coffey.would it be normal to tell a defendant or potential defendant in this case not to contact the victim? >> of course it would be. and it would be not very common to put a defendant on the standç for any reason whatsoever to make what was an unwanted and apparently unappreciated apology. because it creates the risk that the prosecutor might be able to go somewhere when you expose your klein the to cross-examination. the judge kept a very short rein on the prosecutor so it didn't blow up in their face, but it was an unnecessary risk and it certainly doesn't seem to have accomplished anything for george zimmerman. >> by the way, i'm not a lawyer, again. but i'm always surprised by things that happen in court. let me ask you this, mr. coffey. is it normal in a bond hearing to say to the person, the defendant in this case, that you committed a crime, the day you committed a crime, to basically say he's guilty, as if he's been found guilty. is that normal, acceptable parlance in the courtroom.

the reduced sentence allows kevin coffey, who left his friends to die, a chance for parole by the second anniversary of the drunk driving tragedy. >> now it's just totally -- blown away. >> haley's father struggles with the fact he says justice wasn't served for his daughter and two of her friends, spencer and johnny. the high school students were killed when kevin coffey drove drunk last may in montgomery county, crashed the car and left them to die. >> when he left the car my daughter was still alive. and she lived for three hours after that. so le he left the car, she still had a chance, but he took that chance away. he made a decision that determined what her life was going to be, and he ended it. >> but mcgwire is not only grieving his own loss but for future families who may not see justice. >> it will happen again because this sentence, again and again, until someone realizes that you have to be personally responsible. >> legal expert jim says maryland's law can be more lenient in these types of cases when they get a second look by a panel. >> in maryland, you serve a fraction of

his name is kevin coffey. three of his friends were killed in that crash.rd jordan now in rockville with more on all of this. >> reporter: jim, this is a surprising turn of events but no one was more shocked than the family members of these three victims when they learned 21-year-old kevin coffey, his sentence would be reduced from 20 years to just eight. there were several supporters for the victims' friends and family members all wearing bright yellow t-shirts into court today. they went before this three-judge panel even the parents of each of the three young victims. they all said they felt the sentence was appropriate. coffey saying that he felt he was being made to be the poster child for under age drinking. he was just 20 years old when he got drunk in a car. he slammed into a tree in olney and killed three of his four passengers that were inside that car. he did make a statement saying he was regretful for what had happened. the parents of the victims say they don't buy his remorse and they are outraged. >> this sentence sends a message that the liv

i want to go ahead and bring in kendall coffey. first of all, mr. coffey, are you there? >> yes, i am. >> let's talk about what has been seen and heard transpired so far. what's struck you so far in. >> well, i think the things that jump out are some holes in the prosecution's case as well as acknowledges that the prosecution made that may be favorable to george zimmerman. for example, his apparent injuries, lacerations to the back of the head, were consistent with zimmerman's account of having his head slammed against the cement. there's other testimony that came in about the fact that apparently -- it's now going to become pretty clear -- that george zimmerman had some injuries as a result of it. another thing that i think may be just as important or many so is the fact that according to the investigator, he has no evidence to determine who threw the first punch. he said there was a confrontation. he said that he believes he could show that zimmerman was pursuing trayvon martin. but as to who threw the first punch, there is no evidence on that, around thnd that could b

now, coffey did have a moment to speak before the court. he showed some remorse. he says he asked himself often why he was saved and why his friends were killed. his mother and sister also spoke. they say they feel that this 20-year sentence is nothing more than revenge and the judge who imposed the sentence acted hastily mostly because of the ainge inner the community. on the other side you had the parents of these three young victims. they all said that they feel the sentence is appropriate. in fact the father of one of the boys killed, the father of spencer dat, said he would be okay if these three judges decided to increase the sentence. that is an option the judges could consider. but right now they are behind closed doors discussing this. the arguments are over so simply now just waiting for these judges to come back and of course no one wants to know more what's going to happen, what their decision will be as much as coffey, his family, and then the family of these three victims. so we'll be watching it. if there is a development today, i'm not sure if a de

kendall coffey, i give up.hese are the craziest, strangest lawyers i've ever seen handling any case, putting themselves out there publicly, asserting facts about the case without ever having met their client, and then having to tell the world today, we have no idea where he is, just at the moment, where the special prosecutor has said, within about 70 hours from now, i will be making what is probably a conclusive announcement in this case. i've never seen anything like this with lawyers. >> well, it's certainly one of the most remarkable press conferences we've ever seen any defense lawyers provide. i can't help but be a little sympathetic, because this is such an overwhelming case from a media standpoint. these kind of cases take on a life of their own. the press conference took on a life of its own. but at the end of the day, they didn't need to say anything about the reasons why they were withdrawing and they certainly didn't need to announce to the world that they didn't have any idea where their client was

coffey, let me ask you this question.this the normal thing with a bond hearing where you try to establish the credibility of the witness? >> the prosecutor was trying to take a little opening that he had and be as aggressive as he could. he was also aggressive cross-examining george zimmerman's wife and father, where they were very careful about holding back was their best evidence. anybody that thinks that the best evidence that the prosecution has was fully displayed today is making the wrong take away from this hearing. >> your thought, joy-ann? >> i think that's true. the prosecutor actually said at the end of his presentation, look, we've got a lot more. you've got to presume that they were trying not to show too much of their case. there can be a hearing basically on stand your ground. they don't want to give defense attorneys a preview of their case which would give them an advantage going into that next hearing. >> let's take a look at this. here's george zimmerman's father questioned via speaker phone. he was ask

coffey said. i don't think she has to make the decision this week. she has time to make the decision and go through the evidence. the speedy trial rule was running. she was placed under arrest, marched through the halls in handcuffs, so the speedy trial rule is running. she has to make a decision, charge him, and bring him to trial within 175 days. so it might be this week, it could be this month, we'll have to wait and see. >> let me go back to you, kendall, zimmerman's attorney says sanford pd made the right decision, let me play that for you. >> people have jumped to wrongful conclusions, i believe, and i think the country will see why the sanford police department made the decision they did at that time. >> now, when he says that they made the right decision, when you have a case of probable cause that many of us feel and said should have lead to an arrest, zimmerman was armed, trayvon was unarmed, zimmerman was pursuing trayvon, he was not brought to the hospital for injuries -- i mean on the law how do they make a legal argument that the pd the

when it came to getting in coffey's car after attending two underage parties. mcgann layed some blame on a culture of underage drinking. kevin, an immature 20-year-old didn't produce this culture, isn't responsible for it, and shouldn't bare the burden of remedying it. why should he pay a price for a malady, which was in existence long before may 15, 2011, mcgann said. >> this message sends the message that the lives of our children were meaningless. >>> more fallout from the secret service prostitution scandal. republican congressman says a top agency official told him three more agents are being forced out. and two of those are resigning while the third is losing his national security clearance and will be leaving the secret service. now that makes nine total agents forced out over that scandal down in columbia. a total of 12 agents were investigated after hiring a prostitute just before the president's trip to that country. the other three had been cleared of any wrong doing. >>> in less than two hours, the polls will shut down in the next five republican pr

i pray for the best. >> reporter: darcy spencer, news4. >> kevin coffey we just mentioned just had his prison sentence reduced drastically. a panel cut his sentence from 20 years to eight years. the parents of those killed in the crash says the reduced sentence sends the wrong message. >> this sentence sends the message that the lives of our three children are virtually meaningless. >> if you're out there and you want to drink and drive, come here because you'll get away with it. and you'll get away with murder like this kid is getting away with. >> prosecutors say coffey could be free on parole as early as next may. i was at that hearing yesterday. it is really sad to see how one decision can have such a drastic effect on so many people. still a year later these families are trying to get over this. it's heart breaking. >> also families trying to spread a message. touching interview. >> yes. hopefully kids out there will listen up. >>> let's turn things over to talk about the weather now. >> yeah. and chuck bell is standing by in storm4 in our storm4 center. did you mention rain and m

i had not dealt with john coffey. i knew who he was. ex-cop who had been security for nixon in the campaign. i didn't know what he did except he reported to john dean. i called him and he said, i want to meet you in the office. i'll meet you in the men's room. i go to the men's room. and he said, tell me what it is. he said, i heard from erlicman's office you had a message from the president. he wants to get these documents back, i told him. he looked at me. i said, you can probably, the best thing to do would be call mel laird. he said, oh, no, he said, we'll never get anywhere that way. he said, you know, i was with the new york police. we used to create a fire as a diversion and go in and get papers out of anybody's office. i said, i don't know how you do your business, but all i can tell you is the president wants those papers left. that's the last i heard of it until watergate. i never heard what happened. nothing did happen, as a matter of fact. much was made of it that two -- one of the explosive allegations in watergate is i pro

coffey. that here she is probably going to look at manslaughter one. maybe some of those other charges. assault with a deadly weapon. and maybe aggravated assault. we don't have all of the facts dylan, nor should we. because this is a case that should be tried as you are sult suggesting dylan, in the courtroom, not in the court of public opinion. but we have already tried it, haven't we, over the courts of the last da the -- >> well, savannah be, the thing that strikes me, is emotionally how viscerally it strikes at me individually. and i think a lot of people through the lens of two sets of rules. that this is one of the most piercing and heart wrenching examples of a sense that we live in a society where your identity, your role inç societ has a huge impact on mundane things, like what your tax rate is, to this. which is at the apex, how valuable is this person's life, and how valuable is that? do you agree with the assertion that this charge has to be a charge that will stick and has to be a charge that speaks to some sense of a validation for just

coffey, let me ask you. when you hear about forensics as louis here is explaining it and it also kour part of what may come up if the justice department does honor the request of the parents to look at what the state investigators did or didn't do because wouldn't that also lead to questions on if certain photographs and certain forensic evidence was not taken in the first 24 to 48 hours why would they not have done that when you clearly had a killing here? >> i think it will, indeed further fuel what we have described at the investigation of the investigation. that in itself is going to take on a life of its own and have serious questions. i agree with the comment that when you don't have an exhaustive painstaking evaluation and collection of all the forensic evidence immediately available, irretrievable damage is done to an investigation. so as much as the fbi and justice department may now examine the quality and other aspects of the investigation that was done by sanford and the state attorney the realit

>> i want to bring in kendall coffey.you don't often get bond in second-degree murder cases but it certainly does happen. what will the judge be looking for in this case? >> florida is much more favorable in terms of a defendant in this kind of scenario that the vast majority of other states based on florida's own state contry tugs provisions. the court considers things like ties to the community because a couple of considerations include flight of risk, whether he's a dauncher to others. i believe zimmerman's lawyer is scoring some points on those issues. but the starting point we will get to at some point today is whether the state can show enough evidence to establish a standard of likelihood of guilt that is very, very high. in fact, the state's evidence is really supposed to be and must be high theiren the evidence needed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. zimmerman's lawyer can try to pick holes in that. but the state, to keep him locked up between now and the trial, will need to show their cards. they ha

attorney kendall coffey. kendall, it's good to see you.bout the prosecutor's office, they were able to put out this short statement yesterday. before today, the april 10th date cautioning the decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of this case. still, kendall, people speculate, you know, what this could all mean about the status of the investigation. and either sign can spin it to be beneficial to them, can't they? >> well, they can. but what it means for sure is that she is not requiring that she gives herself cover for her decision. because in a case like this, where she clearly has all the authority she needs to make the charging decisions, one way or the other, she could, if she wanted to deflect criticism, convene a grand jury and say, well, that's what the grand jury decided up with way or the other. she chose not to do that which suggests a couple things. one, they have plenty of backbone and moxie which is consistent with what we've heard about her already. and two, she may not need cover. and frankly

let me go back to kendall coffey real quick.rd the reverend say the family is waiting to hear from the special prosecutor here. as you pointed out, the usual process would be to contact the family and then obviously whom ever would be representing george zimmerman or george zimmerman if he is representing himself and they have not heard anything. does that concern you? >> no, it doesn't. i think what i would expect this special prosecutor intended to let them know probably shortly before she announced to the public and as we know happens in a case like this, tamron, word god out somehow, so i don't think it is surprising that they haven't yet heard officially from the special prosecutor. given that the word is out it might accelerate her decision to let them know and if all events we're waiting for just as the family is i think we all want to see if there is indeed an he on official confirmation and we want to know what the actual charges would be. >> kendall, would it be likely scenario to play out, she comes out and makes the

reduced kevin coffey's sentence from 20 years in prison to just eight.cutors say he coup eligible next may. >>> cab fares change today in the district. it will now cost $2.16 per mile. also there's no charge if you handle your own bags and only vans can charge the extra passenger fee for up to three people. no fee after the fourth person. >>> also new from overnight, a homicide in the district. >> police are investigating this case near the marine barracks in southwest washington. that's where we find news4's derek ward. he joins us live with the latest details. >> reporter: good morning. one man is dead and one in police custody after an incident here on barracks row at about 2:30 this morning. it was 2:30 when police got a call about a disturbance in the district. when police arrived, they found one man stabbed. he was later pronounced dead. police took one person into custody. we have no information about the identities of either. only to say they are both adult males. most of the bars were shutting down. there were lots of people out here and always

joining me now is kendall coffey, and ken padowitz, thank you both for being here tonight. >> kendallh you. can you believe the claim of shaken baby for a 28-year-old man. >> to compare a 190 pound man with a shaken baby is ridiculous. i have to think they will abandon that before it gets to a court of law. it's not the first time they have gone too far with these exaggerations. it didn't look like there was much of a beating. credibility is everything and making these stretches as claims doesn't help george zimmerman. >> ken, we checked the national institute of health to define shaken baby syndrome, and that injuries usually occur in children two years old or younger because their brains are softer and neck muscles are weak. throwing these things out there as kendall just said, one minute he was beat an inch from his life, now shaken baby syndromes the more they throw it out there, aren't they looking weaker in the confidence of people that support them. how much theories can you throw out there about the one incident that happened to your client. >> exactly. i can tell you as a for

three judge panel on friday will consider coffey's request for a sentence reduction. it will unfair and vengeful. >> i think by reducing sends the wrong message about drunk driving, seriousness of it, and the running away part. >> reporter: hoover says the judicial process made it even more difficult to move forward. >> we have to go through it all over again. i just -- i can't even believe it. >> reporter: darcy spencer, news4. >> debate is under way right now over whether to extend drinking hours in the district. jim graham is holding a public hearing to discuss mayor gray's proposal to push back the closing time for bars in the city. his plan would allow for an extra hour to serve alcohol from 2:00 to 3:00 in the morning on weekdays and from 3:00 to 4:00 in the morning on weekends. critics worry more time to drink will lead to more crime but others say the benefits would outweigh the costs. >> i know it is a really big, you know, economic opportunity for the neighborhood. bars and restaurants staying open later make more money. >> if somebody lives in this neighbor

now let me bring in kendall coffey. let me start with the last thing that he noted of interest. that george zimmerman's attorney would like to have him in regular citizen clothes and not the original jump suit or something that you would often hear? that's a very sensible request. you may recall the notorious case of laci peterson. one of the first things the attorney did is got him clean up and out of the jump suit so he would start to appear more human in front of the eyes of the public. >> so that is a standard question in a high profile case. especially when you have cameras following every detail here. >> and a high profile case where the eyes of the nation are watching. you dope want your china to look any more like a criminal than perhaps he already does in the minds of some. >> let's get to what would likely happen in the bond hearing tomorrow. we know the judge met with the attorneys in his chambers. what is likely happening behind the scenes to get this decided on tomorrow? the two things may be going on, the state and the defense are trying to work out some agreement

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joining us now is kendall coffey, a former federal prosecutor and attorney in florida.te reaction there to special prosecutor angela corey's public statement. >> the charge is very aggressive. the presentation masterful. a very good civics lesson about the process. and in part a very compelling statement about her commitment to victims. an etch sis overand over again that this was business as usual despite the huge amount of public interest. and she did a heck of a job explaining that while she redid the investigation, not a word of criticism for everyone involved. simply prays for the team working together. i give it an a plus. >> we have eugene jay donald. what did you think when she explained there was excusable and justifiable homicides, and she wanted to determine which this was. it seemed to me that she was suggesting in a mr. zimmerman would have problems using the stand your ground law as his defense. >> i agree her presentation was masterful, it's matter of fact, common sense, and what you're accustomed to hearing in prosecutor's offices. there's okbstacles, it

attorney kendall coffey will join me.immerman stay out on bail? we've got reaction from trey martin's mother and father. plus, the latest on that prostitution scandal that continues to rock the secret service. we've learned the identities of at least two of the supervisors who are leaving the agency. one of them has a connection to sarah palin. we'll connect the dots. [ male announcer ] with six indulgently layered desserts, all at 150 calories or less, there's definitely a temptations for you. unless you're one of those people who doesn't like delicious stuff. temptations. it's the first jell-o that's just for adults. with rent2buy from hertz car sales, you skip the lots... and pushy sales people... it's a fast, easy way to buy a used car. three days to try. zero pressure to buy. it's just another way you'll be traveling at the speed of hertz. an accident doesn't have to slow you down. with better car replacement

attorney kendall coffey. and mayor or super hero? the mayor tells how he ran into a burning building to carry his neighbor to safety. >> there was a time when i got through the kitchen and was searching for her and look back and saw the kitchen in flames. it was a really frightening experience. i didn't think we would get out of there. >> great to have you with me. i'm robert thomas sitting in for tamron hall. mitt romney will speak in about 20 minutes at a national rifle association conference taking pla it is in st. louis. it is his chance to appeal to the group that has had its doubts about him in the past. that is conservative gun owners. peter alexander covering romney's speech in missouri, joins me live on the phone. what do we expect to hear this afternoon from mr. romney? >> we do expect to hear from governor romney about 20 minutes from now. we are at the nra convention. over seven acres of guns here and outfitters, more importantly perhaps for romney, what he has to do is try to find that delegate balance, appealing to the

ask is any opposition group this is of course one of the many calls holes that were laid out by mr coffey and on the joint envoy for for the syria pretty serious conflict so he laid out a six point peace plan because this observer mission is one of many things he has cost or it's your bring about the peace in syria i know there are elements of this trap resolution that we're told is that it's also time syria to commit to its responsibilities and its pledges meaning the syrian government regarding all its obligations according to the kofi annan on its six point peace plan so it seems as though we're going to see another consensus across the board in the security council concerning syria this will be the second saturday in a row where another resolution would be adopted the vote is expected to be held on saturday and it is expected to be voted upon and adopted and this would clearly show something that we haven't seen for thirteen months speaker of the security council is and divided for so long on how to approach syria and clearly receive a consensus across the board among the internationa

and temperature but let's get more on the global implications of it all are now joined by deepak coffey a journalist and expert on asia oh good to see you today i missed all the test ramping up the defense budget is india just trying to compete with the big global players or does it actually see a real threat in the region. india got truly. strategic aims first of all to stay close to china historically it's a diversity of the two countries for a brief but intense border war in the ninety's sixty two since then although all the relations have improved but india and china have a regional. china on the part of becoming it is superpower india doesn't want to be left behind. in economic terms in terms of population it is not far behind the other of india is to. understand it's right but with a country with which it has thought a number of us and teams to have it turns relationship so in short game. by just but as close behind china it's possible so i doubt as you say you bring in the relationship certainly the turbulent part of pakistan in relation to india also that of china but do you thi

joining us now to talk about this, kendall coffey, a former u.s.orney in southern florida, and criminal defense attorney midwin cherls. when i heard there was a notice for some kind of announcement from the special prosecutor, i was surprised in that the special prosecutor has not yet spoken to the only key witness who's alive in this altercation, and that's george zimmerman. is that a surprise to you? >> it's not a surprise because at this point, at least up until the time he had lawyers, george zimmerman would have been told by any counsel in america, don't talk to the prosecutors. in fact, we've heard that his attorneys communicated that he wasn't available to talk to them, nor should he at this point. frankly, standard operating procedure is do not talk to the prosecutors at this point. besides, zimmerman has already spoken to police, and for better or for bitter,are. but these attorneys made a suggestion yesterday that george zimmerman made an overture to the prosecutors themselves, wanting to talk to them. wouldn't they reach out to him to ge

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