through with that testimony period.

HEMMER: Bob, after day one, I'm curious to know, is it easier for you or harder?

MEYERS: Probably a little more tentative because of having seen and heard what took place yesterday, anticipating probably more of the same today. But I realize that it's all part of the process and that's what we came here for. And it certainly doesn't cause me to shrink from going back in.

HEMMER: Good luck, Bob.

Thanks again for spending time with us.

MEYERS: Thank you.

HEMMER: Bob Meyers in Virginia Beach.

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 October 21, 2003 - 08:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: This trial certainly will be closely watched, even without the controversy over John Allen Muhammad's insistence on representing himself. Muhammad is accused of killing Dean Meyers. He was shot to death a year ago in northern Virginia while pumping gas.
And his brother Bob was in the courtroom yesterday.

Bob Meyers back with us here on AMERICAN MORNING live from Virginia Beach.

Thanks for coming back, Bob.

Yesterday you told us you came to that trial to learn more about how your brother died.

What have you learned in court yesterday?

BOB MEYERS, BROTHER KILLED BY SNIPER: I learned a lot with respect to the details of the prosecution's case relative to the location that they have outlined from -- for the shooter, and also some of the details that occurred after the shooting with respect to the police securing the area and some of the actions that were taken there.

Also, I viewed a picture -- a photograph of my brother after the shooting, which was quite sensitizing.

HEMMER: Bob, what was it like to be in court with John Muhammad and to hear John Muhammad try and defend himself?

MEYERS: I view that as something that's his right. Certainly it's a strange circumstance for us in particular. But because we view it as a right that he has, we're just accepting that and kind of going with the flow.

HEMMER: The judge said -- and I'll show our viewers part of what he said yesterday toward John Muhammad after the request came in. "I have to tell you, I think that this is a mistake."

You just mentioned the word strange. Do you agree with the opinion of the judge in this case?

MEYERS: Well, I'm certainly not enough of a legal expert to know, but I would assume that his legal team would know better how to address the court than he would. So I accept what the judge said as a factual statement. HEMMER: Yes, are you concerned that this could make a mockery of what's happening in Virginia Beach?

MEYERS: No, I believe that the prosecution and the judge will keep an adequate reign on the proceedings so that it'll be OK.

HEMMER: Your brother Larry, before he took the stand yesterday, any reservations, any thoughts of him?

MEYERS: I'm sure that he had some concerns. He mentioned at a press conference after the day was done that he had had a conversation with god and dealt with the whole scenario, including having to view that grizzly picture just beforehand. But -- and also he expressed that he was happy to be through with that testimony period.

HEMMER: Bob, after day one, I'm curious to know, is it easier for you or harder?

MEYERS: Probably a little more tentative because of having seen and heard what took place yesterday, anticipating probably more of the same today. But I realize that it's all part of the process and that's what we came here for. And it certainly doesn't cause me to shrink from going back in.

HEMMER: Good luck, Bob.

Thanks again for spending time with us.

MEYERS: Thank you.

HEMMER: Bob Meyers in Virginia Beach.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com