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Tampa Bay Channel 28 News

[23 February 2000]


From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.))
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Tampa Bay Channel 28 News, 2/23/2000--transcript
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 04:33:39 GMT
Message-ID: <38b4b441.10184957@news.primenet.com>

Tampa Bay Channel 28 News, 2/23/2000

NEWSCASTER (monitor in background has Scieno crossed out cross, a
picture of Lisa McPherson and the caption "Death:  Accidental):
There's a new twist in the case of Scientologist Lisa McPherson.  The
medical examiner who once declared her cause of death as
"undetermined" has changed course and now says McPherson's death was
an accident.  Tampa Bay 28's Peter Bernard shows you why the new
ruling could cast doubt on pending cases.

[picture of Lisa McPherson; Scieno building; medical examiner's
report; Scieno building]

PETER BERNARD--VOICE OF:  36-year-old Lisa McPherson died after being
cared for by fellow Scientologists at the Fort Harrison Hotel in
Clearwater.  The new ruling that her death was an accident casts doubt
on the two felony charges the church is facing in a civil complaint
filed by McPherson's family.

[blue screen with white print saying "Church Of Scientology"; inside
is white scrap with black print saying "Her death was sudden.";
another white scrap with black print saying, "Her death was sudden.
Her death was unpredictable.  It was undiagnosable.  IT WAS AN
ACCIDENT"]

PETER BERNARD--VOICE OF:  The church released a statement saying
Lisa's death was sudden, unpredictable, undiagnosable, and it
reiterates the new findings saying it was an accident.

[outside Pinellas County medical examiner's office; Scieno building]

PETER BERNARD--VOICE OF:  But church critics say the medical
examiner's change of heart does not shield Scientology from
accusations of wrongdoing.

STACY BROOKS (caption--"Stacy Brooks, Lisa McPherson Trust"):  I don't
think it's gonna cast any doubt in the prosecutors' minds, they're
pretty clear on what happened; but I think it may make it difficult
for them to carry on with the prosecution, which is really
unfortunate.

[outside LMT building; close-up of sign in door saying, "The Lisa
McPherson Trust, LMT Media"]

PETER BERNARD--VOICE OF:  Brooks is president of the Lisa McPherson
Trust, an anti-Scientology group funded by outspoken critic Robert
Minton.

STACY BROOKS:  There are many, many, many people that would like to
see, uh, the Church of Scientology brought to justice for this, um,
tragic death of this woman.

[framed photograph of Lisa McPherson; autopsy photos of Lisa
McPherson's hands and arms]

PETER BERNARD--VOICE OF:  The McPherson family attorney also believes
his civil case can press on.  He says there's still evidence of
beatings, dehydration and bites from insects.

[Lisa McPherson's death certificate; Scieno buildings; more pictures
of Lisa]

PETER BERNARD--VOICE OF:  The review of medical evidence comes after
Scientology-paid experts presented their findings.  Church leaders
feel prosecutors need to review the case now that the McPherson death
has been ruled an accident.  Peter Bernard, 28 Tampa Bay News.

NEWSCASTER:  We called the prosecutor's office to get reaction to this
latest ruling but did not get a call back by news time.

Sue, SP4(:), listed on the Scieno Sitter list 5 times!
--
http://www.primenet.com/~xenubat

"It will take a *long* time to find another enemy
with the combination of evil and incompetence
you see in Scientology."--Keith Henson


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