News on the go: May 1, 2013
Russian authorities said they placed Tamerlan Tsarnaev under surveillance during his six-month visit to Russia last year. They attempted to find him after he “suddenly disappeared” when police killed a Canadian jihadist. Tsarnaev is the elder Boston bombing suspect who was killed during a shoot-out with police. The FBI and other U.S. law enforcement officials are trying to find out whether Tsarnaev was indoctrinated or trained by militants during his visit to southern Russia.
In an interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, Amanda Knox said what happened to her could have happened to anyone. The interview aired Tuesday night. Knox said she wants the truth to come out. In March, Italy’s highest criminal court overturned Knox’s acquittal in the 2007 murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher while studying abroad in Italy. The court ordered a new trial for Knox, 25, of Seattle, Wash. However, Italian law cannot compel Knox to return for the new trial.
A dozen Cleveland police supervisors face internal discipline charges from a car chase that ended with officers firing 137 shots and killing a fleeing driver and his passenger, the city’s police chief said Tuesday. The chase lasted for 19 miles, and the supervisors failed to take control and broke department policies, according to Chief Michael McGrath. The officers facing discipline could be demoted, suspended or fired following hearings scheduled for May.
The former neighborhood watch leader charged with shooting and killing a Florida teenager told a judge Tuesday that he agrees with his defense attorneys’ decision not to seek an immunity hearing under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense law. George Zimmerman agreed to give up the right to a hearing before his second-degree murder trial begins in June. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense. The unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin was fatally shot in February of 2012 during a fight with Zimmerman.
A meningitis outbreak has killed at least 40 people in the West African nation of Guinea, according to health officials. A doctor in the city of Siguiri said Tuesday it is feared that even more people are dying in remote villages and are not included in that toll. The doctor, Conde Lansine, said it is believed that hundreds may have died since January. Meningitis is an infection of the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Eastern Guinea is hit annually with meningitis cases; however, doctors said this year’s outbreak has been deadlier.