Lisa McPherson Coverage


Mirror of defunct LMT site

 

 

Newscast
April 5, 2000

Scientology made it their top priority to get the criminal case dropped. They packed the courtroom with hundreds of Scientologists and the head of the organization, David Miscavige, appeared in person.

 


Transcript :

Description of video is in [brackets].

Tampa Bay Channel 28 News, 4/05/2000:

NEWS ANCHOR:  It's a big day in court for the Church of Scientology.
The church is trying to convince a judge to dismiss the felony charges
it faces for the death of Lisa McPherson. 

[split screen with newscaster and Ron Spieker outside St. Petersburg
courthouse]

NEWSCASTER:  28 Tampa Bay's Ron Spieker is live at the courthouse in
St. Petersburg with the latest. Ron?

RON SPIEKER, ON CAMERA:  All right.  Church members have flooded this
court hearing today, so much so that court is in an early lunch break
right now so that a second court room can be set up so that everybody
who's here can listen in and see and follow what is going on.  The
Church of Scientology is hoping to avoid a criminal trial by arguing
that it is not responsible for Lisa McPherson's death.

[picture of Lisa McPherson holding her Clear certificate; picture of
Lisa with two other women; court room footage] 

RON SPIEKER, VOICE OF:  McPherson died back in December of 1995 after
a 17-day stay at the church's Fort Harrison headquarters.  She had
checked herself out of the hospital after an accident which may--which
made her disoriented to "be in the care of her friends".  Prosecutors
say neglect led to her death but the church says now that the medical
examiner has changed her ruling and called McPherson's death an
accident, the charges should be dismissed.

LEE FUGATE (caption--"Lee Fugate, church attorney"):  (in front of
various charts on display pointing to areas on the charts)  This is
pulmonary thromboembolism, which is something that, uh, is one of the
leading killers in our country. It's called the sudd--silent and
virtually undiagnosable killer.

DOUG CROW (caption--"Doug Crow, prosecutor"):  Current testimony has
some changes but it continues to indicate that she believes in this
case that the death resulted from medical neglect.

RON SPIEKER, ON CAMERA:  Prosecutors say because death is not an
element in the charge and neglect is the only thing that matters,
there should be a trial; however, the defense has many more arguments
to make and constitutional concerns to bring out before the judge.
The judge has set aside both today and tomorrow for this hearing
before making a ruling.  Depending on whatever she decides, it's
possible there could be a full trial, just a partial trial on one,
two--on one or two of the three counts they face, or no trial at all.
Laura?

NEWSCASTER:  Okay, thanks a lot, Ron, for that update.  Scientology
officials have warned if there is a trial they'll let their lawyers
mount an all-out offense that could be bad for the city of Clearwater.


Channel 28 News, 4/05/2000 FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR: The Church of Scientology is in--is in a St. Petersburg courtroom. Attorneys for the church went to court today to try to avoid trial. The church faces felony charges in the December 1995 death of Lisa McPherson. 28 Tampa Bay's Ron Spieker joins us live from St. Petersburg. [split screen] FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR: Ron, this has been an ongoing case. What exactly is new today? [shot of Ron Spieker] RON SPIEKER (caption--"Ron Spieker, 28 Tampa Bay News"): Well, what's new is new evidence and in this church effort to get these charges thrown out. At issue really is some of the church doctrine; that Scientologists maintain that while Lisa McPherson was in their care, the people taking care of her were simply doing what the church teaches them to do, and they did not cause her death. Well, they also have some of this new evidence to back up their claims. LAWYER: There was an original death certificate [close-up of Lisa's death certificate, close-up of phrases "Bed rest and severe dehydration", "Traumatic hemorrhage of Left Popliteal Area", "Psychosis & History of Auto Accident" RON SPIEKER--VOICE OF: Lisa McPherson's first death certificate links church members to her cause of death. An amended version filed in February doesn't, and it's one reason the Church of Scientology wants the charges dismissed. LAWYER: It now says that the probable manner of death is accidental. [picture of Lisa; Fort Harrison; outside hospital; picture of Lisa] RON SPIEKER--VOICE OF: McPherson died after 17 days in the care of church members at its Clearwater headquarters. She had checked herself out of the hospital after an accident to avoid psychiatric treatment, something Scientology does not allow, and the Constitution protects. ERIC LIEBERMAN: To have permitted her to be psychiatrically committed would have been a crime, the most--the worst thing that could have happened to a Scientologist, creating eternal damnation. [Prosecutor Doug Crow; picture of Lisa] RON SPIEKER--VOICE OF: But prosecutors say McPherson didn't just need a psychiatrist, she needed a doctor. They say medical neglect lead to her death and the church prevented her from proper treatment. DOUG CROW: Serious symptoms, uh, such as delirium, confusion, hallucinations which can result from clearly identified medical problems--they were not competent nor were they authorized by the law or the First Amendment [??] to document or determine which is the ____ cause. [Scienos in hallway going into courtroom; David Miscavige in courtroom; Judge Susan Schaeffer] RON SPIEKER--VOICE OF: This hearing is so important to church members, they packed two courtrooms and the church leader flew in from California. They hope the judge's ruling gives them vindication. JUDGE SUSAN SCHAEFFER: Practicing medicine without a license, it would seem to me what that statute is clearly saying is that you've got some people that are doing that they ought not be doing such as practicing medicine, charge them--don't charge the church. RON SPIEKER--ON CAMERA: The judge has yet to make a ruling and in fact she will be back tomorrow to hear more arguments from both sides on this motion to dismiss. She has a couple of options: She could dismiss both charges and skip a trial altogether; she could dismiss one of the charges and hold a trial on the other; or she could dismiss neither charge and have a trial on both. Perhaps tomorrow at the end of the court day, we'll find out what her decision is. Linda? FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR: All right, thank you, Ron. And if there is a trial, that trial is scheduled for October. The church promises a wide-open defense, but prosecutors do believe they can make their case.
Fox-13 News, 4/05/2000 MALE NEWSCASTER: Scientology is on trial in Clearwater. [TV screen in background says "Scientology" in white letters on blue background] FEMALE NEWSCASTER: The church wants the judge to dismiss criminal charges, charges filed after a parishioner died under the care of other Scientologists. And Fox-13's Steve Nichols tells us now, so many church members showed up for today's hearing, an extra courtroom had to be opened up. [Scienos in courtroom hallway and in courtroom, Judge Susan F. Schaeffer] STEVE NICHOLS--VOICE OF: Hundreds of Scientologists filled out into the hall outside this St. Petersburg courtroom, so many that the judge ordered up a camera and sound system and turned the second courtroom into a TV room. VOICE OF UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Your honor has massive papers before you-- [pictures of Lisa McPherson; outside St. Petersburg courthouse; Scn building; more footage of Scienos in courtroom] STEVE NICHOLS--VOICE OF: The case of Lisa McPherson is very important to Scientologists. She suffered some sort of psychosis in 1995 and died under the care of fellow Scientologists. Now the church is charged with practicing medicine without a license and neglecting a disabled adult, charges these Scientologists see as a personal threat because their religion simply does not believe in psychiatry. BENNETTA SLAUGHTER--caption "Bennetta Slaughter, Scientologist"): They think man is a body, it's a mind, it's a piece of meat, if you will. That's really opposite religion. [Scieno lawyer] STEVE NICHOLS--VOICE OF: Freedom of religion is the church's big defense against the practicing medicine charge, and its attorney's say there was no neglect. ERIC LIEBERMAN (caption--"Eric Lieberman, defense attorney"): It has to be abuse and neglect to cause great bodily harm. What they were doing was preventing great bodily harm. [prosecutor Doug Crow in courtroom; picture of Lisa] STEVE NICHOLS--VOICE OF: But prosecutors argue psychiatry was no longer the issue in the final days of McPherson's life. As she grew weaker, her problems became medical. DOUG CROW (caption--"Doug Crow, prosecutor"): Cause of death was not an element. Risk of death, creating a person's death through negligence is the element. [Judge Susan F. Schaeffer; Doug Crow] STEVE NICHOLS--VOICE OF: Chief Judge Susan Schaeffer asked lots of questions and made comments that made both sides squirm. JUDGE SUSAN F. SCHAEFFER (caption--"Chief Judge Susan Schaeffer, Pinellas County): It would seem to me what that statute is clearly saying is if you've got some people that are doing that they ought not be doing such as practicing medicine, charge them--don't charge the church. [Eric Lieberman in front of charts and diagrams on display in courtroom; Doug Crow] JUDGE SUSAN F. SCHAEFFER: Your position is your people can be as negligent as they want to be, and if they're free from prosecution then so is the charge, and that's a scary proposition. [Eric Lieberman in front of charts and diagrams on display in courtroom; Judge Susan F. Schaeffer] STEVE NICHOLS--VOICE OF: Technically the church's corporate body is being accused. Judge Schaeffer says she doesn't buy that approach. The church is the defendant here, and she'll hear more arguments Thursday. In St. Petersburg, Steve Nichols, Fox 13 News. FEMALE NEWSCASTER: And in other court documents local Scientologists claim the McPherson case has sparked religious bigotry. They say there have been physical attacks and businesses owned by Scientologists, they say, have lost customers and employees. Some even had shots fired through their front window.
Fox13 News, 4/05/2000 BLONDE FEMALE NEWSCASTER: Hundreds of Scientologists filled two courtrooms in St. Petersburg today. [TV screen in background says "Scientology" in white letters on blue background] AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE NEWSCASTER: They were there to monitor developments in the Lisa McPherson case. The Church of Scientology is charged with practicing medicine without a license and neglecting a disabled adult in McPherson's death. [picture of Lisa McPherson; courtroom footage; Scieno lawyer] AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE NEWSCASTER--VOICE OF: Attorneys for the church want charges dismissed. They argue Scientologists treated McPherson's psychosis according to their religious beliefs. But prosecutors say before she died, McPherson needed medical, not psychiatric care. DOUG CROW (caption--"Doug Crow, prosecutor"): --were being watched by people who were ill-trained and ill-equipped and in a facility that was not, uh, equipped to handle someone in her condition. AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE NEWSCASTER--ON CAMERA: The hearing on three motions to dismiss continues tomorrow.
WTSP Channel 10 News, 4/05/2000 MALE NEWSCASTER: The Church of Scientology is squaring off against prosecutors. The church wants charges stemming from the 1995 death of a church member dropped. But prosecutors say the church is responsible for Lisa McPherson's treatment and eventual death. Scientologists say a new ruling by the medical examiner changes everything in this case. [split screen--on bottom of screen it shows gavel on top of the words "Scientology hearing" (the word "Scientology" is the Scientology logo with crossed-out cross)] MALE NEWSCASTER: 10 News reporter Elaine Lucadano is live at the St. Petersburg courthouse with more. Hi, Elaine. ELAINE LUCADANO (caption--"Elaine Lucadano, St. Petersburg, Scientology hearing"): Hi, Reggie. The court here exactly--they just wrapped up about a minute ago. It will resume tomorrow morning, so no decision in this case today. But we gotta tell ya, hundreds of people, mostly Scientologist parishioners, packed the courtroom. In fact, they overflowed into a second courtroom, there were so many people here. They're here to hear the motion to dismiss those charges against the Church of Scientology. [footage of courtroom with Scienos, caption "Scientology hearing"; picture of Lisa McPherson; Fort Harrison Hotel] ELAINE LUCADANO--VOICE OF: Now church members are uniting here to support what they call a fight for their religious freedom. Scientology attorneys are arguing that Lisa McPherson exercised her religious choice to deny psychiatric help for her mental problems, and instead she sought spiritual help at an isolation treatment program inside the Scientologists' Fort Harrison Hotel. They say she died 17 days into that care not because of any abuse or neglect, but because Lisa had an undetectable blood clot in her lung. [courtroom footage; Judge Susan Schaeffer; Scieno lawyer Eric Lieberman in front of display; Scienos in courtroom; lawyers in courtroom] ELAINE LUCADANO--VOICE OF: That is backed up by the medical examiner, but prosecutors argue that staff treating Lisa were ill-equipped and not trained to detect her illness. They also say she was severely dehydrated at the time she died. And Judge Susan Chaeff--Schaeffer will decide whether or not to drop the charges against the church. If she does not drop the charges, the church will likely have to go to trial in October. ELAINE LUCADANO--ON CAMERA: Now, I spoke with Lisa McPherson's best friend this afternoon. It's the first time she's talked openly about herself, her relationship with Lisa and this case, and I'll be sharing what she has to say. It's very interesting what she has to say. I'll share that tonight with, uh, with you at 6 o'clock. Reggie? [split screen again] MALE NEWSCASTER: All right, Elaine, thanks so much. Elaine Lucadano reporting live from St. Petersburg. [back to newscaster] MALE NEWSCASTER: There will be more legal arguments in the case tomorrow. Now, the ruling in this case could affect the civil case pending in Tampa. The McPherson family is seeking millions in compensation from the church.
WTSP Channel 10 News, 4/05/2000 MALE NEWSCASTER: Well, should the state drop the case against the Church of Scientology? A judge is considering that issue today. FEMALE NEWSCASTER: It all stems from the death of a church member, Lisa McPherson, back in 1995. Now McPherson died in the care of church members. A few months ago the medical examiner ruled her death was an accident. [split screen--on bottom of screen it shows gavel on top of the words "Scientology hearing" (the word "Scientology" is the Scientology logo with crossed-out cross)] FEMALE NEWSCASTER: 10 News reporter Elaine Lucadano is live in St. Petersburg right now, and Elaine, what happened today? ELAINE LUCADANO (caption--"Elaine Lucadano, St. Petersburg, Scientology hearing"): Well, Sue, attorneys for the Church of Scientology are arguing that this is a case really of religious freedom. They say Lisa McPherson denied that psychiatric care so she could seek spiritual care from her fellow Scientologists. Of course, she ended up dying in their care, but today her best friend told me--this is the first time she's speaking out--she told me she believes the church had nothing to do with Lisa's death. BENNETTA SLAUGHTER (caption--"Bennetta Slaughter, Scientologist"): Well, Lisa was like family to me. She and I were more like sisters, even, than friends. [Bennetta Slaughter; Fort Harrison Hotel; picture of Lisa McPherson] ELAINE LUCADANO--VOICE OF: Even so, Bennetta Slaughter says she stands by the Church of Scientology. She says the church was Lisa's life and her choice for mental and spiritual care. BENNETTA SLAUGHTER: She was practicing her religion. She was where she wanted to be. Lisa didn't die of anything except a pulmonary embolism. And if she hadn't died of a pulmonary embolism, she'd be here today and she'd be a Scientologist today. DOUG CROW: She was clearly dehydrated. [courtroom footage; Judge Susan Schaeffer; more footage of Scienos in courtroom] ELAINE LUCADANO--VOICE OF: Prosecutors claim Lisa McPherson was neglected and medically mistreated by the very people she trusted. They say the Scientology staff was not trained or equipped to handle McPherson's problems. DOUG CROW (caption--"Doug Crow, Asst. State Prosecutor"): And as her condition progressed, nobody _____ [???] ERIC LIEBERMAN (caption--"Eric Lieberman, defense attorney"): She didn't die as a result of anything that was done or not done by anybody at the Church of Scientology. [picture of Lisa] ELAINE LUCADANO--VOICE OF: The medical examiner recently ruled Lisa McPherson died from a blood clot in her lung, a fatal illness Scientologists claim they couldn't prevent or detect. [Elaine Lucadano with Bennetta Slaughter] ELAINE LUCADANO--VOICE OF: Still, Bennetta says she and the church are often accused of killing Lisa. She says the discrimination from it all is intense. ELAINE LUCADANO--ON CAMERA: She told me that her daughter along with a lotter--a lot of other Scientologist children have been attacked and harassed in their schools. She said she even took her daughter because of that and put her in boarding school. Now they tell me, the Scientologists tell me if these charges are dropped, they will continue to try and mend the fences in their community and try to prove to people that they are actually good neighbors, that they always have been good neighbors. The hearing will continue, by the way, here in St. Petersburg tomorrow morning. Sue? FEMALE NEWSCASTER: All right, thanks, Elaine.
Channel 9 News, 4/05/2000 FEMALE NEWSCASTER: Will the Church of Scientology stand trial in connection with the death of Lisa McPherson? That's a question a Pinellas County judge will have to answer. It's the latest legal battle being fought in a Pinellas County courtroom. Bay News 9's Chris O'Connell has the story. CHRIS O'CONNELL--ON CAMERA: The state has charged the Church of Scientology's Flag Service Organization with abuse of a disabled adult and practicing medicine without a license, all in connection with the 1995 death of Lisa McPherson. Now attorneys for the church are asking the case be thrown out. [Scienos in courtroom; David Miscavige in courtroom; Eric Lieberman standing in front of charts displayed; Fort Harrison Hotel] CHRIS O'CONNELL--VOICE OF: In a courtroom packed with Scientologists and the church's spiritual leader, attorneys for the church tried to convince the judge the case should not even go to trial. They say the state's charges are nothing more than religious bigotry. They also say the church's treatment of Lisa McPherson is a religious practice that's protected under the First Amendment. You may remember McPherson died after spending 17 days at the church's Fort Harrison Hotel. CHRIS O'CONNELL--ON CAMERA: If the judge denies the church's request for a dismissal, attorneys will then start gearing up for an October trial that could last up to five weeks. Chris O'Connell, Bay News 9.

Transcripts courtesy of Batchild

 


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