From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.)) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Transcript #1, Channel 28 News, 4/06/2000--segment on Lisa McPherson Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 05:25:38 GMT Message-ID: <38ee710a.1278020@news.primenet.com> Channel 28 News, 4/06/2000 [screen in background has Scn crossed out cross and the phrase "Scientology fight for freedom" (using the Scn logo for the word "Scientology")] BRENDAN McLAUGHLIN: Now it's up to a judge to decide if the Church of Scientology should go on trial for member Lisa McPherson's death. The church says its fight to drop the charges is a fight for religious freedom. 28 Tampa Bay's Ron Spieker joins us now after the two-day hearing with today's developments. [screen in background has Scn crossed out cross and the phrase "Scientology fight for freedom" (using the Scn logo for the word "Scientology")] ROB SPIEKER--ON CAMERA: Well, Brandon, the judge admits it's going to take at least a month to make a decision she knows is not going to be easy. Lisa McPherson died after 17 days in the care of fellow church members. Prosecutors say neglect led to her death. But the church is fighting for religious freedom to protect Scientology's practices. [picture of Lisa McPherson] BENNETTA SLAUGHTER: All of this has nothing to do with whether Lisa died or didn't die. [picture of Lisa; footage from courtroom] ROB SPIEKER--VOICE OF: Bennetta Slaughter was Lisa McPherson's best friend. For two days in court, she felt like her religion was under attack. BENNETTA SLAUGHTER (caption--"Bennetta Slaughter, Scientologist"): Every action that was engaged upon while she was at the church was done with the intention to provide her with the spiritual counseling and the help that she needed, wanted and asked for. [picture of Lisa; outside of hospital; Fort Harrison Hotel] ROB SPIEKER--VOICE OF: In November 1995, McPherson checked herself out of the hospital after an accident and mental breakdown to avoid psychiatric treatment. For the next 2-1/2 weeks she relied on Scientologist principles to help her heal. A blood clot in her lungs killed her on December 5. DOUG CROW: This is clearly a case of collective responsibility. [courtroom footage] ROB SPIEKER--VOICE OF: Prosecutors charge the church with neglect and say Lisa's lack of care is the reason they're ready for trial. DOUG CROW (caption--"Doug Crow, prosecutor"): We believe the corporation clearly sanctioned, approved the criminal conduct. [Scieno lawyer in front of graphs/charts display; Lisa's death certificate] ROB SPIEKER--VOICE OF: But Scientology's lawyers claim with the new ruling McPherson's death was accidental and constitutional protections for freedom of religion, there is no case. ERIC LIEBERMAN (caption--"Eric Lieberman, church attorney"): There can be no basis to charge the church for this conduct, stigmatizing an entire religion. [Scienos in courtroom; David Miscavige in courtroom] ROB SPIEKER--VOICE OF: Scientologists have packed the courtroom two days in a row. Even the church leader came in from California. They say their fight is everybody's fight. PAT JONES--ON CAMERA (caption--"Pat Jones, Scientologist"): Everybody in this country has that right to choose what their religion is and to go by the conviction of their beliefs. [courtroom footage] PAT JONES--VOICE OF: It will matter to every single American that their constitutional rights here are being defended by us. [screen in background has Scn crossed out cross and the phrase "Scientology fight for freedom" (using the Scn logo for the word "Scientology")] ROB SPIEKER--ON CAMERA: The maximum penalty for the Church of Scientology in this case is $15,000. But the church has already spent a lot more than that defending itself. Scientologists, though, say this fight for religious freedom isn't about the money; it's about the Constitution. Brendan? BRENDAN McLAUGHLIN: All right, thanks, Rob. The judge has a couple of options here in making a ruling. She could avoid a trial altogether by dismissing both charges or force a trial by dismissing only one charge or neither of them. The trial would then be held in October. 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 ----- From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.)) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Transcript #2, Channel 28 News, 4/06/2000--segment on Lisa McPherson Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 05:26:00 GMT Message-ID: <38ed702c.1056119@news.primenet.com> Channel 28 News, 4/06/2000 [screen in background has Scn crossed out cross and the phrase "Scientology fight for freedom" (using the Scn logo for the word "Scientology")] NEWSCASTER--ON CAMERA: The Church of Scientology is calling it a fight for religious freedom, and today a Pinellas County Judge continued to hear the church's arguments in a controversial Clearwater case that has been going on for a while. [picture of Lisa McPherson; Fort Harrison Hotel; courtroom footage; David Miscavige in courtroom; Scienos in courtroom] NEWSCASTER--VOICE OF: The church is trying to get felony charges dropped in the 1995 death of Lisa McPherson. She died after spending 17 days at the church-owned Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater while in church members' care. Today the judge wanted to know why prosecutors charged the Church of Scientology as a whole, instead of citing individual church members who cared for McPherson before her death. DOUG CROW: This is clearly a case of collective responsibility. ERIC LIEBERMAN: There can be no basis to charge the church for this conduct, stigmatize an entire religion. [Judge Susan Schaeffer; Scieno lawyer in front of chart display; Lisa's death certificate] NEWSCASTER--VOICE OF: These hearings came about after an amended version of McPherson's death certificate filed in February listed her death as accidental. The first version linked church members to her death. The judge said it will take at least a month to make her decision. 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 ----- From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.)) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Transcript, Channel 10 News, 4/06/2000--segment on Lisa McPherson Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 05:27:19 GMT Message-ID: <38ef716c.1375832@news.primenet.com> Channel 10 News, 4/06/2000 NEWSCASTER--ON CAMERA: A Pinellas judge says she needs at least a month to consider whether to drop criminal charges against the Church of Scientology. [courtroom footage--caption, "Scientology hearing wraps"; Judge Susan Schaeffer; Eric Lieberman in front of chart display; picture of Lisa McPherson] NEWSCASTER--VOICE OF: The church is accused of negligence and practicing medicine without a license. Church member Lisa McPherson died from a blood clot while in the church's care. But Scientologists claim they never detected she was physically sick. 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 ----- From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.)) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Transcript, Channel 9 News, 4/06/2000--segment on Lisa McPherson Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 05:28:17 GMT Message-ID: <38f071bf.1459295@news.primenet.com> Channel 9 News, 4/06/2000 NEWSCASTER: A judge will now decide whether or not the Church of Scientology's Flag Service Organization will stand trial in the 1995 death of one of its members. The church is charged with abuse of a disabled adult and practicing medicine without a license in connection with the death of Lisa McPherson. Attorneys for the church asked the judge to dismiss the case on the grounds their religious practices are protected under the First Amendment. They also feel the state is unfairly targeting their religion. Bay News 9's Chris O'Connell has been following this story and has more from the courtroom. DOUG CROW: This is clearly a case of collective responsibility. [courtroom footage; Fort Harrison Hotel; picture of Lisa McPherson--next to her picture is caption, "Lisa McPherson"] CHRIS O'CONNELL--VOICE OF: The two-day hearing is a preview of what a jury may hear if the case against the Church of Scientology does end up going to trial. Prosecutors say the church itself should be held responsible for the death of Lisa McPherson. DOUG CROW (caption--"Doug Crow, Asst. State Attorney"): We do not concede that this church acted at all times with Lisa's best interests in good faith. That is the disputed issue. [Fort Harrison Hotel] CHRIS O'CONNELL--VOICE OF: State attorneys say church members abused McPherson while staying at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater. She died 17 days later still under the church's care. LEE FUGATE (caption--"Lee Fugate, church attorney"): What the caregiver said, by the way, was, we never saw a situation where we thought her life was in danger until, as the court noted yesterday, until December 5. And we took her to the hospital. [picture of Lisa; autopsy report; picture of Lisa] CHRIS O'CONNELL--VOICE OF: Church attorneys say McPherson's death was an accident. They point to the medical examiner's autopsy report, amended just two months ago. It says McPherson died of a blood clot in her lung, not severe dehydration as reported in the original autopsy. The defense says church members were trying to care for McPherson, not hurt her. LEE FUGATE: That person refused to eat, refused to drink, and they, in caring for this person, tried to get them to eat and tried to get them to drink. Diagnosis for what a mother would do or what a friend would do or what a fellow religionist would do. [Judge Susan Schaeffer; Scientology books--"Introduction to Scientology Ethics", "What Is Scientology?"] CHRIS O'CONNELL--VOICE OF: Judge Susan Schaeffer offered her own observation. She said no matter who is responsible, McPherson received hospital attention too late. JUDGE SUSAN SCHAEFFER--caption, "Susan Schaeffer, Circuit Court Judge"): The long and the short of it is regardless of what happened to her, had she been removed from the place two days before and taken to a hospital, none of this would have occurred. [courtroom footage; David Miscavige in courtroom] CHRIS O'CONNELL--VOICE OF: More than 150 Scientologists, including the church's top spiritual leader, filled two courtrooms to hear arguments. They, along with the state attorneys, now await the judge's ruling. CHRIS O'CONNELL--ON CAMERA, OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE: If Judge Schaeffer denies the church's request to dismiss this case, then the focus would then turn towards an October trial, a trial that's expected to last up to five weeks. But the judge's decision won't come for at least another month. In St. Petersburg, Chris O'Connell, Bay News 9. NEWSCASTER: Regardless of the judge's decision, attorneys for the family of Lisa McPherson will continue with their civil suit against the church. That trial is not expected until after the criminal case is settled. 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 ----- From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.)) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Transcript, Fox Channel 13 News, 4/06/2000--segment on Lisa McPherson Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 05:29:48 GMT Message-ID: <38f171f7.1515176@news.primenet.com> Fox 13 News, 4/06/2000 [screen in background says "Scientology" in white letters on blue background] NEWSCASTER--ON CAMERA: Pinellas County Chief Judge will take several weeks to draw the line between freedom of religion and criminal activity. [picture of Lisa McPherson; Fort Harrison Hotel; Scieno lawyer in front of chart display NEWSCASTER--VOICE OF: The Church of Scientology wants the judge, Judge Susan Schaeffer, to dismiss charges filed against the organization in, after the 1995 death of Lisa McPherson. At the time, members of Scientology were nursing her through what appears to have been a mental breakdown. Defense attorneys want those charges dropped because they say everyone involved was following Scientology doctrine. ERIC LIEBERMAN--(caption, "Eric Lieberman, defense attorney"): There can be no basis to charge the church for this conduct, stigmatize an entire religion, and all these fine people who participate in it, who would do anything to preserve, protect and help their fellow parishioner. [Doug Crow; picture of Lisa; courtroom footage] NEWSCASTER--VOICE OF: Prosecutors think the Church of Scientology can be held accountable for Lisa McPherson's death. Both sides spent the past two days arguing the legalities in a courtroom filled to capacity, mostly by members of Scientology. 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