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NEWS STREAM

Amanda Knox Appeal; Tensions Rising Between Afghanistan and Pakistan; Battle for Sirte; George Harrison Biopic Premiers in London; India Begins High Tech National ID Program; New Zealand Rugy Star Dan Carter Out For World Cup

Aired October 3, 2011 - 08:00:00   ET

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


KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: Welcome to NEWS STREAM, where news and technology meet.

I'm Kristie Lu Stout, in Hong Kong.

And we begin with the appeal trial of Amanda Knox. She has made her case and now she'll have to wait to hear the ruling.

Also, Afghanistan blames Pakistan for the death of a former president.

And Rugby's biggest star limps out of the World Cup.

"I am not what they say I am. I am innocent." With those words, Amanda Knox begged an Italian jury to overturn her conviction for the murder of her British roommate. Knox's ex-boyfriend and co-defendant, Raffaele Sollecito, also told the court that he could never hurt anyone.

And right now we are waiting for a jury to issue a ruling in the appeal.

In flawless Italian and trembling with emotion, the American exchange student asked jurors to set her free.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA KNOX, DEFENDANT (through translator): I want to go home, back to my life. I don't want to be punished, to have my life, my future taken away from me for things I haven't committed, because I am innocents Raffaele is innocent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Let's take a closer look at the key players in this case which have made headlines across Italy, the U.S., and the U.K.

Now, 24-year-old Amanda Knox has been described as a she-devil with the deceptive face of an angel. But in court today, she called those descriptions perverse and false.

Now, her co-defendant and former boyfriend begged the court for freedom as well. Raffaele Sollecito said he and Amanda have been living in a nightmare, jailed for 1,400 days for a crime he insists they did not commit.

And far from the spotlight, a third person also sits behind bars. Rudy Guede was convicted separately and has exhausted his appeals. In June, he refused to tell the court that Knox and Sollecito were not involved in killing Knox's roommate.

And at the heart of this case, the silent victim, Meredith Kercher. Her family's lawyer called her sunny and joyful.

On November the 2nd, 2007, her semi-clothed body was found in her bedroom at the cottage she shared with Knox.

Becky Anderson is outside the court building in Perugia, Italy. She joins us now.

And Becky, when Amanda Knox spokes to the court, how did she perform in that crucial moment?

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was a high-charged, 40, 45 minutes. We had heard from the defendant's lawyer just earlier on, when the trial proceedings began today. But it was when Sollecito and Amanda Knox came on that the sort of mood changed significantly.

Both of them speaking passionately in their defense. You heard Amanda Knox speaking just a little earlier there in fluent Italian. She was extremely emotional.

Let's just have another listen to some of what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KNOX (through translator): Meredith was kind to me. She was murdered. And I want justice for her. I'm not trying to escape the truth. I insist on the truth.

In insist, after four desperate years, I insist my innocence because it's true. And it has to be defended and recognized.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, they spoke and then they were taken away once back to the prison, which is about 40 minutes from here.

I'm outside the court. The courthouse is just there, and that is where the eight members of the jury are now deliberating. And how anxious they must be.

And I've got to say, as far as Perugia is concerned, well, things continue as normal. There was an awful big media scrum out here earlier on today, but people have sort of moved away. We're expecting to hear the results of this jury deliberation in about six hours from now. It could go on longer than that, but the earliest we're expecting to hear anything is about six hours from now.

And Kristie, lest we forget that there is a victim in all of this. Meredith Kercher's family are also here in Perugia today. They will be talking to the press in about two hours from now. And, of course, stick with CNN, because we'll bring you exactly what they say then -- Kristie.

STOUT: You know, it's crunch time right now. We're waiting for this verdict.

If her conviction is overturned, what is next for Amanda Knox? What is her family saying?

ANDERSON: Yes, Kristie, that's a really interesting question. If the verdict, the original verdict of murder, is overturned, then, effectively, she can go free.

She can't go free straight away. She will be taken back to the prison again, but only really to do the paperwork and to pick up her things. One assumes there's only a few of those that she'd want to pick up.

She could then leave on a flight, probably back to Seattle via London. That is what we understand.

What we understand is that the paperwork is already done in anticipation of that, although nobody is calling this verdict as of yet. So she, effectively, could go back to Seattle. If Raffaele is also let free, then he will also leave prison as well.

If the verdict though is upheld, they stay there. They stay in prison. Indeed, the prosecution has been looking for an even bigger number of years for them to stay inside. So it's really very difficult to tell what's going on here.

As I say, the jury behind me in the court, there are eight of them -- five women, three men, and two of them are part of the judging facility here, one of whom is the presiding judge, in fact. And he will help the jury make their decision at some point we hope today.

STOUT: You know, Becky, the world's attention is fixed to where you are today, in Perugia, Italy. This is a case that has made global headlines. And what is it about this case that has drawn the world's attention? Is it the nature of the crime, or is it Amanda Knox?

ANDERSON: I think it's everything. And I think, also, social media comes into play here.

I think back to when the murder was committed -- and we were reporting that, of course, here on CNN. And I remember how much the media took advantage of social media in order to sort of garner information about those who were in and around that crime. And I remember us using, as did many other media organizations, the Facebook and MySpace sites of many of those who are involved.

I think perception about this case is polarized. The state side, you very much feel that people believe that Amanda Knox, who was 20 at the time, a good looking girl, they believe she is completely innocent and should be exonerated of this crime. Those in Europe, and particularly in Italy, perhaps who don't want to see the Italian justice system as held up to sort of bad repute, to a certain extent, many people still think they committed the crimes.

It's very difficult to tell. It's up to these guys behind me now to really make that decision.

There is one last appeal for both sides. If either the prosecution or the defense want to appeal the decision today, they can. It will go to the high court in Italy. But that would probably take about 135 to 140 days to come good, within which time, indeed, if this verdict is overturned today, Amanda Knox will be back in Seattle.

STOUT: All right.

Becky Anderson, joining us live from Perugia.

Thank you very much indeed, Becky.

And as she mentioned, we could get a ruling in about six hours. And CNN will bring you the jury's decision live, as soon as it happens. We'll also have Matthew Chance and Richard Greene standing by live in the courtroom with all the developments. You can follow them both on Twitter at the names that you can see at the bottom of your screen.

Now, Amanda Knox's father, Curt, he has become a familiar presence as the legal drama continues. And earlier today, he said his daughter was ready and eager to make her case for innocence to the jury.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CURT KNOX, AMANDA KNOX'S FATHER: I believe she is. You know, she's been thinking about it for well over three months. And so I think it's going to be very heartfelt, and it will be truly her. And hopefully it will go over well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: And we do not want to forget the victim in all this, Meredith Kercher, murdered back in November of 2007. Her friends and family called her "Mes" (ph).

Dan Rivers takes us to Kercher's hometown in southern England.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid the near-constant coverage of Amanda Knox's appeal, it's easy to overlook the victim of the murder. Meredith Kercher was Knox's flat mate, a bright 21- year-old student studying languages here at Leeds University. But during a one-year placement in the Italian town of Perugia, she was stabbed and sexually assaulted in 2007, a crime of which Amanda Knox and her boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted. A drifter from the Ivory Coast, Rudy Guede, was also convicted of her murder in a separate trial.

This is the house where Meredith grew up in Coulsdon, a leafy, quiet town south of London.

(on camera): The Kercher family have always maintained that they thought that the trial was fair. Meredith's father, John, wrote in one newspaper that, "Amanda Knox has been convicted of taking our precious Meredith's life in the most hideous and bloody way." The prospect of Amanda now being released will clearly be very upsetting to the Kercher family.

(voice-over): The Kerchers' neighbor, Maureen Levy, says the appeal has put Meredith's family under enormous strain.

MAUREEN LEVY, KERCHER FAMILY NEIGHBOR: Because it's been going on for four years. I mean, there was the initial murder, and then, of course, there was the trial. And since then, it always seems to be in the news. And as they say, Meredith seems to be forgotten in it.

She was beautiful. She was friendly. She was nice. She was clever. And there's not enough metaphors to say how nice she was.

She looked after my grandchildren. And it was just a tragedy.

RIVERS: Local politician Richard Ottaway attended Meredith's funeral.

RICHARD OTTAWAY, BRITISH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: It was packed and overflowing. It was quite clear that Meredith was a popular girl. So many friends there. It was probably one of the most moving services that I had ever been to.

RIVERS: Croydon Minster was packed with 500 to 600 friends and family, a sign of Meredith's popularity. The vicar that took the service told me how Meredith's parents dealt with that emotionally-charged day.

REV. COLIN BOSWELL, VICAR OF CROYDON: They were very, very courageous. They had great dignity, a calm sort of dignity, which I think they've maintained right up until now.

RIVERS: Which must now be under immense strain as they wait to find out if Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito will be set free.

Dan Rivers, CNN, Coulsdon, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And ahead on NEWS STREAM, a war of words between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan launches more accusations against its neighbor over the killing of this man, former president Burhanuddin Rabbani. And we'll tell you what Pakistan is being accused of.

Plus, so close and yet so far. Anti-Gadhafi forces have made serious gains in the battle for Libya, but the city of Sirte remains elusive.

And --

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Why are tens of thousands of people across India standing in line? They no longer want to be invisible to their government. We'll explain coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Welcome back.

And we will continue to follow the trial of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. We'll have much more later in the show.

But now, angry accusations and denials are raising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's over the killing of former Afghan president and Peace Council chair Burhanuddin Rabbani. He was killed in a suicide bomb attack at his home two weeks ago.

And on Sunday, top Afghan officials said Pakistan's intelligence services aided in the assassination. But Pakistan has fired back, calling the claim baseless.

And for more on the escalating tensions between the two countries and the impact of Rabbani's death on peace efforts in Afghanistan, Nick Paton Walsh joins us live from the capital of Kabul.

Nick, explicit allegations from Kabul. Give us the details.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the presidential administration yesterday came out saying that they had evidence to suggest that a Pakistani national until this point known only as S. Matullah (ph) was from the town of Shaman (ph) and was the suicide bomber who killed Professor Rabbani. And that's Afghanistan's top peace negotiator who was trying to find some kind of settlement at the Taliban part of the insurgency here.

Now, this man has said his plot was organized by a group of people in Quetta, in Pakistan. The Afghans say they have in their custody the mastermind of that plot, and he has confessed. And they say they've taken this evidence -- documents, photographs, maps -- and handed it over to the Pakistanis. They've not made it public, so this is their word, frankly, at this particular point.

But this has enormously raised tensions with Pakistan, suggesting, frankly, that this assassination of a key figure here whose death is re-igniting some fear, some ethnic tension in this country, that that was planned outside of the country by Pakistanis -- Kristie.

STOUT: And Nick, the overall impact of the death of Rabbani, not just talks with Pakistan, but with the Taliban as well. What next for the peace process inside of Afghanistan?

WALSH: Well, Rabbani was trying to head up a peace process which many felt was faltering. It was kind of troubled by leaks, assassinations. People weren't really clear who was willing to talk to who.

The Americans were saying clearly they wanted some kind of settlement. The Afghan government wanted a role in that. And the Taliban were publicly saying they wanted nothing to do with it whilst privately trying to work out what they might be able to gain from it.

It wasn't really necessarily going anywhere particularly fast, but the message from killing this top peace negotiator, and the Taliban apparently being involved in this somehow, though nobody has really claimed concrete responsibility for it just yet, was to pretty much snuff out that tiny flame, the chance there could be a peace settlement here in the forthcoming months or years, as the U.S. tries to withdraw its troops, heightening tension with Pakistan, who, of course, until that point had been trying to be involved perhaps as cooperating to a certain extent in these peace negotiations. But now, frankly, having the finger pointed at them as trying to organize that assassination.

The Afghan Interior Ministry yesterday being absolutely clear that they believe Pakistani Intelligence Services has "no doubt a role in plotting that assassination" -- Kristie.

STOUT: Nick Paton Walsh, joining us live from Kabul.

Thank you for that.

And branching out now to the global fight against al Qaeda.

Now, U.S. and Yemeni officials are celebrating a big coup in their battle against the terror group, and they say a coordinated drone strike killed terror leader Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen on Friday. The radical U.S.-born Muslim cleric was considered a threat to U.S. homeland security and suspected of involvement in at least two plots against the U.S.

Now, in an interview with CNN earlier, the U.S. defense secretary, Leon Panetta, said al-Awlaki's killing was justified.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: This individual was clearly a terrorist. And yes, he was a citizen, but if you're a terrorist, you're a terrorist.

And that means that we have the ability to go after those who would threaten to attack the United States and kill Americans. There's no question that the authority and the ability to go after a terrorist is there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Now, Panetta headed to Israel today. He's meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an effort to jump-start peace talks.

And in Libya, the battle is heating up for Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte. Residents are flooding out of the city ahead of what anti-Gadhafi forces hope is the final fight.

And our Phil Black is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is a comforting sight for the revolutionary fighters preparing to attack Sirte. These thousands fleeing the city are people who won't be hurt in the coming crossfire, but the fighters are also concerned by what they don't see here. The cars are filled with women, children and old men. Men of fighting age are rarely with them.

IBRAHIM JALTAWI, ANTI-GADHAFI FIGHTER: I think the fire (ph) missed us. I think that.

BLACK (on camera): You think they're staying to fight, the young men?

JALTAWI: Yes. Yes.

BLACK (voice-over): Ibrahim Jaltawi is one of the thousands of fighters surrounding Sirte waiting for the order to advance into the city. The battle so far has been mostly on its outskirts. When fighters have pushed forward, they haven't been able to hold their ground. It's been much harder than they expected. Casualties have been heavy.

(on camera): Have you lost friends?

JALTAWI: Yes. More. I think five, six.

BLACK: Just here in Sirte?

JALTAWI: Yes. I'm very sad.

BLACK: In the distance behind me is the center of Sirte. And in more than two weeks of fighting, anti-Gadhafi forces have rarely got much closer to it than where I'm standing now. The fighters are frustrated. They believe the battle of Sirte is taking too long.

(voice-over): Jaltawi, like most of these men, is not a soldier. He's an engineer with a wife and child waiting for him.

JALTAWI: That's why I want to finish this fight very soon, because I have family, a beautiful boy. I miss him. I want to go home. I want life normal, not like this now. No.

BLACK: Nineteen-year-old Hakim Aween also wants to go home.

(on camera): Do you miss your family?

HAKIM AWEEN, ANTI-GADHAFI FIGHTER: Yes, a lot. I miss them. You know, I have two brothers. They are two young.

I miss them so much. I used to play with them.

BLACK (voice-over): He also used to be a student. But for the last seven months, Aween has operated this anti-aircraft gun and learned the nature of civil war.

AWEEN: A lot of friends, they all died. You know, and who shot them? Another Libyan, a Gadhafi soldier. And they are Libyans, too.

BLACK: The fighters around Sirte don't have to be here. They can go home any time. They're sick of fighting.

They see this final battle as a duty. They just hope it happens soon and ends quickly.

JALTAWI: We want peace. Just we want peace.

BLACK: Phil Black, CNN, Sirte, Libya.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: Now, ahead on NEWS STREAM, waist deep in floodwaters in the Philippines after back-to-back typhoons batter the region. But is worse to come?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

STOUT: Coming up next on NEWS STREAM, we return to Perugia, Italy. A four-year ordeal could soon be over for this young woman.

Will the court give Amanda Knox her freedom? We'll get a legal expert to weigh in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout, in Hong Kong.

You're watching NEWS STREAM, and these are your world headlines.

Now, a jury in the Italian city of Perugia is deciding the fate of two people convicted of murdering British student Meredith Kercher in 2007. American Amanda Knox and Italian Raffaele Sollecito are appealing their murder convictions. A ruling is expected several hours from now.

Now thousands of people are getting out of the Libyan city of Sirte as anti-Gadhafi forces gear up for an offensive against supporters of the old regime. The Red Cross says conditions inside Sirte are extremely difficult. Now we've spoken to local officials who say children in particular are suffering from a lack of food and drinking water.

Now further public outcry is expected in Greece after the cabinet agreed to make even deeper budget cuts and eliminate 30,000 public sector jobs by the end of the year. The draft budget for 2012 goes before parliament today. The debt laden country has also revealed that it will not meet key deficit targets this year or next.

Now 59 people have been killed in twin typhoons that tore through the Philippines. Typhoon Nalgae which made landfall on Saturday has claimed four lives so far. And Typhoon Nesat, which caused flooding and continuous rain last week killed 55 people.

And back to our top story, Amanda Knox's return to prison in Perusia, Italy after making her personal plea for acquittal. Paula Newton is there and she joins us now.

Paula, describe the scene for us.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the scene here at the prison - - you know, Amanda returned here a few hours ago. We just had a conversation with an Italian parliamentarian who visited with her. He visited with her often over the years. He's even written a book about it. He says that she is calm, confident, singing religious hymns in prison. But I asked him if she was confident of release. And he said, yes. She has no doubt in her mind that she will leave this prison tonight -- Kristie.

STOUT: Amanda Knox is calm and confident. A number of her friends and family are there. They're waiting for this decision due out in a few hours. How are they handling the wait for the verdict?

NEWTON: They've had many agonizing waits. This is probably one of the most. Although I remember the last time when there was an original verdict. They were very fatalistic. This time they believe it's one of their last opportunities to make sure she gets out of prison and is exonerated, that's if the jury believes her.

But you know Amanda Knox has gone through many ups and downs in this entire process. And the family has said several times that they will be on edge this entire day. Even though we heard this Italian parliamentarian say, look, she's calm, she's serene.

STOUT: And the family of the victim, Meredith Kercher, now they will be in court for the verdict, but have you seen them and are they speaking to the media?

NEWTON: They -- there's expected to be within a couple of hours some type of a media statement by the Kercher family. We're told that that's still going on. They certainly have maintained a great deal of restraint and dignity through all of this. They continue to suffer.

Through they're lawyer in court, though, Kristie they did say they believed that during the first trial that justice for their daughter should be upheld. And they believe that the sentence for Amanda Knox should be upheld this time -- 26 years in prison. We'll see if they have any changes to their opinion in their statement.

STOUT: You've covered this case from the very beginning. I want to ask you about the tabloid media coverage all along. The defense in this appeals process, this latest trial, said that Knox had been crucified by the tabloid press. So to what extent is that true, that the media coverage has been devastating to Amanda Knox?

NEWTON: There's no question that much was written about Amanda Knox by people who have idea where the investigation was going or didn't have any information about her at the beginning of the trial.

But at the same time, Amanda Knox did do many things, according to prosecutors, that implicated her. She lied about an alibi. And she lied about several things.

That having been said, the media attention has been a double-edged sword. You even heard the prosecutors this time say Amanda Knox was not crucified in the tabloid press. The police investigation and our prosecution has now been massacred in the tabloid press. So many people here realizing that when the spotlight of the media has turned on this case that there have really been no winners in the sense that it's just distracted from what is very inconclusive evidence in court -- Kristie.

STOUT: All right. Paula, thank you very much for that. Paula Newton joining us live from outside the prison in Perusia where Amanda Knox is awaiting her fate.

Now let's hear from a legal expert. Mark Ellis is the executive director of the International Bar Association. He joins us now from CNN London. Mark Ellis, welcome to News Stream.

This decision, it will be made by six jurors and two judges. Can you explain the process for us?

MARK ELLIS, INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION: Well, this is unique to civil law systems so it will be somewhat at odds with those individuals living in common law systems. So in this civil law system and particularly in Italy. You have eight individuals who act as jurors. You have two professional judges and six what they refer to as lay judges. And so you're looking at a majority decision by this particular court.

But I think it's important to note that the two professional judges within the context of this system, I think they play a very important role, they don't dictate to the six other lay jurors, but they do guide them. And in this particular instance I think they will be essential in getting everyone around that table to focus on the evidence, because that's what's crucial in this case now.

It is the new evidence that's been brought to this court. And it will be absolutely fundamental that this court looks at that new evidence and decides whether or not based on independent experts that have been assigned by this court and who have indicated that the DNA evidence does not stand up to scrutiny, whether or not this court says that's sufficient enough to annul the conviction.

STOUT: Now I'm not going to ask you to predict the verdict, but what are the possible outcomes here for Knox and Sollecito?

ELLIS: There are three. The first is that the court would -- could uphold the verdict of the lower court and therefore nothing changes. They serve the sentence. Second, they could over rule the decision of the lower court and therefore they are announced innocent, both defendants. And third, they could to neither and simply alter the sentence, in essence finding them still guilty, upholding the verdict, but altering the sentence.

Regardless of what happens, there will be an appeal to a higher court in Italy, the Court of Cassation, the supreme court. So the case is not over with entirely.

STOUT: Now both Knox and Sollecito, they have made this appeal together. But is there a possibility that one defendant could be acquitted and not the other?

ELLIS: There is. Certainly legally there is, but I doubt that would happen simply because this court is looking at kind of the fundamental evidence that has been brought to this particular court and it purports to support the defense position that neither defendant was there at that point to suggest that they committed this crime.

And so I would sense that the court would look at that evidence as it relates to both defendants and not one or the other.

STOUT: Some dramatic, and some would say misogynistic language has been used by the prosecution to describe Amanda Knox. I mean words like she-devil, like witch, like diabolical. I want to get your thoughts on how the prosecution has handled this appeal process.

ELLIS: Well, of course one of the most significant points was that when the prosecutor had asked the court to review the crucial DNA evidence again -- and remember again the court assigned these two independent experts to come in and look at the evidence, the prosecutor wanted that to be reviewed again. The court said no.

In the end, regardless of this attempt to undermine the credibility of the defendants in the sense of their personalities, it will I believe come down to simply the evidence, because this court is going to have to in writing make a determination on whether or not it believes that the lower court was correct in its verdict. And if it decides to overturn the lower court that's a significant step by any appeals court. They'll have to make certain that they have the evidence to prove that the overturning of that verdict was based on new evidence.

STOUT: Now if successful, Knox's family has said that Amanda Knox will return to the U.S. But given the chance that the prosecution could appeal what could happen? Could Italy block her from leaving the country? Or perhaps get her extradited to bring her back to Italy.

ELLIS: Certainly the latter might happen, the former will not. She'll be announced as innocent if this is the decision of the court. And she'll be allowed to go free on this particular case. But you're correct, undoubtedly this will be appealed to the highest court. And if the highest court were to then overturn the appeals court, in essence upholding the lower court's decision then yes it is possible that the Italian authorities would pursue extradition of Ms. Knox.

STOUT: Mark Ellis of the International Bar Association. Thank you very much indeed for that.

Now prosecutors have claimed that Amanda Knox had a million dollar PR campaign behind her and some books and movies have depicted her as a party girl turned killer. Now friends have fought for her over the years. Now this web site is one of several dedicated to her defense. It has links for fundraising, letter writing, and like this page, it also shares personal stories.

Now her family have repeatedly appeared on television. And now the media have one again descended on the small Italian city of Perusia. And Matthew Chance filed this report in the trial's final days.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well there she is, the woman at the center of all this media attention, Amanda Knox filing into the Perusia courthouse to listen to what will be the final hearings in her appeal against her murder conviction. Of course, that of her one-time Raffaele Sollecito who's also in the court.

The details of this case have been so lurid, so scandalous, that it's been a magnet for the attention not just of the Italian media, but of the international media as well.

You can see they're all sort of cramming up here. It's a public gathering to try and get what pictures they can, because in a few moments the court doors are going to close and we're all going to be out.

We're in an entirely different part of the court complex now. You've got this huge projection screen which is broadcasting these live pictures of the action inside the court. You can't have cameras inside the court, but a lot of people do, though. They put their cameras here. (inaudible). They put them on record. And they roll when the court proceeded.

This is the sort of city of satellite trucks that sprung up here in the center of Perusia very close to the courthouse. And so I'm not surprised at all that all this media attention has come here. What I do find interesting, though, is that the media throughout the years of this scandal has fallen into two very distinctive groups: the people who support Amanda Knox and the people who think she's guilty. There's even a phrase in Italian, the innocentista and the culpa ballista (ph).

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: Now stay with CNN to find out how this legal saga ends. The appeal ruling, it could come in just over five hours. And while you're waiting, you can check out CNN.com for more on the case, including a summary of the evidence and what the people of Perusia think of the trial.

Now still to come, he is rugby's biggest star, but he is out of the world cup. Dan Carter talks about his tournament ending injury next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Welcome back.

Now in New Zealand, millions of rugby fans are almost in mourning after the loss of their team's star player. And today we heard from the man himself.

Alex Thomas is in London. He's got more -- Alex.

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, he's the golden boy of New Zealand sport, rugby union's biggest start, and was crucial to the host's chances of winning the world cup on home soil. But earlier on Monday, Dan Canter's last contribution to the All Blacks' cause was to talk about the injury that has ruled him out of the tournament.

This report was sent from our affiliate station TDMZ.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He shuffled out to a waiting Wellington crowd, a hobbling hero of sorts. By the time Dan Carter arrived in Aukland today, the crutches were gone. And before the waiting masses, he wore a brave face.

Were you angry?

DAN CARTER, NEW ZEALAND RUGBY PLAYER: Yeah. It's a little bit different behind closed doors. You know, I (inaudible) my frustration a lot. But, you know, being around the team, you know, really spurs me on to think positively and try and help them out in whatever way and sort of moping around not going to help them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Daniel Carter went down after goal kicking practice on Saturday. We filmed as he was hurried from the field grabbing at his thigh. It was clear from that moment the injury was serious.

CARTER: I knew it was -- there has been a pretty series just because of the pain and because it was quite unusual. You know, I kicked thousands of balls. You know, I've be doing that since I was a young fellow. But I knew what had just happened after kicking a ball just felt like it popped and going down to the ground in agony.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What followed was a difficult few hours behind closed doors. The assessment, the realization and the phone calls.

CARTER: You know, I had the opportunity to talk to other people, you know, close to me and I, you know was -- it was a pretty tough night, you know -- you know, knowing that, you know the world cup was over, lose my (inaudible) and things like that. It's part of the roles when you bring a new player in. So, that's tough.

But, you know, I've got my good mates here. So, you know, I'll be popping in now and then to make sure everything is OK and you know, I know the guys in my position of goal to help them (inaudible) information whenever possible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dan Carter was only there for 10 minutes. He was upbeat and smiling, remarkable considering. And he had one last message for the media, his fans, and the All Blacks.

CARTER: I (inaudible) kind of move on. I have. And, you know, obviously pretty disappointed, but you know, it's on now. You know (inaudible) team and I think that's what everyone should move on to.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

THOMAS: Yeah, a lot of glum faces at that news conference in New Zealand.

Now in the NFL, the Detroit Lions are off to their best start for more than 30 years. Just three seasons ago, the Lions made sports history by losing their first 16 games. Now they've won their first four in a row after a comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Detroit looked down and out after falling behind 27-3 in the third quarter on Sunday night. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo hitting Jason Witten for the touchdown. But things quickly went south from there for Dallas. On their next possession, Romo threw a terrible pass, intercepted by Bobby Carpenter, once a former teammate of Romo's, now playing for Detroit. And he was able to weave his way into the end zone for the score. The Cowboys' lead cut to 17.

On the next Cowboys possession, another mistake. Romo gets intercepted again, this time by Chris Houston who took a more direct route down the left sideline for what turned into a defense touchdown for him. Detroit back in it trailing just 27-17 at that point.

And a crazy period of play is capped in the fourth quarter when Lion quarterback Matthew Stafford hits Calvin Johnson in the corner of the end zone. Detroit recovering from 24 points down to win their eighth game in a row if you include the end of last season.

Astonishing stuff. We'll have action from Major League Baseball's playoffs in world sport in two-and-a-half hour's time. For now, though, Kristie back to you.

STOUT: Thank you, Alex.

Now stars from the music and film world, they gathered in London on Sunday night to remember the man known as the quiet Beatle. They attend the premier of Martin Scorsese's profile of George Harrison 10 years after his death from lung cancer. Neil Curry report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEIL CURRY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Martin Scorsese's task is to tell the story of the man known as the quiet one in the world's most famous band.

Famous friends joined members of the extended Beatles family for the premier at London's British Film Institute. An audience, including Yoko Ono, Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, and Oasis founder and former guitarist Noel Gallagher.

Harrison had been good friends with members of the Monty Python team and helped fund their film Life of Brian.

ERIC IDLE, ACTOR/COMEDIAN: He mortgaged his house to put up the money for this movie, because he wanted to see it. Which I still don't know if anybody has ever paid for a (inaudible).

TERRY GILLIAM, FILM DIRECTOR: The best thing is he was so fun. And the most embarrassing things he would always be in the midst of conversations suddenly throw out a Python joke line and we wouldn't recognize it, because he was a bigger -- he knew more about Python than we did.

PAUL MCCARTNEY, MUSICIAN: We were on the top deck of a doubledecker bus in Liverpool around where John lived, a place called Woolton (ph). And nobody was on the bus, late at night, and John said, well go on then, let's see you play to George.

I said, go on, go on, get your guitar. So George on at this guitar, got it out. And he played this thing called raunchy, which is...

RINGO STARR, MUSICIAN: I think besides his incredible guitar and his writing, he introduced many, many people to Indian music.

MCCARTNEY: It's like a marriage. You love each other. But you getting fed up. We knew that he was fleeting (ph).

CURRY: Harrison's widow Olivia chose Martin Scorsese as the only director she trusted to tell George's story. And she provided much of the unseen footage in the film.

MARTIN SCORSESE, FILM DIRECTOR: I think this is very special, because a lot of preconceived notions and people who think they know so much about a person in 1972 that may be a different person in 1992.

Well, I think what was really inspiring about him, there were came back from the -- right from the 60s was his acceptance, the values of other cultures, which at that time were considered so foreign. This is something that was fascinating, opened my mind, and I've never forgotten that.

CURRY: At the same time, George's hometown of Liverpool was also staging a premier of the film, albeit with a little less fanfare. But in the London spotlight, it was a day of reunions and respects for a remarkable musician.

STARR: He was a good friend of mine. We had a lot of good times together. And I'm hoping to have one now.

CURRY: Neil Curry, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And still to come here on News Stream, why cutting edge technology could lead to a better quality of life for millions of people in India.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Welcome back.

Now issuing identify theft resistant ID cards to a population of 1.2 billion people is a big task, but that is what India is aiming to do by scanning billions of eyes and fingerprints with biometric devices. And many of those lining up for their cards have never come into contact with this kind of technology.

Now as Sarah Sidner reports they are relying on it to improve their lives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARAH SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Technology has barely touched Mira Deby's (ph) daily life. In her hut, muscle not machines get the chores done. She and her family are among the millions of Indians who live in obscurity, unaccounted for on government roles, unable to apply for government benefits.

"Right now we don't have an identity, so life is very difficult. We're all very poor, so if we earn we eat. Otherwise, we get nothing." She says.

That is about to change for Mira (ph) and perhaps millions like her. At this center, Mira Deby (ph), a woman who has never even used a computer is coming face to face with cutting edge technology that will give her an official identity for the very first time.

Her irises and all 10 fingerprints are scanned with biometric devices. They're uploaded and then sent to a massive server. Once this information is processed, out comes a 12 digit number for her and her only.

NANDAN NILEKANI, CHAIRMAN, UIDAI: So our goal is to get to 1 million a day. And to get to about 600 million people enrolled in the system in the next four years.

SIDNER: And eventually all of Indian citizens.

Nandan Nilekani is the man who helped usher in India's booming outsourcing industry as CEO of Infosys, was asked by the prime minister to head this new government program.

India's unique identification program started just a year ago. If it succeeds, India will become the first country in the world using biometric data for identity purposes on a national scale. Its first phase is aimed at the poor who for decades have had to deal with the local, sometimes corrupt bureaucracy to get benefits that don't transfer if they migrate.

NILEKANI: It's about giving a number to help people get benefits.

SIDNER: Deby (ph) is hoping it means access to more food.

"With this card, we'll be able to get rations, rice, oil, wheat, sugar, all these things will be cheaper."

Rickshaw operator Moti Lal (ph) just received his card. He says the identification opens doors to other possibilities.

"I got this card made because I'm hoping I can open a bank account and I can take loans and save money for my children," he says.

But this cutting edge technology identification system doesn't cut it with the few critics out there who say this program is far too expensive and far too intrusive.

They worry the government could potentially use this data against its citizens. And the estimated pricetag for the program adds up to about $2 per person, or about $2.4 billion. But right now, the critics are few, and the masses keep coming. Many hoping the official recognition as a citizen will mean a slightly better existence.

Sarah Sidner, CNN, New Delhi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And that is News Stream. But the news continues at CNN. And don't forget to stay with us as we await a ruling in the appeal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. And that could happen as soon as five from now. So stay with CNN.

END