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WEEKEND EARLY START

Threats From North Korea; Dental Patients Warned of HIV; Fake Lawyer Sentenced; Bleacher Report; Georgia Town Wants to Mandate Gun Ownership; Concert Promoter Sued Over Michael Jackson's Death

Aired March 30, 2013 - 06:00   ET

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


VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: From CNN world headquarters in a Atlanta --

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: This is EARLY START WEEKEND.

BLACKWELL: They say their rocks are ready, aimed directly at U.S. cities. Now North Korea's ramping up their rhetoric even more. Is it time to take them at their word?

KOSIK: Plus, rusty equipment and reused needles, a dentist's dirty secrets exposed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLTON SCOTT, FORMER PATIENT OF TULSA DENTIST: And that's the last thing in the world that you're going to think going in to, you know, get your wisdom teeth taken out, that you're going to be exposed to HIV or hepatitis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Today, thousands of his patients could find out if they were infected.

BLACKWELL: And, get the gun. The small Georgia town that wants to make it a law that everyone has to be locked and loaded.

KOSIK: It's Saturday, March 30th. Good morning. I'm Alison Kosik.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. We are glad you are with us this morning.

KOSIK: We start with the bluster coming from North Korea. They say they've entered a state, quote, "state of war" with South Korea and are also aiming their missiles at the U.S.

BLACKWELL: South Korea and some U.S. diplomats say it's just the usual posturing. The National Security Council weighed in late yesterday with this. "We take these threats seriously," they say, "and remain in close contact with our South Korea allies. But we would also note that North Korea has a long history of bellicose rhetoric and threats and today's announcement follows that familiar pattern."

Joining me now from Seoul, South Korea, is CNN International anchor Jim Clancy.

Jim, are people there treating this any differently than the past threats from the North?

JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: In a word, no. They were out today. I was walking on the streets. People are out with their families here in Seoul, the South Korean capital. A rather chilly day. Darkness is falling right now. And so the crowds are thinning out. But people are really enjoying the day. They do not see this in the same light that other people do. They have lived with it all of their lives. In their view, this is all about the Kim regime, the Kim dynasty, if you will, doing the same old thing its always done, hold its million man army, nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, over their heads in order to extort more money and more food aid.

Now, if you live in North Korea, a different scene. I was watching North Korean television and people are out on the streets. They're saying things like, you know, we can't take it anymore. We're going to give them a real taste of it. They're ready to confront, what they say, are the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppets -- Victor.

KOSIK: Jim, actually any indication that this is just a bluster at this point?

CLANCY: Well, you know, you can never dismiss North Korea's very formidable armed forces, conventional armed forces, said to be the fourth largest army in the world. Plenty of artillery. Plenty of intermediate and long range missiles. By the way, nothing, nothing that could hit the continental United States. Let's make that clear.

Let's make another thing clear. Let's look at a great equalizer here. Just a few miles north of the demilitarized zone that is the heavily -- most heavy militarized zone in the -- in the world today. There's an industrial complex called Kaesong. It's a joint venture of North Koreans, South Koreans. There's 123 South Korean firms there. South Koreans, several hundred of them, go in to work there every day.

Fifty thousand North Koreans are employed there. There was about $2 billion in trade between the Koreas. That provided a lot of it. And, you know, during all of this, all of this, those workers are still going up there. Now, there's some things -- you know, some officials say, we might have to close it down. We don't know. But it's still open, and that says something.

BLACKWELL: All right, Jim Clancy in Seoul, South Korea, this morning for us. Thank you.

The Navy is investigating a training accident that has killed one Navy SEAL and injured another. The two collided in midair during a parachute training exercise in southern Arizona. Now a source tells CNN, the SEAL who died is a member of SEAL Team 6. That's the squad that went after Osama bin Laden. But we have not been told whether he was part of that mission.

KOSIK: Thirty-five educators in Atlanta have been indicted in one of the biggest cheating scandals to hit the nation's public school system. They face charges of corruption and racketeering and are accused of changing or fabricating test scores dating way back to 2001. Some of the accused face up to 45 years in prison if convicted.

And that includes former superintendent Beverly Hall. She resigned in 2011 and denied wrongdoing, but investigators say she was a full participant in the conspiracy and even threatened and punished teachers who did not cheat. Hall was once named national superintendent of the year. The grand jury is recommending that her bond be set at $7.5 million once she surrenders.

Health officials in Oklahoma are offering free HIV and hepatitis tests today to as many as 7,000 patients of Dr. Scott Harrington. The dentist and oral surgeon stopped practicing this month after health inspectors found filthy, rusty dental tools in his office.

BLACKWELL: They say some of his staffers were unlicensed and he may have given patients expired drugs. CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti has the latest.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Alison and Victor, good morning.

When health officials are calling your dentist a menace to public health, is it a wonder so many of those parents are worried?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Not many people jump for joy when it's time to go to the dentist. Colton Scott now has more reasons than others to be nervous about his dentist. Scott says he had his wisdom teeth removed last year by Dr. Harrington, and just found out he may have contracted a infectious disease during the extraction. His mom and two other relatives went there too.

COLTON SCOTT, FORMER PATIENT OF TULSA DENTIST: And that's the last thing in the world that you're going to think going in to, you know, get your wisdom teeth taken out, that you're going to be exposed to HIV or hepatitis. I mean, you know, that's just something that never would have crossed by mind in a million years.

CANDIOTTI: His dentist, Dr. Scott Harrington, came under suspicious after a different patient was diagnosed with HIV and hepatitis c. Investigators for Oklahoma's Board of Dentistry traced the source to Harrington's office. They said what they found was enough to turn their stomachs.

SUSAN ROGERS, EXECUTIVE DIR., OKLAHOMA BOARD OF DENTISTRY: We were just physically kind of sick. I mean that's -- that's how bad -- and I've seen a lot of bad stuff over the -- over the years.

CANDIOTTI: Inspectors came up with so much bad stuff, they filed 17 violations, which include allegation Harrington was using expired drugs. One vile was dated 1993. Also, even though he used morphine until 2012, none has been delivered since 2009. Failing to test sterilizing equipment, called an autoclave (ph). It's supposed to be tested monthly, but apparently wasn't for six years. Unlicensed dental assistants administering sedation. Risking contamination by re- inserting needles into the same vial. And, get this, using rusty instruments inside a patient's mouth.

ROGERS: The instruments that came out of the autoclave were horrible. I wouldn't let my nephews play with them out in the dirt. I mean they were horrible. They had rust on them.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): The conditions so questionable, patients need to be tested now. And on Saturday, here at the Tulsa Health Department, free screenings will begin for hepatitis b, c, and HIV.

DR. KRISTY BRADLEY, OKLAHOMA DEPT. OF HEALTH: As many persons who may be infected with these (INAUDIBLE) foreign viruses, may be infected for years without experiencing any signs of illness.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): A scary possibility. Dr. Harrington has seen at least 7,000 patients since 2007. And there are many more, but records only go back that far. CNN has been unable to reach the doctor or his lawyer. He has not been charged with a crime, but officials say he has surrendered his dental license. Colton Scott is nervous.

SCOTT: Yes, we're all very concerned and, you know, apprehensive.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: The results of those health screenings will take two to three weeks. A very nervous time for a lot of people who will be waiting to exhale -- Victor and Alison.

KOSIK: Susan Candiotti, thanks.

One of Massachusetts most wanted is behind bars this morning. Authorities say Gary Allen Irving went on the lam in 1979 after he was convicted of raping three young women. New leads led police this week to the small town of Gorham, Maine. And that's where they found Irving, who's now 52 years old, just sitting and watching TV with his wife and grandchild.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. ROBERT BURKE, MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE: His wife appeared like she was in a state of shock. She was very cooperative. Seemed to be a very nice lady. And for all extents and purposes, they seemed to be a nice couple that were just living there in downtown Gorham.

PATRICIA DIXON, NEIGHBOR: He was always pleasant and nice. Always liked him. I mean, you never know who's living next door, I guess.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Authorities in Maine and Massachusetts, they plan to use DNA to see whether Irving can be linked to any unsolved rapes.

BLACKWELL: Tomorrow, millions of Christians around the world will celebrate Easter or resurrection day, as it's known. At the Vatican, Pope Francis is getting ready for a special Easter vigil this afternoon. This is the crowd last night outside the coliseum in Rome. Beautiful pictures here. The pope spoke at a special ceremony for Good Friday. And he told people that Christians must respond to evil with good.

An iconic cross found in the ruble of the World Trade Center attacks will be allowed in a 9/11 museum. A New York judge tossed out a lawsuit from an atheist group that claimed enshrining the cross was mixing church and state. Now, the cross is really two intersecting steel beams that stayed together after the Twin Towers collapsed. The judge says displaying the cross is allowed because of its historical importance.

OK, it's your chance to own a piece of history. Some of the final correspondents from some of this country's biggest celebrities.

KOSIK: Stick around, because we're going to give you a sneak peak at some of the last letters of Marilyn Monroe and John Lennon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Thirteen minutes after the hour now.

An incredible story to tell you about. An Italian conman fooled some of the most powerful men in the world. He represented clients no one else would.

KOSIK: Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden to name a few. But the man who called himself the devil's advocate, he wasn't a lawyer at all and now he's behind bars for the next 14 years. Here's CNN's Atika Shubert.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, ACTRESS, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN": Are you a real life pilot?

LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ACTOR, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN": I sure am, little lady.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, ACTRESS, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN": The jump seat is open.

DICAPRIO: It's been a while since I've done this. Which one's the jump seat again?

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just like Leonardo DiCaprio's character in the movie "Catch Me If You Can," he has a world class con artist. But Giovanni di Stefano has a Rolodex that read like a who's who of the world's biggest villains. Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic. And now it turns out he was fooling them all and making millions from his lies. Di Stefano worked as an attorney, taking on notorious and unwinnable cases. Starting in 2005, he defended Saddam Hussein.

GIOVANNI DI STEFANO: Why not bring charges? The whole world is now beginning to have its doubts, not only on the legality of the war, but if the war was so legal, why not charge this man? Where are the charges?

SHUBERT: He also worked with the legal team defending late Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and bragged about his meetings in Osama bin Laden and Zimbabwean Leader Robert Mugabe. Meetings in which he would give legal advice.

SHUBERT (on camera): There was just one problem. Giovanni di Stefano had no legal qualifications and he was not registered to work as an attorney, either in Italy, where he was born, or here in Britain where he grew up.

JERRY WALTER, CITY OF LONDON POLICE: (INAUDIBLE). He's a thoroughly dishonest individual who's been very cunning, very cleaver, and an incredibly devious individual.

SHUBERT (voice-over): But it is not just dictators di Stefano was drawn to. He defended Harold Shipman, a British doctor who killed hundreds of his own patients.

DI STEFANO: Dr. Shipman had professed his innocence from day one. He has never ever accepted his guilt. Not just a question of psychologically accepted, he never accepted that he murdered anybody.

SHUBERT: And Patricia Walsh Smith. She was conned out of 5,000 pounds, about $7,500, when di Stefano told her she could get a better divorce settlement.

PATRICIA WALSH SMITH: He knew that I was drowning and he pushed me right under. And he said, why don't you commit suicide and leave a note saying my life's been a comedy of errors. And he said that, you know, four times.

SHUBERT: The judge called him a man of breathtaking cynicism, but it's not just his victims left embarrassed by Giovanni di Stefano, it's the entire legal system as well.

Atika Shubert, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSIK: An historic collection of letters is set to hit the auction block at the end of May, and they included some of Marilyn Monroe's final correspondences with her mentor, Lee Strasberg, written just before her suicide. The ill-fated actress wrote, quote, "I'm embarrassed to start this, but thank you for understanding and having changed my life. Even though you changed it, I still am lost. I mean, I can't get myself together. I think because everything is pushing against my concentration, everything one does or lives is impossible almost."

She continues, "my will is weak, but I can't stand anything. I sound crazy, but I think I'm going crazy. It's just that I get before a camera and my concentration and everything I'm trying to learn leaves me. Then I feel like I'm not existing in the human race at all." Chilling.

BLACKWELL: Yes, it's really a little unusual. A little scary. I'd call it creepy.

The collection also includes a letter from John Lennon to Paul McCartney around the same time the Beatles broke up. And the atomicity is clear. Listen to what Lennon writes. "Do you really think most of today's art came about because of the Beatles? I don't believe you're that insane, Paul. Do you believe that? When you stop believing it, you might wake up." Wow.

The items will be exhibited April 8th through the 16th at Douglass Elliman's Gallery in New York City. Again, I just think to own these letters, especially Marilyn Monroe's letter, is a bit creepy.

KOSIK: But everybody wants to own something celebrity. And, you know, it is sort of a rare moment, as we were talking about --

BLACKWELL: Yes.

KOSIK: That it's -- people don't write letters anymore. We're texting. We're e-mailing.

BLACKWELL: That's true.

KOSIK: So, who knows, these could be worth more money. Maybe it's an investment.

BLACKWELL: Yes, and maybe people are buying them to sell them later.

KOSIK: Maybe.

BLACKWELL: But thank goodness most of our text messages aren't ever going to be up for auction.

KOSIK: Especially yours. I hear they're (ph) very interesting.

BLACKWELL: Especially mine.

All right, if you're up this early morning, you might have missed last night's big games.

KOSIK: I was sleeping, but Florida Gulf Coast University, the biggest surprise in this year's NCAA tournament, took on in state rival Florida, but did the magic continue or did the clock strike midnight on this year's Cinderella? Highlights coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Look how pretty. Good morning. You're looking at downtown Atlanta. Seeing Centennial Olympic Park here. Some skylights. The skyline here is really nice, Victor. You know, it's not just New York City about that skyline.

BLACKWELL: Beautiful city. I love it.

KOSIK: I'm hearing the Final Four's happening here next weekend.

BLACKWELL: It is indeed. And, you know what, let's talk March Madness right now. A lot of us were sleeping while it happened. I tried to sleep. Didn't get a lot, but that's my problem.

The dream season for Florida Gulf Coast ended. Yes, this year's Cinderella team has been knocked out by the big tournament -- by the state rivals, Florida. Andy Scholes has more in this hour's "Bleacher Report."

It was great while it lasted, but now the carriage is a pumpkin again.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Yes. Good morning, guys.

You know, it was definitely sad to see the Eagles' run come to an end, but what a run it was. No other 15-seed in tournament history was able to accomplish what Florida Gulf Coast did. And they did it in style.

You know, at first, last night looked like the magical ride was going to continue as the Eagles open the game on fire. They led by as many as 11 early on, but FGCU's carriage would turn into a pumpkin as Florida would go on a 16-2 run to end the first half. And the Gator's experience just too much to overcome for Florida Gulf Coast. Their Cinderella run ends in the Sweet 16 with a 62-50 loss to Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDY ENFIELD, FGCU HEAD COACH: Our plan wasn't to be some great national story. Our plan was to go in and compete and win games. And -- but it was unbelievable to see the excitement and passion of not only our local community and the students, but also on a national level.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Well, the game of the night belongs to one seed Kansas and four seed Michigan. The Jayhawks were up by eight with a minute 20 left, but the Wolverines came storming back, capped off by this three from Trey Burke. That sent the game into overtime. And Burke scored all of his 23 points in the second half and overtime. Michigan holds on in the extra period, 87-85 to reach the elite eight for the first time since 1994. For more on this game you can head over to bleacherreport.com.

So with Kansas out, that leaves Louisville as the only number one seed left in the tournament. And last night the Cardinals continued to play like a dominant number one seed led by Russ Smith's 31 points. Louisville jumped on Oregon in the first half and never looked back, on their way to a 77-69 win. They advance to the elite eight for the second straight year.

And their opponent will be the two seed from their region, Duke. Behind a hot-shooting night from Seth Curry, the Blue Devils defeated Michigan State 71-61. That sets up a Rick Pitino versus Mike Krzyzewski coaching match-up in the regional finals for the first time since Christian Laettner's famous game-winning shot back in 1992. That game will be tomorrow.

Later today, two teams will punch their tickets to the Final Four. Syracuse squares off against Marquette. That game tips at 4:30 Eastern. Followed by the lowest seed left in the tournament, Wichita State taking on Ohio State.

And, guys, now that Florida Gulf Coast is out of the tournament, Wichita State maybe can slip into that Cinderella role. You know, they're a nine seed, doing pretty well for themselves, making it all the way to the elite eight.

BLACKWELL: Yes, and I'm still surprised we're having this conversation and Georgetown was out so early.

SCHOLES: Yes, first round, Florida Gulf Coast, they got them early.

BLACKWELL: They made Ft. Meyers proud.

All right, Andy, thanks.

KOSIK: All right, here's an interesting one for you. A small Georgia town considers making gun ownership mandatory. And that's despite the fact that the town, it hardly has crime at all. We're going to take you there and inside the town's decision.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Good morning to you. It's 29 minutes past the hour. Welcome back. I'm Alison Kosik.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Thank you for starting your day with us. Here are five stories we're watching this morning.

Number one, North Korea. The government says they are now in a state of war with South Korea. Now, they've also said that they had their missiles at targets in the U.S. Had them pointing at the U.S. It's the latest round of threats from North Korea. This time they're upset with the U.S. for sending B-2 bombers to South Korea for military drills. Now, of course, we're going to have a lot more on this all morning.

KOSIK: And, number two, the EPA says it can save 2,000 lives a year with new rules requiring cleaner gasoline. The Obama administration says cleaner gas will reduce smog and the health risks that come along with it. The changes were proposed Friday but they won't go into effect until 2017. Some critics in the gas industry, they say the changes would add as much as 10 cents to the price of a gallon of gas. The White House says the price hikes will be closer to a penny.

BLACKWELL: We're going to New York for story number three. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is not backing down from a potential ban on large sugary drinks. The city is appealing a judge's decision to block the proposed ban and call it "an important part of mayor's health initiative. Now, under the proposed rules, the board of health would regulate the size of cups for beverages like soda, making the max size 16 ounces for restaurants.

KOSIK: Number four, the debate over same-sex marriage may have prompted 2.7 million people to change their profile photos this week. Facebook says it had a 120 percent bump in new profile pictures this Tuesday compared to last week. Supporters of same sex marriage, especially in the dark red areas you see there, were putting up the human rights campaigns red equal signs or a variation of it.

And number five, a stranger on the Philadelphia subway saved the man who falls right onto the track. This surveillance tape shows the victim stepped right off the platform, then this man, 32-year old Chris Knafelc rushes over and jumps after him. Knafelc got other passengers to alert subway workers to stop the train, then he kept the man still so he wouldn't touch the high voltage third rail. The victim is expected to be fine. Knafelc said he was just paying it forward.

BLACKWELL: I want to take you to Nelson, Georgia. Ever heard of it? Well, it's a very small town in Georgia, and it's considering a new law that would require every homeowner to also own a gun and ammunition. Now I went to Nelson to find out why such a small town is considering such a big move.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHIEF HEATH MITCHELL, NELSON GEORGIA POLICE: This is a town that Norman Rockwell would want to paint a picture of.

BLACKWELL: Nelson, Georgia, 50 miles north of Atlanta, it's a snapshot of small town, Americana, grazing cows, small white churches and a very small police department.

(on camera): You are the chief of police here in Nelson.

MITCHELL: Yes.

BLACKWELL: But it's really just you in the department?

MITCHELL: Right now it's just me.

BLACKWELL (voice over): Chief Heath Mitchell has not worked a single major crime in his three years on the job.

MITCHELL: It is just normal minor thefts, some burglaries.

BLACKWELL: No gun crimes, but soon owning a gun in this town of 14,000 may become not just a right, but a requirement. Every head of household in Nelson would have to own a gun and ammunition.

EDITH PORTILLO, NELSON GEORGIA CITY COUNCIL: It's a deterrent kind of law.

BLACKWELL: Every member of the Nelson City Council supports the Family Protection Ordinance, as it's known. Councilwoman Edith Portillo believes it will scare off would-be criminals if it becomes law April 1st.

PORTILLO: It's like when you have, you know, the security, the ADT in front of your homes, we are protected by an alarm or whatever, which the majority of places don't have it.

BLACKWELL: Nelson would not be the first town in America to pass a mandatory gun ownership law, it wouldn't even be the first town in Georgia, but Nelson ordinance is a direct copy of a law passed here in Kennesaw, Georgia, in 1982. Now, there's no way to accurately measure its affect on public safety, although historically crime rates here have been low, and Nelson also copies Kennesaw's exemptions for felons, the mentally ill and people who object to owning a gun for personal or any other belief, and Nelson also says they will not enforce the new law. So, what is the point?

PORTILLO: Georgians don't full around with their guns. And don't have the government tell them what to do and what not to do.

BLACKWELL: The proposed law is part of a campaign led by the local chapter of the Tea Party patriots to protect the Second Amendment rights.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to take this countywide, and then statewide to other counties, and to other states.

BLACKWELL: Lamar Kellett has lived in Nelson for nearly 20 years. He calls it a sham.

LAMAR KELLETT, NELSON, GEORGIA RESIDENT: This is not about the Second Amendment. They keep trying to make it be Second Amendment issue, but it's not.

BLACKWELL (on camera): What is it about?

KELLETT: Publicity.

CODY FITTS, MANAGER APPALACHIAN GUN & PAWN:: We're selling probably ten-15 guns a day.

BLACKWELL (voice over): Some people in Nelson buy their guns at Appalachian Gun and Pawn, the profits skyrocketed recently, and manager Cody Fits thanks one man.

FITTS: I honestly believe that the commander-in-chief has raised the prices. He is trying to enforce the gun ban, everybody is worried about losing their guns, so now they are buying more and more and more.

BLACKWELL (on camera): Do you think the federal government is coming for your guns?

(LAUGHTER)

KELLETT: I really do not. I can own a gun without this ordinance, and I can protect my home without this ordinance, so why have an ordinance? It's not worth anything?

BLACKWELL (voice over): A small southern town, now at the center of a gun fight.

PORTILLO: Will it be safer? I think that it will give them a little, you know, hey, look what we have done in our little town, and, you know, we could keep our guns.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLACKWELL: This issue comes up for the final vote on Monday, April 1st. And it's expected to pass. It had a unanimous support the first vote, and they would likely get it the second.

KOSIK: But why now? I mean the timing is really curious, isn't it? And what if somebody can't afford it, I mean if they are required?

BLACKWELL: Well, they say that in this law there're exemptions for anybody who doesn't want one. This really is, from our conversation with the city commissioner, a message to the federal government that you will not come and take our guns. Now, you see that some people in that town say, but federal government is not coming for our guns, but the city council there is making this effort to send a message to the government.

KOSIK: And they're thinking this is going to pass?

BLACKWELL: Yeah, it's probably going to pass.

KOSIK: OK, good story.

BLACKWELL: Thanks. Michael Jackson's mother, she is suing for wrongful death of her son.

KOSIK: Next, who she is suing and how much money could be at stake.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Michael Jackson's mother is suing concert promoter, AEG Live, for wrongful death of her son during his final comeback tour, at the heart of the lawsuit is Michael's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.

BLACKWELL: Yeah. If the promoter is found liable, billions with a B - billions of dollars are at stake. And I asked HLN's Jane Velez- Mitchell, if this is about the money or if it's about holding someone accountable for Michael Jackson's death.

JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, HLN'S JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think that it's financial and it's emotional. Dr. Conrad Murray could be out in a couple of years, and Katherine lost a son, and these kids lost a dad and the world lost the king of pop, and I don't think it feels like real justice for them. They want more justice. So, they're going in to civil court where the currency for justice is money and they are seeking a lot of it. Some say this could be, if it goes in their favor, billions for them.

BLACKWELL: Now, speaking of the courtroom, Conrad Murray has never sat in that box where he would have to testify, never spoken under oath about the singer's death, which occurred on his watch. Now, if he refuses to do this again in the upcoming trial, which you said he will, how does the trial suffer? How does the family suffer?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I don't think it suffers that much to the sense that this Dr. Conrad Murray does not have a lot of credibility. Remember, this is the man who used a surgical knockout drug that is only supposed to be administered in an operating room, in a bedroom to somebody who needed to sleep. He is also somebody who lied to paramedics, he lied to doctors, so I don't think he has a lot of credibility, I don't think his word means very much. So I don't think it matters that much.

BLACKWELL: So, the Jackson's claim is that AEG Live negligently hired Conrad Murray. Lawyers on both sides arguing about who paid him, but the family says they have an email proving that AEG Live was paying Dr. Murray salary. Is this the smoking gun?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you think this would be a very simple case, right? Jackson say, hey, AEG hired Dr. Conrad Murray, and therefore, they are responsible for the terrible things that happen. When it comes to Michael Jackson, nothing is ever simple. It turns out that even though Dr. Conrad Murray was supposed to be making a lot of money, $150,000 a month, he was never paid a penny. There was reportedly some sort of contract floating around, but it was never signed. Michael Jackson died before it was signed. So, that's why it's so very complicated. And then you supposedly do have this smoking gun email where an executive at AEG allegedly says something to the fact that we're his boss, but we will see. Let's see what happens in the trial. Having covered many cases involving Michael Jackson, it's never ever simple.

BLACKWELL: You know, we have seen a lot more of Jackson's children since his death and we know that Prince, Blanket, Paris, along with his mother, Katherine Jackson expected to testify. What other than the obvious emotion do they add to this? What do we expect to hear from them?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I think the key is the irresponsible way that Dr. Conrad Murray behaved once he found out that something was terribly amiss with Michael Jackson, instead of immediately calling 911 and calling for paramedics, who does he call? He calls for a child, namely Prince. And Prince can't talk about that. Prince can really layout the chaos and the horror of that day. These kids, some people don't give them as much compassion as they should because they are rich and they are famous, but they went through a horribly traumatizing experience and somebody should pay for that.

BLACKWELL: Well, Jane, I know you're going to be following this trial. You've got a lot on your plate with Oscar Pistorius and Jodi Arias, but we always turn to you for this. Thank you so much. Jane Velez- Mitchell.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thank you so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL:: And for full coverage of the Michael Jackson trial, watch Jane's show on our system network HLN week nights at 7 Eastern.

KOSIK: From a modeled untimely death to a twist of faith for a free convict, this was quite the busy week in the court.

BLACKWELL: Yeah, here is your "Crime in 60 Seconds."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: South African track star Oscar Pistorius will be allowed to travel overseas while he is out on bail for murder charges. A judge modified his bail restrictions this week. The Olympic sprinter can also return to his home where police say he killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Prosecutors in Colorado have rejected an offer from suspected theater shooter James Holmes. Holmes said he would plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.

Two teenagers accused of shooting a baby in the head in Georgia have been indicted by a grand jury. 17-year old De'Marquise Elkins and 15- year old Dominique Lang are both being charged as adults. They will not face the death penalty. And Amanda Knox says she will fight to prove her innocence after Italy's supreme court ordered a retrial in her murder case. The American exchange student spent four years in prison for allegedly killing her then roommate Meredith Kercher, but an appellate court overturned Knox's conviction in 2011, and that's "Crime in 60."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Are you looking to save some money on your next flight? Well, lose some weight, will you?

BLACKWELL: One economist says airline - that's a good advice, actually.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: ... should charge people based on their weight. More on that proposal, next.

KOSIK: But not you. You don't need ....

BLACKWELL: Well, thank you very much.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Forget about first class. Never mind that leg room and those extra bags, don't worry about that. The question really is should our weight - should it play a role in what we pay when we fly? And professor in Norway, he is making headlines for saying, airlines should, in fact, take up one of his three pay as you weigh models, and these so-called fat taxes are pretty controversial. Total weight, for example, is your weight plus the weight of your luggage, meaning if you weigh 240 pounds you would pay twice as much as someone who weighed 120 pounds. No word yet on whether airlines are going to pick up on this idea, but, according to the air transport association, Samoa Air is the only airline that wants to weigh passengers before boarding.

BLACKWELL: Samoa Air is the one that's choosing to do this.

KOSIK: Yeah. I don't have a problem with it. BLACKWELL: Well, of course, you don't have a problem with it.

KOSIK: Well, I guess, squeeze out.

BLACKWELL: You know, here's the thing: I think every year there is the new proposal on how airlines can make more money. Remember, when they were charging for bathrooms or there was this plan that came ...

KOSIK: They charged for bathrooms?

BLACKWELL: Well, there was a plan that came out, it didn't actually happen. And then there's the one where you could stand like a rollercoaster ride, with just a little seat. This one I hope is not going anywhere.

KOSIK: Well ...

BLACKWELL: Because I am a heavy man and I pack a lot of stuff when I travel.

KOSIK: Yes, and you also (inaudible) ...

BLACKWELL: Yes, on the armrest, I am taking it.

KOSIK: I don't want to ever sit next to you on the airline.

BLACKWELL: No, I am not sharing it. I'm not sharing it. If the person is nice, I will let them have the front of the back.

KOSIK: Oh, nice of you.

BLACKWELL: I am. I am.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: I'm just that kind of guy.

OK, allergies are keeping your from shedding that winter weight by exercising outside. See, we're trying to save you money at this point it goes into effect.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: We've got some solutions that may help you get motivated. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Ten minutes - ten minutes before the top of the hour. Good morning, Washington, D.C. A few lights on at the White House this morning. It is spring, but I don't know even if in Washington it feels like spring. It certainly doesn't feel like it here in Atlanta.

KOSIK: Well, it's a little warmer in New York, I know, it is, before I came here to Atlanta, and it is time to spring into shape ...

BLACKWELL: Yeah.

KOSIK: Even if you are not headed to the beach or for a spring break, but you just want to kind of slim down for summer.

BLACKWELL: Can I just talk about how amazing this shot is that ...

KOSIK: I am really short, aren't I? Can we figure this out?

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: I just love this shot. OK, go ahead, I'm sorry.

KOSIK: So, if you want to get into shape, and you're not necessarily going (inaudible) get into better shape, fitness and nutrition expert Desiree Nathanson, she is with us now. We tend to pack on the pounds during the winter time, don't we?

DESIREE NATHANSON, FITNESS AND NUTRITION EXPERT: Yes, we do. As it gets colder, although we did have a mild winter. So that was less of an excuse for people.

BLACKWELL: We still did it.

NATHANSON: Yeah. They tend to not to go outside, also, the holidays, huge problem, we've got Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, all back to back to back, it's eating and drinking and oh, the stress.

BLACKWELL: The other thing is that I love is that you can layer up. Nobody sees the extra stuff.

NATHANSON: And that's another problem, because if you go to Florida or Arizona -- when I was in Florida, we didn't put on weight because we were still in the beach ...

BLACKWELL: Yes.

KOSIK: Yes.

NATHANSON: In winter, so it depends on the area of the country you are in and then also how you let the holidays affect you.

KOSIK: So, what women in particular, where do we seem to put the weight on and how do we get it off?

NATHANSON: Well, everyone is individual, so there's going to be different weight gain depending on body types, but women tend to do hips, butt, all that thighs, and then a little bit in the belly.

BLACKWELL: How about us?

NATHANSON: And then in men - yes, men are mostly in the belly area ...

BLACKWELL: Yes.

NATHANSON: ... which is actually the more dangerous fat. Which is why we all need to - I know, it's so bad, Victor, I am sorry.

(CROSSTALK)

NATHANSON: ... which is why we all need to stay in shape and do the same exercises to prevent that weight gain, so you want to do strength training and you want to do cardio combined, you can't spot train.

KOSIK: I mean do you have to really go at it crazy, you know, six days a week, is it really - take that much effort?

NATHANSON: Not crazy. Unfortunately, the better shape you get into you have to do more to maintain it.

BLACKWELL: See, that's why ...

NATHANSON: I know.

BLACKWELL: I'm not pushing.

KOSIK: Just give it ...

BLACKWELL: You see that's why.

KOSIK: You know, I know in the northeast especially, but these pollen counts really get up there and a lot of people want to get out and enjoy, you know, exercising outside. So what really is the best time?

NATHANSON: They say to go outside when the pollen count is low, if someone that has allergies, it doesn't matter what time of the day, it is when the pollen is down, it's down, and you have got to stay inside.

BLACKWELL: It just seems like so many of the exercises that, you know, are great for spring, you feel like you got want to go run in the park or bike, what should people who have these allergies do and still stay in shape?

NATHANSON: Well, I'm glad you asked that, Victor.

(LAUGHTER)

NATHANSON: Because I have a lovely springtime circuit that I put together for you.

BLACKWELL: All right.

NATHANSON: It's influenced by playing and running and jumping outside ...

BLACKWELL: Yes.

NATHANSON: But you can do it inside. So we have four exercises, 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off, four times two, that's 15 minutes, anybody can do it.

BLACKWELL: OK. NATHANSON: Starting with crab walks. These are one of my favorites. They are a lot easier when you were smaller, but you can walk forward.

KOSIK: I do them at the gym, actually, yes.

NATHANSON: And all these are very good, yes.

(CROSSTALK)

NATHANSON: It (inaudible) your core, you are actually getting some work back here, next we have jump squats. You know, I love squats.

BLACKWELL: Yeah, yeah.

NATHANSON: So, it's squat and jump.

BLACKWELL: I remember having to do them a couple of weeks ago.

NATHANSON: Yes, exactly.

KOSIK: And that actually gets exhausting after a while.

NATHANSON: Yes, those are rough. But we've got those. And we have bicycles, because everybody likes sitting outside in bicycle. But not like this.

(LAUGHTER)

NATHANSON: So you want to try to get your shoulder to your knee, and if you don't have anything on your back like I do, it's a lot easier. Keeping your belly button squeezed in. And then finally, because everyone likes to get outside and run, I put in high knees or butt kicks.

KOSIK: And so, you do this, this is circuit training, so once again, it's repeating how many times?

NATHANSON: Four times through, so it's 16 minutes. Anybody has 16 minutes in their day.

BLACKWELL: Now what about swimming? Not to mention the fact that would be good for people who have allergies?

NATHANSON: Actually, it's not.

BLACKWELL: Oh, OK.

NATHANSON: Of course, yes. Because if you are in an outdoor pool, the pollen does not discriminate, the pollen goes in the water. But if you are indoor pool, the chlorine can actually make hay fever worse, because it dries everything out, and then your nasal passages, that (inaudible) that doesn't really filter out. So it can actually irritate hay fever.

KOSIK: So, swimming is out? NATHANSON: Not necessarily out, but if you've got bad allergies your best bet is to go to the doctor and get the nasal spray and medication.

BLACKWELL: I see what you mean by that.

NATHANSON: I am out of breath from doing that, sorry.

BLACKWELL: OK.

NATHANSON: Oh.

BLACKWELL: Take a breath.

NATHANSON: I know I should have had (inaudible) this morning.

BLACKWELL: Because you typically has me doing all these things.

NATHANSON: I do.

KOSIK: Yes.

BLACKWELL: But the crab walk - you know, and let me ask about this crab walk, because when I've seen it, and let me ask about the crab walk, I have never actually said those words out loud.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: You have to keep like your pelvis up, but you were doing it low, what is that working specifically?

NATHANSON: Well, you've got your triceps that you're working, and then when you are walking forward, you are involving your hamstrings and your gluts, too. And then when you go back, you're involving different muscle groups. So if you stay up more, you're going to be working your gluts more and your abs more. I think you just wanted me to get down ...

BLACKWELL: I did. I certainly did.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: That's why I -- so let me see the crab walk once more?

NATHANSON: You are mean.

BLACKWELL: That's for having me do crunches on the ball three weeks in a row.

NATHANSON: Oh, I'm sorry.

KOSIK: All right. Desiree Nathanson, thank you for your time.

NATHANSON: Thank you very ...

KOSIK: That's a lot. All right, let's talk credit card theft. No matter who you are, you still can be a victim, even if you are the chief justice of the Supreme Court, next hour - more on how he was victimized and five ways to protect yourself.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: So waking up, it's always a little easier with a little more cute, isn't it?

BLACKWELL: Yes.

KOSIK: Meet little Luna, a four months old polar bear cub, CNN affiliate WIDB says she made her official debut at the Buffalo New York Zoo on Friday.

BLACKWELL: Cute. Luna was shy at first, but you're seeing it's warmed up to the crowd pretty quickly. She spent the morning playing with some toys, swimming in her little pool, all to the delight of all of her fans.

KOSIK: And then keeping with our animal theme, I want you to look at this face. I can't believe a mama rejected this little baby gorilla. That's little Gladys, she's a critically endangered low-land gorilla, who is now being raised by ten human surrogates.

BLACKWELL: Yes, at least until the Cincinnati Zoo finds Gladys a new mother. And later this morning, we're going to introduce one of Gladys' surrogates. His name is Ron Evans. You see him here with Gladys, and he actually has to do this - this gorilla sound.

KOSIK: Really?

BLACKWELL: Yes, to get her used to that kind of sound from another gorilla. He does it much better than I do. That's at 8:50 A.M. Eastern here on CNN.

KOSIK: Really cute, right?

BLACKWELL: Yeah, really cute - and you know, it really takes a lot to kind of get these animals to other gorillas, and I think she is going to stay in captivity, but even in captivity, you have to socialize them.

KOSIK: They are going to be eased into the animal world, animal population, and not be real -- next thing you know they are going to go get you a cup of coffee the way they are being raised by humans.

BLACKWELL: And texts.

KOSIK: All right. Thanks for starting your morning with us.

BLACKWELL: And we have got a lot more coming up on CNN "SATURDAY MORNING." It starts right now.