THE NATHANIEL ABRAHAM TRIAL
				Background Oct. 19 Update (Jury Selection) Oct. 21 Update Oct. 22 Update Oct. 28 Update Oct. 29 (Opening Statements) Oct. 29 Update (Evening) Nov. 1 Update (Morning) Nov. 1 Update (Evening) Nov. 2 Update (Morning) Nov. 2 Update (Evening) Nov. 3 Update Nov. 4 Update Nov. 5 Update (Morning) Nov. 5 Update (Evening) Nov. 8 Update (60 Minutes Interview) Nov. 8 Update (Morning) Nov. 8 Update (Evening) Nov. 9 Update (Both sides rest) Nov. 10 Update (Closing Arguments) Nov. 11 Update Nov. 15 Update (Jury Deliberations) Nov. 16 (The Verdict) Jan. 12 Update Jan. 13 Sentencing Text of Abraham's Sentence Special Report: Michigan Juvenile Law

PONTIAC, Mich. (Court TV) — Sympathetic wide-eyed child incapable of intentionally killing anyone or murderous teen-age timebomb? Thanks to attorney Geoffrey Fieger, a national television audience, that may include jurors in Nathaniel Abraham's trial, may get a chance to see the 13-year-old murder defendant testify — without him ever taking the stand and subjecting himself to cross-examination.

When Fieger joined Abraham's defense team during jury selection last week, prosecutors, fearing the controversial attorney's presence would turn the case into a media circus, filed a motion for a gag order. That request was denied and now Fieger has allowed his client to give an interview to "60 Minutes", leaving courtroom observers wondering whether he has compromised the fairness of Abraham's trial.

Abraham is charged with first-degree murder in the 1997 shooting death of 18-year-old Ronnie Lee Greene, Jr., making him one of the youngest murder defendants in the nation. Abraham is being tried under a controversial 1997 Michigan law that allows children under age 17 to be tried as adults for serious crimes.

Michigan prosecutors stress that Abraham is the kind of child this law targets. They claim that Abraham, who was suspected in 22 previous crimes, had told others that he wanted to shoot someone days before the shooting and had nearly shot a neighbor hours before killing Greene.

Abraham's defense, however, claims the shooting was accidental. Abraham, defense lawyers say, was aiming a stolen rifle at trees nearly 300 feet away from Greene's location and did not intend to harm Greene. Fieger argues that a trained Navy Seal could not have purposely hit Greene under the circumstances, therefore his client could not have intentionally shot the victim. Fieger also disputes the prosecution's claim that Abraham could have formed the intent to kill Greene, saying his young client the mental capacity of a 6-year-old.

Those who watch "60 Minutes" in the next few weeks may have a chance to judge for themselves. Just a little over two years after the fatal shooting, Abraham was reportedly scheduled to be interviewed by "60 Minutes" correspondent Ed Bradley Thursday. The news magazine show also was preparing to conduct interviews with Greene's relatives.

It is unclear when the "60 Minutes'" segment on Abraham will air — it could be broadcast this Sunday. Depending on what Fieger allows Abraham to say and how he says it, the defendant will either generate sympathy from those who feel Michigan law is too tough on children or scorn from critics who believe he is a troubled adolescent timebomb as dangerous as those involved in school massacres.

If the young boy is perceived as sympathetic, Fieger may succeed in diverting attention from Abraham's actions to the alleged unfairness of the Michigan law under which he has been prosecuted. In addition to Abraham, Michigan law will essentially be on trial. Jurors will be warned by Judge Eugene Moore not to watch or read any media accounts of Abraham's case. But if the jurors remain unsequestered, there is a likelihood that they may hear about the interview if it airs during the trial.

Fieger did not seem so concerned about the "60 Minutes" interview. He suggested to Court TV that Abraham's case is important because viewers need to realize that a child must be treated and punished as a child and not like a "25-year-old murderer." Fieger said critics of his handling of Abraham's case should have been concerned about his client two years ago, at the time of his arrest and first-degree adult murder charge.

"I'm really happy so many people are concerned about Nathaniel," Fieger said sarcastically. "Where have these people been the past two years, when my client was being treated unfairly."

In addition to first-degree murder, Abraham is charged with two counts of assault with intent to murder and two counts of felony firearm use. Two of the charges — one felony firearm charge and one assault charge — are related to an incident before Greene's shooting where Abraham allegedly shot at neighbor Michael Hudak. Hours before Greene's killing, Hudak was investigating what he thought were firecracker sounds. Hudak claims he felt something whiz by his head and saw Abraham with an object in his hand. Hudak later observed that Abraham was carrying a rifle — presumably the same weapon used to kill Greene.

If convicted, Abraham faces a variety of sentencing options, which range from life in prison without parole and incarceration in a juvenile institute until age 21. Opening statements are expected Friday.

— Bryan Robinson