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Defense Rests in Casey Anthony Murder Trial; Massive Strikes in Britain

Aired June 30, 2011 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Fred. Thank you very much.

And hello to all of you, a lot happening today. In fact, let me just line up a couple of the stories we're working on for you for the next two hours.

First of all, listen to all these names, Cindy Anthony, George Anthony, Lee Anthony, pretty much the entire Anthony family called back to the witness stand today -- the one Anthony not on the stand, Casey. The national-murder-case-turned-media-circus is coming to a close.

Plus, the royal couple on their first official foreign trip. Prince William and Catherine have just arrived in Canada. In fact, take a look, live pictures. Here they are coming in from Ottawa. That is their first stop. We're going to get you more of that coming up.

But first I want to begin with some new problems here for the TSA. If you fly, you recognize this. You have to go through the pat- downs, the body scans, checkpoints, bag inspections. Look, we all face stiff scrutiny every time we try to board a plane. And no one is immune, not even the 95-year-old who had to remove her adult diaper before boarding her own plane.

I talked to her daughter about it just the other day. But in this post-9/11 world, we accept this because airlines and Homeland Security must know exactly who is getting on plane and what we're carrying. So, it brings me to this question. How did a man with no valid identification and a day-old boarding pass manage to fly across the country just last week?

According to law enforcement, a 24-year-old Nigerian man hopped on a flight, Virgin America, got on this plane at New York's JFK Airport on Friday, even though he wasn't on the flight manifest, did not have a valid passport, and the boarding pass, not only was it expired; it was not even in his name.

Now, the crew says they didn't realize he was supposed to be there until the flight had already taken off, and according to the airline, according to Virgin, they did alert law enforcement and allegedly he was questioned, but not arrested.

Well, we now know this, because, days later, in fact, just yesterday, the man was arrested when he tried to get on a Delta flight bound for Atlanta with, you guessed it, another expired boarding pass.

So the Transportation Security Administration says it can't say very much because the FBI is currently investigating, but I do want to read you something. This is a statement we got -- quote -- "Every passenger that passes through security checkpoints is subject to many layers of security, including thorough physical screening at the checkpoint. TSA's review of this matter indicates that the passenger went through screening. It is important to know that this passenger was subject to the same physical screening at the checkpoint as other passengers" -- end quote.

So, for now, the man in question here is charged with being a stowaway, and law enforcement tells our Jeanne Meserve that there are no indications of terrorism, at least for now.

Still, though -- and I know you're sitting there. You have questions. We have questions.

I want to put these questions to Isaac Yeffet. He's a former head of security for the airline many, many people consider to have the most effective screening policy, Israel's El-Al.

Isaac, nice to have you on.

Let me just begin with this.

ISAAC YEFFET, FORMER SECURITY HEAD, EL-AL: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Obviously, the big question is how. How did this guy get on a plane? You weren't there. You don't have that answer, but let me just start with this. Boarding passes, Isaac, why do we need them?

YEFFET: We need the boarding pass, but we need also picture I.D., legal picture I.D., to see if this is the man who carried the board -- board pass and he is the right man to have the access to the aircraft.

If they was -- if they would look only at the board pass, and they would say -- would see that the date of the flight is not the day that he took the flight, they would stop him on the first second. So no one can tell me that we have security.

I read the statement that you put on the screen.

BALDWIN: Mm-hmm.

YEFFET: This is illusion that we have security. We don't have security.

BALDWIN: It's an illusion.

YEFFET: Let's put the truth in front of the people. It is illusion.

Unfortunately, that -- we know that on, September 11, 19 terrorists went at four different airports around this country. They went through security checkpoint, that -- we believe that the security checkpoint will stop anyone who carries illegal item with him. We know the results of 19.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Right. Right. Mr. Yeffet...

(CROSSTALK)

YEFFET: We know the results, unfortunately.

BALDWIN: As you point out all these glaring examples, and we think that in this post-9/11 world, that we won't have this, to quote you, illusion, that is, security. So then, if it's an illusion, how do we make it a reality? Where do we beef it up? Where is the weak link or links?

YEFFET: Our problem, that we don't believe in profiling system similar to El-Al security.

We believe only on technology. Any country that will rely only on technology, he will not be able to go far, and we will fail time after time. We have experience with the shoe bomber. What happened? Zero security. The results, all the passengers...

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: So, how do you profile, sir? How would you profile? How would you fix this?

(CROSSTALK)

YEFFET: The passengers are coming to the check-in counter to deal with the ticket, to take the boarding pass. While they are waiting online to the ticket counter, so easy that qualified and well- trained security people will meet them. They will know how to approach with them to let them understand that we have to ask you questions for your safety, for your security, because we are responsible to make sure that your flight will arrive safe and secure to your destination.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: But, Mr. Yeffet, let me just jump in. Let me jump in and play -- play the other side here, because you know there are a lot of Americans who would say, hang on a second. That violates my rights. I could be discriminated against if there is some sort of profiling.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Let's say, I know, at Ben Gurion Airport, for example, in Israel, you're talking El-Al airline here. You know, you can't even roll up to the curb without being profiled as far as security. But what do you say to the people that say that's not right? YEFFET: No one will say it's not right if you know how to approach the passenger.

Remember, 99.9 percent of the passengers are bona fide, are honest passengers. If you approach them and they understand that the question is for their benefit, not your benefit, and you make sure that they will arrive safe and security -- secure to their destination, all what you want them, help me to help you to arrive safe to your destination.

BALDWIN: Right.

YEFFET: I didn't see one that refused to cooperate with us.

BALDWIN: Let me ask you about the specific incidents, because apparently this guy was on this flight. He was already on this Virgin Atlantic flight headed from JFK to LAX.

And the flight attendant was astute enough to notice that he was sitting in a seat that was supposed to be empty, asked for the boarding pass. They get it above. It's expired. Get the pilot involved.

Yet, when they land, Isaac, this man, allegedly after being questioned walks. Now, this airline acknowledges they made a mistake, but if you're in flight and especially after you land, I mean, should someone's head roll for that?

YEFFET: You know, if he was terrorist, nobody could speak with them -- with him, because the aircraft would be blown up and all the passengers, God knows what happened to them.

Now, the flight attendant asked him the question only after a passenger called her and told her that the seat next to him has to be empty, and what this man is doing there? When she started to talk to him, it took a while until he showed her the fake boarding pass or the boarding pass that -- the flight of day before, and nobody paid attention, not the security, not the airline employees, not at the gate, and the man went to the flight like he owns the flight, not he only is a passenger.

He did whatever he wanted. This is the security that we deserve? This is the security that we want in this country? Don't you think enough is enough? I don't want to see security people that are hero with woman 95 years old with a wheelchair, and to do what they did to her only because the alarm went off. Any metal will bring the alarm to went off.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: I think some people -- Mr. Yeffet, absolutely agree with you. You said it quite strongly. Security is an illusion, and got some pretty, pretty serious recommendations for -- for our airline security.

Isaac Yeffet, formerly of El-Al, appreciate it, sir. Thank you so much.

YEFFET: Thank you. Thank you.

BALDWIN: School, ports, even courts all shut down across Britain today, as thousands of public workers hit the picket line. We're going to tell you what it is they're -- they are enraged over and why more could be on the way.

Plus, this. There he goes. You recognize that? That is French President Nicolas Sarkozy, some frightening moments for him today when a man nearly yanked him to the ground.

More on that. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Greece's Parliament today passed a law needed to implement a crucial austerity package. The move was demanded by the European Union and International Monetary Fund and opens the way for more loans from those two groups. The austerity package, which includes tax hikes, pay cuts, among many other measures here, has triggered strikes.We have shown them to you for the better part of the last week here in Athens and also other parts of the country.

Meantime, chaos in London today -- in fact, hundreds of thousands of Britons clogged squares and streets there across England. This strike -- look at this video -- this strike could be the biggest seen in England in more than 80 years, the workers walking off their jobs after the government's decision to cut pension plans. Dozens of strikers were arrest. And these strikes come from all walks of life, teachers, air traffic controllers, civil servants, even police.

Our own Dan Rivers talked to some of them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who would have thought pension reform would have provoked this? But anger across Britain at plans to curtail generous public sector retirement schemes has reached boiling point. A small minority clashed with police near Downing Street.

But, elsewhere, the rally was peaceful, teachers, some with their own children, together with university lecturers, civil servants and immigration officials, all people not used to striking. Three- quarters-of-a-million walked out across Britain, some unions going on strike for the very first time.

ANDY BROWN, PRESIDENT, THE EDUCATION UNION: We're public servants. We are going to have a modestly comfortable salary, some of which we don't get paid each month because it goes into our pension pot. And we will then have a modestly comfortable pension. That pact has been betrayed and teachers today are angry.

RIVERS: Across England, 12,000 schools were shut by walkouts, from action at a prison on the Isle of Wight in the south to a closed art gallery in Liverpool in the north.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: They say cut back!

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: We say fight back!

RIVERS: All furious with government plans to change their pensions, meaning they would receive less and pay more into their plans to retire later, proposals put forward to deal with a massive government overspend which many here feel was caused by the bailout of the banks.

JENNY ADAMS, TEACHER: It's about who is being asked to foot this bill really for a mess that's been made by not us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just an ordinary teacher that just feels like that we're being picked on, really, and I don't think it's fair.

RIVERS: The government says state sector pensions are unsustainable, and wants to bring them in line with often less generous private schemes.

And people here fear other cuts will follow. It might not be on the scale of Greece, but it's all caused by the same problem. Who pays for the overspend?

(on camera): Until now, the age of austerity has been a phrase that has been widely used, without perhaps people understanding what it means in practice. Now, suddenly, it seems very real, and people here don't like it one bit.

Dan Rivers, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Dan Rivers, thank you very much.

Some tense moments for French President Nicolas Sarkozy today as he was, you know, out and about shaking some hands during a stop. Watch this video. There he goes. In southwest France, someone in that melee grabbed his shoulder, tried to pull him against that barricade.

His security team had to quickly free him. Four bodyguards tackled some man to the ground and grabbed him. There it is again. The suspect is described as a 32-year-old local man who works at a music school. Police are questioning him.

And I want to show you some pictures here just into us from Ottawa, Canada. The duke and duchess of Cambridge. You have William and Catherine there shaking some hands, saying hello, arriving in Canada for a nine-day visit. They will be in Ottawa, Calgary, heading to the Northwest territories for a little canoeing, from what I have been reading, and then they head to the United States.

This will be Catherine's first, first trip to the U.S. in her lifetime. More on that in just a little bit with MAX FOSTER.

Now this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was in a black plastic bag, and I do recall there being duct tape used.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Casey's -- Casey Anthony's brother, mother and father all called to the stand again today, this time with questions over how they buried their pets. We will get you a live report from Orlando straight ahead, get you caught up there.

Plus, a retired business tycoon in South Florida found dead and bound in duct tape in his multimillion-dollar mansion, a scene that is leaving investigators scratching their heads. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A huge, huge day in the trial of Casey Anthony, that Florida mother accused of murdering her 2-year-old little daughter.

Anthony's lawyers have just rested their case.

And Carol Costello has been following this for us. She is outside that courthouse in Orlando.

So, Carol, other than the fact than we know the case has rested, which is huge, the other big headline this afternoon is we knew that Casey Anthony would never take the witness stand.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know. We were speculating all day, would she take the stand, wouldn't she take the stand?

We had a little bit of a clue, at least we thought so, when the judge adjourned for the afternoon early. Usually, he calls lunch around 12:00 noon Eastern time. Today, he called -- he called an end to the courtroom proceedings for lunch at 11:30 Eastern. So, we're suddenly thinking, oh, my gosh, that means that defense attorneys and Casey Anthony and the judge are all discussing whether Casey Anthony is going to take the stand.

Possibly, they were doing exactly that. When court readjourned later that -- or later this afternoon, the judge immediately asked the defense, do you have any more witnesses to call? The defense said no. The judge says, does that mean that Casey Anthony is not going to take the stand? Defense attorney says, yes, that's what that means.

And then Casey Anthony stood up herself as the judge posed exactly that question to her. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE BELVIN PERRY, ORANGE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: Is it your decision not to testify based upon consultation with your counsel?

CASEY ANTHONY, DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

PERRY: OK.

You understand that your decision to testify or not to testify is solely your decision and your decision alone?

ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

PERRY: And it is your decision not to testify?

ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And, Brooke, this is important to the defense's case, because -- and I'm not saying in a good way, but in kind of a negative way -- because there is no one to take the stand and say, yes, this sexual abuse happened by my father. Yes, my daughter really did drown in a swimming pool and my father agreed to dispose of the body for me. There's no one to exactly say that.

We have not heard a shred of evidence during this, what, 32 days of the trial that those things actually happened, and a lot of defense experts said that they needed to hear that from Casey Anthony.

BALDWIN: Yes. I know a lot of people were surprised she didn't take the stand. As we mentioned, a number of her family members did today, and in addition to them, we heard from the woman who allegedly had an affair with her father, George Anthony.

Carol, just backing up here, why is she even relevant and what did she say?

COSTELLO: Well, her name is Krystal Holloway. She claims she had a year-long affair with George Anthony in 2008, before Caylee Anthony's body was found. She said one day they were talking at her home. She was sitting on the floor. George Anthony was supposedly sitting on the couch, and she said, I can't believe you could raise a daughter who could possibly kill someone, and George Anthony supposedly said it was an accident that went out of control.

George Anthony denied in court under oath that he ever said such a thing and he also denied having an affair with this woman. But that's why the defense put this woman on the stand, to sort of say, hmm. George Anthony said it was an accident. Maybe that means he was really there when an accident occurred.

BALDWIN: Carol, looking ahead, we know the defense has now rested. When then do we hear closing arguments?

COSTELLO: Pretty soon.

I believe that the prosecution is just about to put on its rebuttal case. They haven't called their first witness yet, but they only have maybe four or five witnesses to call. It will be quick testimony, and then closing arguments will begin, maybe later this afternoon, but I doubt it, but probably tomorrow.

And then the trial may wrap up maybe around July 4. The judge has left that up to the jury, whether it really wants to work over the holiday or not.

BALDWIN: Thinking about the members of the jury, they have been sequestered, as you said, what, 30, 32 days. I'm sure they are ready to go home, Carol Costello in Orlando.

COSTELLO: Yes, holiday or not, they probably want it to go forward.

BALDWIN: Yes. Yes.

Carol, thank you so much.

And from Orlando now, let's get some of your top stories here.

A terror leader is taken out. A NATO airstrike today killed the leader of a militant group with ties to al Qaeda in Afghanistan. He was suspected in Tuesday's deadly attack at Kabul's Hotel Intercontinental -- 12 victims and all nine attackers were killed in that fight.

And the man who led the feds on one of the longest manhunts in FBI history back in court this hour. You know him as alleged mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger. He's asking a judge to declare that he's too broke to even hire a lawyer. He wants taxpayers, instead, to pick up the tab.

Investigators found $800,000 in cash just stashed away in a wall of Bulger's hideaway apartment in Santa Monica, California, but his provisional lawyer say the feds confiscated much of that cash, leaving Whitey Bulger with no way to pay an attorney.

Rhode Island's governor is set to sign a bill legalizing civil unions. And if he does so today, the law would take effect as soon as tomorrow. It grants many of the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples, but organizations with religious ties can ignore parts of that law.

It's no laughing matter. Stephen Colbert officially has his own PAC, political action committee. He was in Washington today before a Federal Election Commission, which voted 5-1 to approve his SuperPAC.

So, what does this mean? It means this. Now the Comedy Central median can raise and spend unlimited campaign cash for the 2012 elections. The ruling narrowly interpreted what Colbert and Viacom, parent company of Comedy Central, can do with -- quote, unquote -- "a media exemption," which allows him to use his own airtime on campaign activities without disclosing those expenses.

Coming up next: a political pundit suspended today from MSNBC after what he said about the president, his big gaffe and his big apology straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: No Fourth of July week recess for the Senate. In fact, they are working right now as we speak. Let's peek in, get some live pictures of the Senate floor.

They are also going to be working most of next week to try to reach an agreement on raising that debt limit. And this is a crucial piece of business, so much so that Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today he's canceled the scheduled recess.

The deadline to act on the debt limit, according to the White House, is August 2.

And now here's something really odd. Or at least odd is one way to put it. This happened this morning over at one of our own competitors, MSNBC. It's their analysis of President Obama's news conference.

And before I show it to you, I want you to keep something in mind. That news conference dealt with unusually weighty matters, the unheard-of prospect of the U.S. Treasury defaulting on its debt, huge spending cuts that will fundamentally alter the role of the federal government, wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, men marrying men, women marrying women, monumental events, monumental issues.

Here now, the analysis offered up this morning on MSNBC.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "MORNING JOE")

JOE SCARBOROUGH, MSNBC: And then they quietly worked a deal behind the scenes?

(CROSSTALK)

MARK HALPERIN, MSNBC SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Are we on the seven-second delay today?

MIKA BRZEZINSKI, MSNBC: Oh, lordy.

SCARBOROUGH: No.

HALPERIN: I wanted to characterize how I thought the president behaved.

SCARBOROUGH: How do you think he behaved?

BRZEZINSKI: Well, we have it. We can use it, right, Alex?

SCARBOROUGH: Yes. Sure. Come on.

(CROSSTALK)

BRZEZINSKI: Yes. Go for it. Yes, let's see what happens.

(CROSSTALK)

SCARBOROUGH: I'm behind you. You fall down, I'm going to catch you.

(CROSSTALK)

BRZEZINSKI: And the precedent has been set.

(CROSSTALK)

SCARBOROUGH: Go ahead.

(CROSSTALK)

HALPERIN: I thought he was kind of a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) yesterday.

BRZEZINSKI: Oh.

SCARBOROUGH: Oh, my God.

Delay that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: That was our bleep, folks, not theirs. Keep watching. Take a look at the reaction here.

Their senior political analyst -- let me say that again -- senior political analyst, rises to middle school playground eloquence, uses a word that starts with D. to describe the president.

And the rest of the team -- check it out -- cracking up laughing.

Now the yucks have finally subsided. MSNBC has suspended that senior political analyst, Mark Halperin, saying -- quote -- "We strive for a high level of discourse."

For his part, Halperin says he's sorry.

Is the U.S. military preparing for a possible war in another country?

Coming up next, CNN's Barbara Starr reporting on a new top-secret mission coming straight from the Pentagon and the CIA. We will tell you where it is and the new threat the military is now targeting. Back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK. Want to let you know, we have just learned that they are done for the day in Orlando. Live pictures inside the courtroom of the Casey Anthony murder trial. Here's what we now know. Not only did the defense rest today, we now know definitively that closing arguments will happen tomorrow in addition to just a little more presentation of evidence. And then Saturday is the day. They do this summation, final summation on Saturday, and that is when the jury deliberations will begin. How long will it take? That's the big question. We'll be watching.

Now, big sendoff today in Washington for a guy rightly known as a legend in government. Robert Gates is leaving public service, having served eight presidents and having carried over as defense secretary from the Bush administration to the Obama administration, and, you know, we actually said just a couple of weeks ago, this guy would get a medal, but who knew it would happen today. Big surprise there this morning in the Pentagon for Robert Gates, his final day on the job from President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Bob, this is not in the program, but I would ask you to please stand. As president the highest honor that I can bestow on a civilian is the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It speaks to the values we cherish as a people and the ideals we strive for as a nation. And today it is my great privilege to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to America's 22nd secretary of defense, Robert M. Gates.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The president credited Gates for smoothly winding down the war in Iraq, for taking the offensive in Afghanistan and for expanding the fight against international terrorists. Gates' replacement is this guy, former Clinton chief of staff and most recently head of the CIA, Leon Panetta, who was confirmed last week by a rare unanimous Senate confirmation.

Now on the subject of fighting against terrorists, you know Afghanistan. You know Pakistan. We talk a lot about Yemen, but did you also know the United States now has covert teams in Somalia? The fight against the terrorists still expanding. Here is CNN's Barbara Starr.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: CNN has learned that U.S. military aircraft conducted a strike near Kismayo in southern Somalia last week, part of a new secret joint Pentagon and CIA war against a terrorist group the U.S. believes is targeting Europe and the United States.

The Pentagon hit a stronghold of Al Shabaab, a Somali-based Al Qaeda affiliate now in the U.S. crosshairs. U.S. military and CIA personnel have gone to Somalia secretly in recent months, gathering intelligence and meeting key Somali contacts, according to two U.S. officials. CIA director Leon Panetta acknowledged covert operations in both Somalia and next door Yemen. LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY NOMINEE: We are doing that in Yemen. It's obviously a dangerous and uncertain situation, but we continue to work with elements there to try to develop counterterrorism. We're working with JSOC as well in their operations, same thing is true for Somalia.

STARR: The JSOC Panetta mentioned, Joint Special Operations Command, the same military commando unit that killed Osama bin Laden. Retired air force and intelligence officer Cedric Leighton ran missions to Somalia in the 1990s. It's still a dangerous place for U.S. personnel, he says.

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, U.S. AIR FORCE (RETIRED): It's extremely risky because if they are captured by Al Shabaab or similar groups, they basically face death, and it's a very, very difficult environment. They have to be very careful.

STARR: But the White House believes Al Shabaab and Al Qaeda are now hand in glove.

PANETTA: We do have intelligence that indicates that they, too, are looking at targets beyond Somalia.

STARR: When this Al Qaeda operative was recently killed by Somali forces, the CIA rapidly stepped in. Al Qaeda targeting plans were found with him, showing targets in Britain, including Eaton College. Think of it all as the war on terror 2.0.

LEIGHTON: Going after high-value targets like the leadership of Al Shabaab, any of the similar organizations that are out there, that is part and parcel of what JSOC obviously does. And really the best coined of tactic for environments like Somalia is we want to stay away from getting involved in a big land war there.

STARR: General David Petraeus, who is taking over for Panetta at the CIA has already endorsed these new types of operations. In fact, both the CIA and the Pentagon are conducting drone strikes inside Yemen. Of course, the CIA can deny it's in any of these countries. Still, these missions are so sensitive that it requires high level approval from administration officials before any of them can take place.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Barbara, thank you.

Coming up next here, the upcoming royal wedding you might not have heard of, and the possible runaway pride that's got many invited guests biting their nails.

Plus, no fears about this royal couple. Just a lot of fanfare in Canada. William and Catherine today beginning their first foreign tour, and it's here in north America. We'll take you live to their first stop coming up next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK, why did the turtle cross the tarmac? Barb Vargas, I hope you're listening because here comes your line. For a little shell on shell action. A little cheesy, but it did stop traffic for just a send. Listen how air traffic controllers and pilots actually handled this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: American 1009. Report of a turtle on the runway. Do you want to have it removed first?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure. American 1009, cancel takeoff clearance. Hold position.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holding position, 1009. Wondering where those things were.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I love how he says that, sure we will. It's an annual affair at JFK, which if you travel through this, it's surrounded by wetlands and a bay. The sandy bay is a popular egg-laying and nesting area. More than 150 turtles crossed an active runway just yesterday now moving into the digital landscape. The turtles have their own twitter account at JFK turtles is the handle. They have some 7,300 followers now.

Just as Monaco is poised to dazzle the world with an $80 million royal wedding, it has to quash rumors it has a runaway bride on its hands. French magazine "Express" reported Prince Albert's fiancee tried to return home to South Africa with a one-way ticket. Monaco denies Charlene Wittstock is trying to make a run for it.

A spokesman for Prince Albert calls the reports crazy but it's the prince's playboy past has the bride concerned. He has admitted to having a couple of kids out of wedlock. Recently the couple sat down with CNN's Jim Bitterman and listen what he told Jim when he asked them if they were nervous.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE ALBERT, MONACO: Not too nervous, too emotional. I've got a lot of things to worry about in other areas before that day so I'm just trying to make sure that everything goes well.

JIM BITTERMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You're calm, collected?

CHARLENE WITTSTOCK, PRINCE ALBERT'S FIANCEE: Yes, I'm fine. I mean, I haven't got any problems so far. Everything seems to be going really well, and I'm excited and can't wait.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: Well, preparations at the palace do continue. The wedding is set for this weekend. Armani is designing her dress. Guests include Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher and The Eagles will be performing a special wedding concert. Will the wedding go on? We'll have to wait and see.

Royal newlyweds had quite a beautiful wedding themself. William and Catherine getting their first official trip overseas to Ottawa, Canada. The duke and duchess of Cambridge landed just a short time ago and have a busy nine days planned before heading to the U.S. the royal couple left the airport for the national war memorial, and I believe they are en route now to the official welcoming ceremony with governor-general and the prime minister there, the duke and duchess honored earlier today, Canada's war dead with that wreath-laying ceremony.

I want to go now to Max Foster who is one of the, get this, 1,300 journalists credentialed to follow the royal couple there in Ottawa. I know commonwealth countries are traditionally the first in line to receive the royal visitors. Tell me what the couple has up their sleeve the next couple of days.

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's going to be very, very busy. But my reputation on the line here, already been a bit of a success. They arrived and Catherine looked fabulous as she got off the plane and a genius stroke. Everyone wondered what she was going to wear. She wore a Canadian designer outfit, a designer currently based in London. So everyone was happen we that dress, a genius move.

And as they come down the stairs, really interesting. They are a bit nervous at this point, but then they start getting more and more relaxes. There you go. William leaning down, getting really involved in a conversation with a young boy holding some flowers.

And then a little later on, you'll see them after that memorial service going into the crowds, and Catherine, you know, she's just down the palace proud. This is someone who is quite -- a more somber moment when they are remembering the fallen soldiers of Canada in conflict, but a little bit later on you'll see them in the crowd and she's working it unbelievably well, people already referring back to Diana now and that sort of human touch that she has.

This is turning into a bit of a phenomenal success for the young royals so far, and certainly the prime minister beaming that he's walking around with him. He's a fervent monarchist.

BALDWIN: Max, let me jump in and let you know, these are live pictures we see. We see William there. This is a national war memorial, and they have been there. The royal highnesses have paid respect to Canadians who have served their nation and lost their lives and stopping to chat with some of these men and women here and the national forces.

And after this happens, Max, I know that they do go to Rideau Hall where they will be officially greeted by the governor-general and the prescription, but once they are finished with Ottawa, I believe William will be flying a helicopter similar to the search-and-rescue missions he's run before. And then what more do they have, and what's next?

FOSTER: Well, they are taking in all of Canada, so it's a very long trip and a very busy trip. They are going to Quebec, first of all, which will be interesting because a lot of anti-monarchy feeling there, but as you say, they will be going over to Prince Edward Island, and he'll be getting involved in a demonstration in search- and-rescue helicopters. The Canadians are world renowned in this. He'll take part in a demonstration there.

After that you'll see Catherine and William in two dragon boats racing each other. They are very competitive characters. And they will be involved in a hockey game together, playing street hockey up in the northwestern territories, and then right at the end of the trip in Calgary next week you'll see them dressed up in cowboy gear for the Calgary stampede, it's called.

BALDWIN: A little canoeing and outdoors activities. I want to stand corrected here though, max, if I may interrupt you. They are now at the official welcome ceremony. Shall I pause a minute and take in some of the pomp and circumstance? I know they will be getting full military honors including a 21-gun salute. Let's you and I listen.

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BALDWIN: Max, as we're looking at these pictures, can you see all kinds of pictures young and old lining the streets and Rideau Hall. How has the reception been? I know they haven't been in country for very long, but how has the reception been as a royal couple? I know there will be some people none too pleased in Quebec about this visit.

FOSTER: Yes, exactly, but they are not a big political force nationally, I would say. Broadly all main political parties are supportive of the monarchy, and recent polls have suggested that generally the public prefers the link to the monarchy than wanting to lose it.

So this is certainly going to be encouraging that. The crowds gave a really great response to them when they arrived, and it built and it built and it built, and you'll see William here speaking to a member of the military. He's a military man and feels comfortable amongst the military. They'll be lots of military involvement during this whole trip.

But I saw a few of their advisors staring around in a bit of a panic. They are basically lingering a lot and chatting a lot. The palace is getting in a little bit of a panic because everything is getting delayed and when we get the itineraries they are literally to the minute and a lot of people will be panicking in the background here. Doing a great, great job, and this is the official welcoming ceremony to Canada at the official royal residence here in Ottawa, the queen's official residence. This is the Canadian royal family, and William will one day be king of Canada, as he will be of the U.K.

The duke and duchess of Cambridge there for now, as we will call them. Max Foster, wonderful assignment for you, and we appreciate you weighing in and getting to look at some of these live pictures at Rideau Hall. Max, thank you.

Now this.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know what happened, but, you know, heard there was an argument beforehand, and then, unfortunately, they found a dead unfortunately they found a dead body I guess in duct tape or something strange.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was a self-made millionaire living the good life in south Florida found dead, reportedly bound with duct tape in his mansion. Straight ahead, I'll speak with a reporter for "The Miami Herald" with a case that is baffling investigators.

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BALDWIN: I'm about to take you to a pretty ritzy neighborhood in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I want you to think sun and water, money and mansions, the perfect place for a self-made multimillionaire to retire. At least that's what Ronald Vinci thought. And 70-year-old Vinci sold his California car dealerships, moved to south Florida to become closer to his son, his grandson. And he just bought this $3 million mansion right on the waterfront there in Ft. Lauderdale.

But less than two weeks after Vinci moved in, the 7,000-square- foot house is surrounded by crime scene tape. Inside the discovery of Vinci's body reportedly wrapped in duct tape has shattered this quiet, posh neighborhood.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing ever happens around here. I was just telling someone that. I don't know what happened but heard there was an argument beforehand. And then unfortunately they found a dead body. I guess in duct tape or something strange.

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BALDWIN: And Diana Moskovitz is covering this bizarre story for us from "The Miami Herald." She has been digging on this story. We will get you the latest information out of Ft. Lauderdale.

Coming up also at the top of the hour, a story you don't want to miss. A 21-year-old marine stationed in Afghanistan sends his family a videotaped message not two weeks before he is killed. In this message his excitement about coming home in just a matter of months. That family tape and his family's reaction coming up. Also, could tainted forensic evidence give convicted killer Amanda Knox a chance at freedom? Her mother is going to join me at the top of the hour. Don't miss that.

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BALDWIN: A self-made multimillionaire found dead in his mansion in ft. Lauderdale, his body covered in duct tape. Diana Moskovitz is covering this bizarre case for "The Miami Herald." She joins me on the phone.

Diana, let's just start with the facts here. We know beyond the duct tape, Ft. Lauderdale police not saying much else, other than the fact that the death is suspicious. You've been making calls. What more do you know about the death?

DIANA MOSKOVITZ, REPORTER, "MIAMI HERALD" (via telephone): Unfortunately, right now not much. We know that at one point on Tuesday when the discovery was made, we've been told by sources that a caller called 911, mentioning that he had -- we don't know to what extent, but to some extent his body had been wrapped in duct tape. We don't know the extent.

But someone called 911, you know, obviously very concerned. Police went to the home, found the body, and then spent a good part of Tuesday night basically inside the home, looking for evidence, gathering what they could, taking photographs.

BALDWIN: Sure.

MOSKOVITZ: And since then they haven't told us much else.

BALDWIN: Do we know yet -- Diana, the medical examiner's office was going to release a cause of death this afternoon. Have they done so yet?

MOSKOVITZ: No, they have not done so yet. The police officers told the medical examiner's office because of the profile of this case everything is going to be released by the police. The ME can't really tell us anything until the investigators give them the OK to do so.

BALDWIN: I know you talked to his attorney who described this 70-year-old man Vinci as a guy that anybody and everybody would want to be. As I said, self-made multimillionaire, had a couple of car dealerships, sold off his last one just a couple of years ago, living his life there on the water in Ft. Lauderdale. Is there anything from what you're learning about his past, any deal gone wrong, anyone mad at him?

MOSKOVITZ: We haven't stumbled upon anything yet. I know when I spoke to his lawyer who is a very successful businessman, and because of that, had a lawyer who is out there to protect his interests. He was very successful, had to protect what he has. But in terms of anybody with an anger with him beyond typical business dealings, we haven't found one yet. But the case is still ongoing. BALDWIN: Quickly, Diana, we found that just a couple of weeks ago in coconut grove an elderly man's home was burglarized. He was found in duct tape. Any connection whatsoever, or is it too early?

MOSKOVITZ: We don't think so. It appears that this man was targeted. This is not random, someone more than likely knew him and went and did this to him. From what I've been hearing so far, that just seems to be a coincidence. But, you know, like I said, it's still early.

BALDWIN: Nonetheless, Diana Moskovitz calling in, reporter, writer with "The Miami Herald." Diana, thank you very much.