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American Morning
Life in Prison or Death Penalty
Aired November 18, 2003 - 08:10 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Life in prison or the death penalty, that is the decision facing the jurors who convicted John Muhammad of capital murder. They're now hearing evidence in the sentencing phase of the sniper trial.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us from Virginia Beach with more on the verdict and some reaction to it, as well -- Jeanne, good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
If you think you've heard enough about the crimes of John Muhammad, brace yourself, you're going to hear more. The prosecution wants to prove the point that his crimes were so vicious and the risk of future danger is so great that he should be put to death.
They'll be introducing more testimony about a shooting in Tacoma, Washington that they allege he was responsible for. They are going to talk about alleged anti-Semitic comments and a shooting into a synagogue. They also are going to be talking about a jail break they say he tried to make back in March. And theyll say he planned more D.C. area sniper shootings, introducing evidence that was found in the car and also in his computer.
The defense, on the other hand, is going to be talking about his difficult and impoverished childhood. They're going to be putting on witnesses who will talk about what a good father he was and what a good friend. Defense Attorney Jonathan Shapiro says none of this is intended to excuse the crimes, but they are hoping that that will save John Muhammad's life -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: We will see.
Jeanne Meserve for us this morning in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Jeanne, thanks.
Benny Oberoi suffered a gunshot wound last September while he was working at a Maryland liquor store. Police now believe that that shooting was part of the sniper spree.
And just a little bit earlier today, I spoke with Benny Oberoi and his attorney, Dan Vice.
And I asked Oberoi about his reaction to the verdict.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: So what's your reaction when you heard the verdict yesterday?
RUPINDER "BENNY" OBEROI, SHOOTING VICTIM: I'm the happiest person. I'm happy for other families, too that justice is found.
O'BRIEN: Tell me a little bit about your injuries and what happened to you.
OBEROI: September 14th I was closing down the store at night around 10:00 and I was shot on my lower right side back. And I was rushed to the hospital and the doctor told me that it's not life threatening. We have to take you for surgery. That's all I remember. I'm pretty good, yes.
O'BRIEN: So you're feeling pretty well today?
OBEROI: Yes.
O'BRIEN: I want to bring your attorney in. His name is Dan Vice and he's joining us this morning from our Washington, D.C. bureau.
Dan, good morning to you.
I need to ask you a couple of questions about this lawsuit that you have filed against John Muhammad. It also includes Lee Malvo and the Bushmaster rifle company and the shooting supply store, as well.
Explain to me why you've named all of those in a civil lawsuit.
DAN VICE, ATTORNEY FOR OBEROI: Right. The suit seeks to hold the gun store accountable for poor security that would let a 17-year- old, who's prohibited by law from buying this gun, walk into the store and walk out with a three foot long gun without anyone noticing.
O'BRIEN: Benny, take me back to this sniper conviction yesterday. Obviously overjoyed when you heard the verdict. But, of course, the penalty phase now is what follows.
What would you like to see for John Muhammad?
OBEROI: Capital punishment. That's what I think.
O'BRIEN: You'd like to see him put to death?
OBEROI: Of course.
O'BRIEN: There are some people who say it won't change anything. It won't change the wounds you have, it won't bring back the people who died.
OBEROI: But it's -- why kill innocent people? Why just shooting, you know, other people for no reason? And their families are destroyed.
O'BRIEN: Dan, a question for you.
As you well know, I'm sure, there's legislation that would essentially make it very difficult for lawsuits like yours against John Muhammad, John Malvo, but more than that, against the manufacturers of the weapons to go forward.
What's your reaction to that? This legislation is pending and could pass really any minute.
VICE: Right. Amazingly enough, Congress has responded to the sniper attacks not by trying to make our streets safer, but by trying to immunize the gun dealer and the manufacturer that armed the snipers. There's a bill pending in Congress, already passed the House of Representatives, which would immunize gun dealers, bar gun violence victims from holding them accountable in court. It slams the courthouse door shut and says that even though this case has been ruled to be meritorious, it can't go forward and has to be immediately end. And this gun dealer and manufacturer would be let off the hook completely.
O'BRIEN: Here's what the NRA had to say about that. They said, "Anyone who claims that this bill will provide blanket immunity for firearm manufacturers and retailers either hasn't read the legislation or if they've read the legislation and they still claim it, then they're lying."
Have you read the legislation? Because if you have, they're saying you're lying.
VICE: I've read it very closely and unfortunately the NRA knows all too well that this bill is written to dismiss these cases outright.
O'BRIEN: Do you feel good about going forward with this lawsuit, as well?
OBEROI: Oh, yes. I'm very confident with this, yes.
O'BRIEN: Do you feel like it will bring closure to your shooting?
OBEROI: My shooting as well as other shootings.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Benny Oberoi and also Attorney Dan Vice talking with us this morning.
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 18, 2003 - 08:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Life in prison or the death penalty, that is the decision facing the jurors who convicted John Muhammad of capital murder. They're now hearing evidence in the sentencing phase of the sniper trial.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us from Virginia Beach with more on the verdict and some reaction to it, as well -- Jeanne, good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
If you think you've heard enough about the crimes of John Muhammad, brace yourself, you're going to hear more. The prosecution wants to prove the point that his crimes were so vicious and the risk of future danger is so great that he should be put to death.
They'll be introducing more testimony about a shooting in Tacoma, Washington that they allege he was responsible for. They are going to talk about alleged anti-Semitic comments and a shooting into a synagogue. They also are going to be talking about a jail break they say he tried to make back in March. And theyll say he planned more D.C. area sniper shootings, introducing evidence that was found in the car and also in his computer.
The defense, on the other hand, is going to be talking about his difficult and impoverished childhood. They're going to be putting on witnesses who will talk about what a good father he was and what a good friend. Defense Attorney Jonathan Shapiro says none of this is intended to excuse the crimes, but they are hoping that that will save John Muhammad's life -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: We will see.
Jeanne Meserve for us this morning in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Jeanne, thanks.
Benny Oberoi suffered a gunshot wound last September while he was working at a Maryland liquor store. Police now believe that that shooting was part of the sniper spree.
And just a little bit earlier today, I spoke with Benny Oberoi and his attorney, Dan Vice.
And I asked Oberoi about his reaction to the verdict.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: So what's your reaction when you heard the verdict yesterday?
RUPINDER "BENNY" OBEROI, SHOOTING VICTIM: I'm the happiest person. I'm happy for other families, too that justice is found.
O'BRIEN: Tell me a little bit about your injuries and what happened to you.
OBEROI: September 14th I was closing down the store at night around 10:00 and I was shot on my lower right side back. And I was rushed to the hospital and the doctor told me that it's not life threatening. We have to take you for surgery. That's all I remember. I'm pretty good, yes.
O'BRIEN: So you're feeling pretty well today?
OBEROI: Yes.
O'BRIEN: I want to bring your attorney in. His name is Dan Vice and he's joining us this morning from our Washington, D.C. bureau.
Dan, good morning to you.
I need to ask you a couple of questions about this lawsuit that you have filed against John Muhammad. It also includes Lee Malvo and the Bushmaster rifle company and the shooting supply store, as well.
Explain to me why you've named all of those in a civil lawsuit.
DAN VICE, ATTORNEY FOR OBEROI: Right. The suit seeks to hold the gun store accountable for poor security that would let a 17-year- old, who's prohibited by law from buying this gun, walk into the store and walk out with a three foot long gun without anyone noticing.
O'BRIEN: Benny, take me back to this sniper conviction yesterday. Obviously overjoyed when you heard the verdict. But, of course, the penalty phase now is what follows.
What would you like to see for John Muhammad?
OBEROI: Capital punishment. That's what I think.
O'BRIEN: You'd like to see him put to death?
OBEROI: Of course.
O'BRIEN: There are some people who say it won't change anything. It won't change the wounds you have, it won't bring back the people who died.
OBEROI: But it's -- why kill innocent people? Why just shooting, you know, other people for no reason? And their families are destroyed.
O'BRIEN: Dan, a question for you.
As you well know, I'm sure, there's legislation that would essentially make it very difficult for lawsuits like yours against John Muhammad, John Malvo, but more than that, against the manufacturers of the weapons to go forward.
What's your reaction to that? This legislation is pending and could pass really any minute.
VICE: Right. Amazingly enough, Congress has responded to the sniper attacks not by trying to make our streets safer, but by trying to immunize the gun dealer and the manufacturer that armed the snipers. There's a bill pending in Congress, already passed the House of Representatives, which would immunize gun dealers, bar gun violence victims from holding them accountable in court. It slams the courthouse door shut and says that even though this case has been ruled to be meritorious, it can't go forward and has to be immediately end. And this gun dealer and manufacturer would be let off the hook completely.
O'BRIEN: Here's what the NRA had to say about that. They said, "Anyone who claims that this bill will provide blanket immunity for firearm manufacturers and retailers either hasn't read the legislation or if they've read the legislation and they still claim it, then they're lying."
Have you read the legislation? Because if you have, they're saying you're lying.
VICE: I've read it very closely and unfortunately the NRA knows all too well that this bill is written to dismiss these cases outright.
O'BRIEN: Do you feel good about going forward with this lawsuit, as well?
OBEROI: Oh, yes. I'm very confident with this, yes.
O'BRIEN: Do you feel like it will bring closure to your shooting?
OBEROI: My shooting as well as other shootings.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Benny Oberoi and also Attorney Dan Vice talking with us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
