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Brendan McLaughlin and Martie Tucker in studio
BRENDAN McLAUGHLIN: A startling development in a Clearwater courtroom involving a man who spent millions fighting the Church of Scientology.
split screen with Martie Tucker in studio and Doug Smith outside Pinellas County Courthouse, then only Doug Smith
MARTIE TUCKER: 28's Doug Smith joins us live now from outside the courtroom where the hearing is under way at this hour. So Doug, what are these new developments?
DOUG SMITH (outside courthouse): Well, these are unbelievable new developments. Bob Minton, a retired investment banker who has spent millions fighting the church--he has led protests, he has even been arrested--well, today he testified FOR the church.
BOB MINTON (in courtroom): Well, things are a little messy today.
footage of Minton scuffling with Scieno; footage in courtroom; Minton and others picketing, closeup of someone shuffling pages
VOICEOVER: Today, the Church of Scientology's leading critic, Bob Minton, seen here getting into a scuffle with a church member, took the stand as a witness FOR the church, the same guy who had been the church's leading critic for years, giving anti-Scientology groups millions of dollars. Listen to the mission statement of an anti-Scientology group that he helped fund:
BOB MINTON (in courtroom): That to expose the abusive and deceptive practices of the Church of Scientology and to help those who have been victimized by it.
picture of Lisa McPherson; Fort Harrison Hotel; another picture of Lisa; Minton in courtroom
VOICEOVER: Minton was an outspoken critic of the church after the death of Lisa McPherson back in 1995 while in the care of church members in Clearwater. Today Minton testified against the lawyer who is suing the church on behalf of McPherson for wrongful death.
Ken Dandar and Bob Minton in courtroom; Scieno lawyer Sandy Rosen in courtroom
VOICEOVER: Ken Dandar is the lawyer and Minton's testimony could help the church get him removed from the case for alleged unethical behavior.
BOB MINTON (in courtroom): Now Mr. Dandar, or Ken--you know, I gotta tell you something that wherever we go from this point, you have to understand that I don't trust you, I don't trust the estate.
Pinellas County Courthouse--camera has closeup on lettering, "Pinellas County Courthouse", then backs up and shows Doug Smith outside the courthouse
DOUG SMITH, VOICEOVER AND ON CAMERA: The hearing is going on still right now on the fourth floor so Minton has turned on the lawyer that he gave a lot of money to fight Scientology. The big question is why? Why would he do this? Well, under cross-examination, Minton said that he made a deal with Scientology lawyers and that deal is confidential, so he's not talking about it. But a little later he did give us a glimpse. He said, quote, he wants out of the Scientology litigation business because it's cost him a lot of money. He even said when he looks at his checkbook now, he's a bit depressed. Back to you.
split screen of Martie Tucker and Doug Smith, then just Martie Tucker
MARTIE TUCKER: All right. Thanks, Doug. The Church of Scientology was cleared of any criminal charges in the death of Lisa McPherson but a civil wrongful death lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial this summer.
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