NBC WFLA-TV Newschannel 8 daily news scripts[30 November 1998]From: Bob@Not.Here.com (Just Wog) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: 11 PM News WFLA-TV Newschannel 8 daily news scripts. Nov 30, 1998 Date: Tue, 01 Dec 1998 13:13:45 GMT I hope someone is videotaping all these reports. Bob, just wog ------- NBC WFLA-TV Newschannel 8 daily news scripts. 11 PM News [snip] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonight, attorneys for the church of scientology aren't commenting about today's appearance in court. The church plead not guilty in a case involving the death of one of it's members. Lisa mcpherson died three years ago after spending 17 days in the care of scientologists in Clearwater. Prosecutors have charged the church with abuse or neglect of a disabled person and practicing medicine without a license. Today, protesters gathered at the courthouse to criticize the church: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ((Bob minton/anti-scientology activist:"There was no accident involved here. This was a very standardly prescribed procedure which the church followed to the letter and according to hubbard, sometimes people don't make it, they die and that's what happened to lisa.")) Church lawyers who entered a plea of not guilty today declined further comment on the case..They say the not-guilty plea speaks for itself.[tape=2167] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The church of scientology also faces a civil suit filed by the family of lisa mcpherson.. The family's attorney says he's prepared to depose dozens of former scientologists about church practices. Newschannel 8's Marcia crawley found a couple of those people coming off a plane from Denmark tonight. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karsten lorenzen left the church of scientology in Denmark in July of 1996 after caring for a woman named gitte mogensen. Lorenzen didn't wish to be interviewed after his long flight this evening.. But lawyer ken dander says lorenzon will describe how the case of gitte mogensen is very similar to the case of lisa mcpherson. (( "She was almost like described as a catatonic state, where her eyes were open and she was barely breathing. No one was calling for an ambulance just like in lisa's case. But fortunately for this one particular female, she was able to get to her parents and they took her to the hospital and she's alive.")) Dandar says mogenson was at the fort Harrison hotel in Clearwater five months after mcpherson spent her final days here, sick and dehydrated. He plans to prove scientology's doctrine calls for members to be held in isolation. Dandar is prepared to depose 35 former church members like kursten lorenzon who say they either witnessed or were victims of such isolation. "These depositions will show a pattern of conduct, of criminal conduct that is sponsored by the church of scientology." "But the church of scientology argues the people dandar is trying to depose have nothing to do with lisa mcpherson's case. Dandar found kurston lorenzon on the Internet where many former scientologists post their experiences in the church." Church lawyer Laura vaughan wouldn't comment on details of the mogensen case, but says of lorenzon.. "I think he's coming here to protest the church and it's inappropriate to use the discovery process for his protest." A judge will decide Tuesday morning whether the testimony of kurston lorenzen or any other former church member can be heard. Marcia crawley, Newschannel 8. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (**Mike**) Kartsten lorenzen and other former scientologists plan to participate in a protest at the church in Clearwater this weekend. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Background courtesy of Windy's Web Design |