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Morning News

Murder Victim's Grandson Discusses Convicted Killer Gary Graham's Guilt

Aired June 22, 2000 - 9:09 a.m. ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Many are convinced of Gary Graham's guilt and say justice will be done if his execution is carried out tonight. Among them is the grandson of the man that Graham was convicted of killing.

Bobby Hanners joins us today from Houston, Texas. He is also with Dianne Clements. She is president of the group Justice For All, which supports the death penalty.

Thank you to both of us for joining us.

DIANNE CLEMENTS, JUSTICE FOR ALL: Good morning.

BOBBY HANNERS, GRANDSON OF BOBBY LAMBERT: Good morning.

KAGAN: Mr. Hanners, first to you: Tell us a little bit about your grandfather and how old you were when he was killed.

HANNERS: I was 9 when he was killed. He lived in Arizona and I lived in Kentucky and so, you know, I only got to saw him like maybe twice a year. And, you know, he would come in and take us out to eat, or he would, you know, just spend time with us and tell us what we meant to him and everything like that.

KAGAN: And do you believe Gary Graham killed your grandfather?

HANNERS: Yes, I do -- 100 percent.

KAGAN: What about the naysayers who say that we're only talking about a single eyewitness here who only saw him for a number of seconds, and then the two witnesses who Graham supporters say have never been able to testify in court, saying that he was not the person who shot and killed your grandfather?

HANNERS: OK, the witnesses, you know, they've changed their stories over the years. You know, one minute they say, well, I didn't see the shooter's face, but 19 years later, you know, all of a sudden they remember seeing his face.

KAGAN: So to them, those two witnesses who've never spoken in court, or who have had the chance to, don't have credibility with you?

HANNERS: No, because they were deemed uncredible -- non-credible by a judge.

KAGAN: And what about the idea that only a single eyewitness -- a woman who only saw him for a brief moment is the only eyewitness who saw him -- says she saw him?

HANNERS: Well, you know...

KAGAN: That's enough for you?

HANNERS: That's enough because she has not changed her story in 19 years. You know, she has stuck by this. You know, under all the pressures I'm sure she's under and the death threats I'm sure she's received, she's never changed, never.

KAGAN: You bring up 19 years. This hasn't only been 19 years of appeals for Gary Graham, this has been 19 years of the justice system for your family. What do you think about people who criticize the system who have not been through what you and your family have been through?

HANNERS: Put yourself in my shoes, is what I would say.

KAGAN: And if the execution goes through, will you be there today to see it?

HANNERS: Yes, I will.

KAGAN: You will?

HANNERS: Yes.

KAGAN: And why do you want to be there?

HANNERS: It's closure for me. And, you know, the last person my grandfather saw was Gary Graham. So, in a sense, the last person he's going to see is me, the victim's grandson.

KAGAN: Diane Clements, your group Justice For all, how do you play into this?

CLEMENTS: Well, we're simply here as support for the Lambert family, and to hopefully set the record straight with some of the misinformation that is being perpetuated, such as you yourself said that Bernadine Skillern only saw Gary Graham for a fleeting moment. It was actually for a minute and a half, full face, several different angles. Bernadine Skillern identified him. The witnesses statements have changed over the years, as Bobby told you.

So we are here to support the Lambert family, who has been living this nightmare for 19 years, and to add what we believe is the truth about this case, and to say that Gary Graham has had multiple appeals, he has had everything explored. He has had competent counsel and he is very guilty of the crime that he was convicted of.

KAGAN: Diane Clements, Justice For All; Bobby Hanners, grandson of Bobby Lambert, thank you for both for joining us today. We appreciate your time.

HANNERS: Thank you.

CLEMENTS: Thank you.

KAGAN: And you'll find more from both sides in the Gary Graham case: You can go to our Web site, log onto cnn.com/law. We have audio clips from those who say Gary Graham is guilty and those who say he deserves another hearing. And you can share your opinions about the case on the message board.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

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