john thompson spent 14 years on death row, and after his verdict was set aside he was then facing life in prison. he was fighting for a retrial that took place four years later. he was exonerated by a jury in less than 30 minutes that found him not guilty when he got his retrial, and it was largely the result of the police department not turning over what would have been -- evidence in his first trial. the united states supreme court reversed the verdict of the jury in this decision. he has found an organization called resurrection after exoneration to help other people seek justice in their respective cases. to his left -- this is the executive director of california death penalty focus, where she works to abolish the death penalty. she did preside as the warden over several executions. natasha is the death penalty policy director for the american civil liberties union of northern california. she previously worked as a deputy public defender in alameda county, and was a staff attorney with the california task force on criminal instructions. she is also working on the effort to abolish

. >> i will go to john thompson. we were talking about how often, you have public opinion polls on the death penalty but the last -- the wrong question is asked, do you support the death penalty or something like that. can you elaborate on this? >> this is a tricky question that we have been tricked into believing, so that people say, do you support the death penalty. this is a trick question. you will not put yourself in that position of being placed under arrest based on these reports. we ask you if you support this and eliminates you automatically. if you ask that same question in a different way, meaning the use of what the state killing you, that is the question. you have no control over the death penalty. he is the only one to make this decision. he is the only one -- he does not want to make the decision. this is a tricky question from the beginning. do we support the death penalty? we never placed ourselves in this position. do you give the state the right to kill you. this is the question and see what the re

thompson coming up we look at the lives of the scientists here. crowds of greeks have showed they won't take further cards quietly asked fifteen thousand to sand on the parliament building in athens echoes protests in spain were demonstrators gathered and a sin or display of anger a week ago heavily indebted greece is struggling to meet the terms of its nass of bailout with creditors like germany demanding more cuts in the beleaguered country well let's get some insight on this from the economist alexander law mr la thank you very much for being here with us on the program so tell us what are the chances that greece will pull out of the eurozone and also mind that sound the death knell for the euro itself. well the chances that greece exiting the euro zone mounting by the day we had some very strong statements from one of greece's representatives yesterday yet the european commission who is saying basically we've got two choices either we could truly agreements with our creditors we take severe austerity measures which will keep you popular in the

thompson and vertigo and coming up on r.g.p. we explore what people down here are saying about the subject. and now time for some headlines making news around the world greece's senior politicians. failed to agree on a new set of deep cuts and reforms which are necessary to stop it sliding into default but the party leaders save of the measures will ruin the country's economy and destroy society or their conditions for the massive bailout from the e.u. and i.m.f. with other eurozone countries eager to make more street. the xcel former leader of the jurors is due to return to the small central american country on saturday in the hope it might and the nation's political deadlock manuel zelaya was overthrown by the army nearly two years ago but remains popular among the military has struggled for international recognition for we cood well it's thought is the largest return will help which it m i six. the number killed by a tornado that swept through the u.s. midtown of joplin has reached one hundred thirty two friday saw the first

thompson antarctica coming up we look at the lives of the scientists here. was well worth two million people in jail the u.s. has the highest prison population in the world but some are seeing the inside of a cell because dodgy judges are getting payback from the private sector are just going to take out records on those dishing out justice or. two pennsylvania judges have made a killing out of juvenile prisoners mark ciavarella and michael conahan were convicted of receiving kickbacks for more than two million dollars from the developers of several private detention centers but the real crime according to parents is that these judges then sent more than five thousand children to those very facilities for crimes as small as finding on a school bus or posting a parody of their teacher on the web my. god the size of sandy fonzo seventeen year old son and word was a body in student and sportsman when he was arrested at an under-age party just shiver a look at him for six months shortly after he got out edward committed suicide and never looked into you know the

scientists all over the world are debating the global warming is it happening or is it not i'm john thompson answered to go drumming up on r.g.p. we explore with people down here are saying about the subject. a look at some world news in brief now greece's senior politicians have failed to agree on a very set of deep cuts and reforms which are necessary to stop that slide into the fold but the party leaders say that the measures will ruin the country's economy and destroy society and their conditions for the brass a bailout from the e.u. and i.m.f. with other eurozone countries eager to make nice take more of the string. the exiled former leader of one douras is due to return to the small central american country on saturday in the hope it might end the nation's political deadlock bungles a liar was overthrown by the army nearly two years ago but he remains popular among hundreds of the military has struggled for international recognition following the crew and it's thought that the law its return will help which would advise it. the number killed by a tornado that swept through the u.s. mid

scientists all of the world are debating the warming that happening or is it not i'm john thompson antarctica and coming up on r.g.p. we explore what people down here are saying about the subject. i don't let's go to some other world news and three for you this hour and greece's senior politicians have failed to agree on a new set of cuts and reforms which are necessary to stop it sliding into default but the party leaders say the measures will ruin the country's economy and destroy greek society the conditions for the massive bailout from the e.u. and i.m.f. with other eurozone countries eager to make greece take more of the strain. in northern pakistan a bomb blast at a marketplace has killed at least eight people and injured twelve others a deadly explosion was reportedly caused by remote control device officials say terrorists were targeting the elders of the local clans who support the government in its struggle with the taliban militants. and the number killed by a tornado that swept through the u.s. midwest of the town of joplin excuse me that toll has now reached one hundred thirty tw

john thompson was an african-american man accused of murder and robbery in 1985. shortly after the charges were brought they discovered that blood that was found on the victim's didn't match thompson's blood. he wasn't told of this and he was convicted. then because of the fact he already had a conviction he didn't testify on his own behalf on the murder trials and he was sent to death row. many years after he went to death row in fact it was 14 years i believe, a private investigator found blood records that showed that john thompson could not have committed this crime. courts in louisiana then overturned his conviction on the ground the prosecutors acted improperly and he eventually got free. thompson then filed a civil rights case in the federal court in new orleans' louisiana, a jury returned a verdict of $14 million on his behalf. basically $1 million for each year he had spent on death row. that decision was upheld by the very conservative fifth circuit court of appeals in new orleans but it wasn't good enough for the supreme court. and in a really horrific

and thompson reports from the vatican. >> today, the catholic church declared pope john paul ii blessed. it is a major milestone on the path to becoming a saint. six years after they wanted sainthood. he has been beatified in record time, one miracle away from sainthood. the three-day celebration began with a prayer vigil last night were the romans once raised chariots. they remembered the man on a fast track to sainthood. among the speakers, the french nun who said her prayers kirk -- cured her parkinson's disease. his first miracle. his charismatic faces everywhere and on everything. trying to rekindle the catholics. , slipping in europe after decades of declining mass attendance. >> it is a kind of a spiritual fog right now. maybe this will bring people around. >> many people live inside the basilica before they will pray before the casket of pope john paul ii. they will keep the basilica open until every program has paid his or her respects. ann thompson, nbc news, vatican city. >> york 11 insta-weather + forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> in little bit of rain to

ann thompson is in rome for us tonight. good evening. >> reporter: good evening, lester. six years after his death pope john paul ii can still draw a crowd as today the faithful answered the call. under a perfect roman sky, a massive demonstration of faith. 1.5 million catholics crowding every cobblestone in st. peter's square and beyond. here pope john paul ii declared blessed. the unveiling of a joint tapestry of the late pontiff signals his beatification and unleashed a wave of emotion. many in the crowd flood to the streets to get a spot in the square. >> we camped out until 4:00 in the morning. then we got in line for about five hours. but it was worth it. >> reporter: susan labelle came to honor the man who changed her life. >> in '93 came to denver. he turned me around and made me look at christ. >> reporter: at mass, this french none who says john paul cured her parkinson's disease carried a relic of his blood to the alter. igniting memories of that tragic day in 1981 for chicago's cardinal francis george. >> with the relic, you know, his blood was spilled on that

thompson. his latest book with captain john konrad received upstanding reviews, "fire on the horizon: the untold story of the gulf oil disaster" published by harper collins this spring. in april of 2010 we watched media coverage of the deepwater horizon oil rig explosion and and and check flow of crude oil into the gulf of mexico. the environmental impact is unfathomable. 11 people died and thousands more have their lives and livelihood forever impacted by the oil spill. tom shroder takes off the and it kind back story of maritime tradition, economics, politics and corporate policy that culminated in the disaster and with clear insight for writing shows what happened and how and to whom. the most compelling thing about this book is it is a very human story. please help me welcome tom shroder. [applause] >> thanks for coming out today on such a gorgeous day. i have to say in advance that i haven't had a chance to prepare as i usually do for these talks because i spent the last couple weeks in a

thompson. his latest book with captain john konrad received upstanding reviews, "fire on the horizon: the untold story of the gulf oil disaster" published by harper collins this spring. in april of 2010 we watched

. >> pope john paul, ii came to washington, d.c. in 179 and visited the basilica shrine of the i am make cue late conception in the northeast. he left behind some momentos. as tisha thompson explains, they have an important role to play. >> the bells seem to ring louder as visitors from as far away as the philippines came here to the basilica to celebrate. >> you get to witness a saint -- someone become a saint. >> reporter: pope john paul, ii's journey to sainthood. >> i did see him about 20 feet away. i went on a pilgrim major to rome when i was in high school. >> pope john paul, ii was likely seen in person by any other person in history. >> reporter: at a special mass, church leaders displayed their most precious mementos of the pope. him praying, and a chalice now used for communion. a familiar white hat left behind 32 years ago and protected by glass because church leaders say it's considered a religious relics. the only thing missing, cardinal donald wuhl. he was in rome for the ceremony. >> a lot of us were awake at 4:00 to

off john carlson and michael malone, past mike the neuvirth. lightning take a 4-3 lead and hold on the win with a commanding 3-0 lead in the best of seven series and tampa will try to close it out tomorrow back at the st. pete times forum, which is where we go now and say hi to lindsay murphy. >> reporter: i'm getting older. >> we're on live now and i understand that must not have been a happy locker room. >> reporter: yes, feldy. these guys are really at a loss for words right now. you're in that locker room. you feel bad because these guys are playing hard. they've got the war wounds and stitches to prove it. they just really haven't put together a few 60 minutes of hockey, but they have to now down 0-3 in the series. more importantly, they have to figure out tampa bay. >> they are uncanny when they want to get a goal. it's like they just snap their fingers and hit a button and dial it up. you can see it's like they're flipping a switch like when here down and it's just like oh they know they're going to score or something. i don't know what

. >>> pope john paul came to d.c. in 1979 and visited the shrine of the immaculate description in the northeast. he left behind some momentos and as fox 5's tisha thompson explains, those momentos now have a very important role to play. >> reporter: the bells seem to ring a little bit louder and visitors from as far as the philippines came here to the basilica to celebrate. >> i want to get to witness him become a saint. >> reporter: pope john paul ii's journey to sainthood. >> i did see him maybe about 20 feet away. went on a pilgrimage to rome when i was in high school. >> pope john paul ii was likely seen in person by more people than any other person in human history. >> reporter: at a special beatification mass church leaders displayed their most precious momentos of the pope's visit here in 1979, a photograph of him praying in a side chapel, a chalise given by the pope as a gift now used for communion and a familiar white hat left behind 32 years ago and protected by glass because church leaders say it is now co

and third period, thompson centerd it and it's deflected off john carlson and ryan malone that gives lightning the 4-3 lead. malone gets the goal. and that's your final, 4-3. the lightning take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best of 7 series. that means if tampa wins tonight it is over. and the caps season will be over. if the caps win tonight they're come back here and play in washington. >> i have a good feeling tonight. i have a good feeling. >> i hope so. >> maybe tomorrow we can talk about a win. >> that's right. and then you're at home. >> yes. >>> what do you want me to talk about? >> when the rain will stop. >> it will stop late morning, early afternoon. >> okay. >> let's take a look and let me show you hd radar. this is primarily a morning event but a good morning event it has been. a good amount of rainfall has come through. spots of heavy rain and thunderstorm activity earlier this morning south and east of the district. right now it's mainly just rain. there are some areas where there is heavier rain, wherever you see the yellow and oranges there, we are seeing heavier rain

nbc's anne thompson is covering it for us tonight. anne, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, lester. and take a look at this crowd. there are thousands of people here in the streets just waiting for a chance to attend that beatification mass tomorrow. to get to this live shot location i had to walk over nuns, priests, adults, children, all already sleeping in the streets. it is a very impressive testament of faith and patience to john paul ii. ♪ tonight at circus maximus, where romans once raced chariots, a celebration of pope john paul ii, on the fast track to sainthood. among the speakers, the french nun who says her prayers to the late pontiff cured her parkinson's disease. >> [ speaking french ]. >> reporter: the first of two miracles the pope needs to be made a saint. ♪ this weekend rome feels like a college town. john paul's charismatic face is everywhere and on everything, trying to rekindle the catholic spirit. flickering in europe after decades of declining mass attendance. >> europe's in a kind of spiritual and cult

more than a million were there to witness the event, including nbc's ann thompson, who joins us live. ann, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, jenna. it seemed as if all the world came to st. peters this morning. we saw nunns from madigascar, priests and pilgrims from tennessee and minnesota, all here to celebrate pope john paul ii. today the catholic church declared pope john paul blessed. a major milestone on the path to becoming a saint sex years after his supporters demappeded sainthood now. beatifying him in record time, leaving hem one miracle away from sainthood. the three-day celebration began with a prayer vigil last night where the romans once raced chairots. here the faithful remember the man on a fast track to sainthood. among the speakers the french nunn who says her prayers to the late pontiff cured her parkinson's disease, his first miracle. john paul's charismatic face is everywhere and on everything, trying to rekindle the catholic spirit. flickering in europe after decades of declining mass attendance. >> europe is in a spiritual funk reason. maybe this will bri

but his leading people behind him were gingrich and fred thompson. cane then rose, implodeed and rose again. a lot happens between now and then. hillary clinton, as we know, the dominant front-runner. obama was tied with john edwards and gore at this time, during that period. so so much happens. even this week we can tell, haley barbour dropped out of the race. that is already is starting to remake the field. and i also think i'm not sure donald trump is going to run. either he is facing the prospect that he was a democrat for all those years. gave money to -- >> chris: registered democrat in 2008. >> exactly. gave majority of his money to democrats. i'm not sure that he, when push comes to shove and he has to release financials about his business dealings and when more starts coming out in the press about his business dealings, i'm not sure he is going to run. >> chris: bill, as we sit here today on sunday, romney has not decided whether or not he is going to participate in the fox debate on thursday. but, you know, you look at the numbers and he is