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American Morning
Sniper Trials
Aired November 24, 2003 - 07:32 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: All right, let's turn now to the sniper trial. This morning, a jury in Virginia will resume deliberating whether D.C. area sniper John Muhammad will live or die. Muhammad, convicted on four charges in the killings, is eligible for the death penalty on two of them.
Jeanne Meserve joins us live in Virginia Beach this morning -- Jeanne, good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
In just an hour and a half, the jury of seven women and five men picks up right where it left off on Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's in the jury's hands.
MESERVE (voice-over): Four hours of deliberations on the fate of John Muhammad Friday led not to a verdict, but questions which indicate jurors might be divided. Having convicted Muhammad of capital murder and terrorism in the sniper slayings, the jury now must decide if the crimes were so horrendous and the risk of future danger is so great that Muhammad should die rather than spend the rest of his life in prison.
The jury's first question to the judge, "What happens if the jury cannot reach a unanimous decision?"
Jude LeRoy Millette did not tell the jury Muhammad would receive the lesser penalty of life in prison, instead saying, "We have spent six weeks. I would simply urge you to continue your deliberations."
One juror followed up, asking if she could do research on legal issues.
"No," said Judge Millette. "The jury must base its decision only on the evidence and exhibits presented in the courtroom."
BARRY BOSS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's hard to know ultimately how this is going to shake out. The fact that somebody initially has some doubts about whether to impose the death penalty doesn't mean that an hour from now they won't think the death penalty is the most appropriate thing in the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE) MESERVE: The jury will find out shortly if a weekend of thinking about this case has narrowed their differences or made them wider -- Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jeanne.
A quick question for you. Let's talk a little bit about the Malvo trial, happening not very far away.
what's the latest in that?
MESERVE: Well, Friday jurors heard audiotapes of Lee Malvo talking to investigators. Absolutely chilling, talking very calmly and coldly about the murders, laughing at some points, even breaking into whistling at one point, apparently, of a Christmas carol. Today the prosecution will continue to present its case. We expect that June Boyle, who's one of the investigators who conducted that interrogation, will be on the stand and will be cross-examined, probably by defense attorneys -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne Meserve for us this morning.
Jeanne, 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
Aired November 24, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, let's turn now to the sniper trial. This morning, a jury in Virginia will resume deliberating whether D.C. area sniper John Muhammad will live or die. Muhammad, convicted on four charges in the killings, is eligible for the death penalty on two of them.
Jeanne Meserve joins us live in Virginia Beach this morning -- Jeanne, good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
In just an hour and a half, the jury of seven women and five men picks up right where it left off on Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's in the jury's hands.
MESERVE (voice-over): Four hours of deliberations on the fate of John Muhammad Friday led not to a verdict, but questions which indicate jurors might be divided. Having convicted Muhammad of capital murder and terrorism in the sniper slayings, the jury now must decide if the crimes were so horrendous and the risk of future danger is so great that Muhammad should die rather than spend the rest of his life in prison.
The jury's first question to the judge, "What happens if the jury cannot reach a unanimous decision?"
Jude LeRoy Millette did not tell the jury Muhammad would receive the lesser penalty of life in prison, instead saying, "We have spent six weeks. I would simply urge you to continue your deliberations."
One juror followed up, asking if she could do research on legal issues.
"No," said Judge Millette. "The jury must base its decision only on the evidence and exhibits presented in the courtroom."
BARRY BOSS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's hard to know ultimately how this is going to shake out. The fact that somebody initially has some doubts about whether to impose the death penalty doesn't mean that an hour from now they won't think the death penalty is the most appropriate thing in the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE) MESERVE: The jury will find out shortly if a weekend of thinking about this case has narrowed their differences or made them wider -- Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jeanne.
A quick question for you. Let's talk a little bit about the Malvo trial, happening not very far away.
what's the latest in that?
MESERVE: Well, Friday jurors heard audiotapes of Lee Malvo talking to investigators. Absolutely chilling, talking very calmly and coldly about the murders, laughing at some points, even breaking into whistling at one point, apparently, of a Christmas carol. Today the prosecution will continue to present its case. We expect that June Boyle, who's one of the investigators who conducted that interrogation, will be on the stand and will be cross-examined, probably by defense attorneys -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne Meserve for us this morning.
Jeanne, 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
