Peninsula's tragic endings

The SF Examiner ^ | April 5, 2004 | Jamie Casini

[runningbear]

Peninsula's tragic endings Five men to stand trial for allegedly killing their wives.

Peninsula's tragic endings
Five men to stand trial for allegedly killing their wives.

By Jamie Casini
Staff Writer
jcasini@examiner.com
Published on Monday, April 5, 2004

REDWOOD CITY -- Sharen Theresa Sulpizio-May. Adella Samaneigo. Laci Denise Peterson. Raye Lynn Rapoza. Donna Morrow. These five women share a tragic commonality -- all were allegedly murdered at the hands of their husbands. And all five men are currently awaiting trial in San Mateo County court. Five cases of this nature are an anomaly for the county, said Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

"Usually, we have one or two [of these cases] pending. Right now, we have five and that's high," Wagstaffe said.

As for whether a history of domestic violence exists in these homicide cases, Wagstaffe said the pattern is inexplicable.

"When a husband murders his wife, no pattern seems to exist," he said. "There is a lot of anger and frustration. Some are well planned executions, while others tend to be explosions of anger."

Women are much more likely than men to be killed by an intimate partner, and on average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Although charges are often pressed quickly in the cases of murder against a spouse, it is often a long wait for family members hoping for justice.

Joseph Morrow's trial on charges he murdered his wife, Donna Morrow, in 1991, will likely be delayed several months, according to Wagstaffe.

Eddie Rapoza is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluations to see whether he is competent to stand trial for murdering his seven-months pregnant wife, Raye Rapoza, and their 4-year old daughter, Tehani, in 2002. Scott Peterson's double-murder trial is expected to begin May 17.

Tirso Banuelos Erena's trial is scheduled for Aug. 9. He is charged with killing his estranged wife Adella Samaneigo by gunfire after an argument in March 2003. And most recently, Lawrence Edward May allegedly stabbed his wife to death after the pair attended a child custody mediation session in San Mateo on March 25. He is scheduled to make a plea on Tuesday.

On March 10, both May and Sulpizio-May filed applications for temporary restraining orders against one another. At the time of her death, both requests were pending hearings..........

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUSH INKS LACI LAW

HISTORIC STEP: President Bush (right) signs the law inspired by Laci Peterson (above) as her mom, Sharon Rocha, and stepfather, Ron Grantski, look on. AP

BUSH INKS LACI LAW

By ADAM MILLER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 2, 2004 -- The emotional family of pregnant murder victim Laci Peterson joined President Bush at the White House yesterday as he signed into a law a fetus-rights bill dubbed "Laci and Connor's Law."

Flanked by Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, and stepfather, Ron Grantski, Bush inked the history-making legislation, which makes it a crime to harm a fetus during an assault on a pregnant woman.

"His little soul never saw light, but he was loved, and he is remembered," Bush said of Connor, Laci's unborn child.

"And his name is forever joined with that of his mom in this statute," Bush said during the ceremony in the East Room. "All who knew Laci Peterson have mourned two deaths and the law cannot look away and pretend there was just one."

"The suffering of two victims can never equal one offense."

Laci was eight months pregnant when she was murdered in 2002. ........

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two more prospective Peterson jurors chosen this morning

Posted on Mon, Apr. 05, 2004

Two more prospective Peterson jurors chosen this morning

By Brian Anderson

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

REDWOOD CITY - Lawyers and a judge were batting 1,000 this morning, moving two more prospective jurors to the final selection phase in the continuing murder case of Scott Peterson.

Both of the two San Mateo County residents brought into court for individual questioning before the lunch break were qualified to serve on the jury panel.

The first, an employment recruiter for Bank of America Securities, said she had heard about the case, but said she could be fair. She had been judged all her life as had her parents, she told defense attorney Mark Geragos after being asked for the reason behind her vow of fairness.

"I'm Asian," she said, adding that she grew up in a white world. "I've been judged all my life. My parents were Chinese. They lived in Taiwan. I know what it's like to be judged."

Judge Alfred Delucchi qualified the second juror over a prosecutor's objection that she had formed opinions about the case. Juror 6012 said she waffled on Peterson's guilt, saying at times that he might be guilty and at other times that he did not commit the crime.

The woman, a high school teacher, ultimately concluded that she did not have enough information to form a definitive opinion on whether Peterson is guilty of killing his wife Laci, 27, and the couple's unborn son.

"I never really made a decision," Juror 6012 said.

Prosecutors have said they will seek a death sentence if he is found guilty of two murder counts and a special circumstance. Peterson has pleaded not guilty.

Delucchi and lawyers on both sides of the case are working to seat 12 jurors and six alternates. They have qualified 17 people thus far for the final phase in May, at which the final panel will be selected.........

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peterson Judge 'Pleased as Punch'

Peterson Judge 'Pleased as Punch'

Ryan McKeel

Two more people qualified Monday as potential jurors in the Scott Peterson double murder trial.

Judge Al Delucchi said he was "pleased as punch" that the number of possible jurors has reached 17. Delucchi has said he hopes to have between .......

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jury pool reaches 17 potentials

Posted on Tue, Apr. 06, 2004

Jury pool reaches 17 potentials

By Brian Anderson

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

REDWOOD CITY - Officials moved a step closer to seating a jury in the Scott Peterson trial Monday, qualifying two additional prospective jurors for the final phase of the selection process.

After seven days of questioning possible jurors, Judge Alfred Delucchi has tallied a pool of 17 San Mateo County residents from which to pick a final jury panel. They hope to find about 50 more.

The two most recent additions -- an employment recruiter and a high school teacher -- said they had heard about the case, but could be fair. One, the teacher, said she had even mentioned to someone that she believed Peterson might have killed his wife, Laci, 27, and the couple's unborn son.

The move prompted prosecutors to challenge the woman. But Delucchi noted the woman also had said Peterson might be innocent and that she agreed to set aside any prior thoughts. She was asked to return May 13 for the final stage of jury selection.

Also qualifying was a headhunter for Bank of America .........

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public Wants Televised Coverage of Case

Public Wants Televised Coverage of Case

REDWOOD CITY — The judge in Scott Peterson's double-murder trial says he's received letters from members of the public who are upset that he is not allowing the trial to be televised.

Judge Alfred A. Delucchi says one woman expressed concerns that she had been following the case closely and was upset she would not be able to watch the trial unfold on television.

The trial was moved from Modesto to Redwood City after a judge found that an impartial jury couldn't be seated in Peterson's hometown.

Delucchi has commented that pretrial .........

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MONDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS

Posted on Tue, Apr. 06, 2004

MONDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS

Jury selection continued at the San Mateo County courthouse in Redwood City. Last month, the jury pool was reduced from 1,000 to about 300, mainly because most of the prospective jurors' employers would not pay them for the duration of the estimated six-month trial. In the current, more in-depth selection phase known as Hovey voir dire, those who were not initially dismissed have returned to be individually questioned.

In this phase, people are dismissed for being adamantly for or against the death penalty, and for having a strong belief that Scott Peterson is guilty of killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son. About 12 people have come to court for questioning each day. Hovey voir dire began March 22 and is expected to last through early May.

Those who are not dismissed will return to court May 13, known as the ``Big Spin'' day, when the pool will be narrowed to 12 jurors and six alternates. Opening arguments are scheduled May 17.

Also on Monday, the prosecution and defense teams got new, padded chairs to replace the hard, wooden ones they had been using. They requested the new chairs a few days ago, prompting Judge Alfred Delucchi, who presides over the case, to call them ``cream puffs.''

``They're much more comfortable,'' said Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, outside court.

People chosen Monday to return to court: 2

People chosen to return since Hovey voir dire began: 17

Those chosen Monday to return included a woman who recruits brokers for a financial firm and said she could understand being on trial because she is Asian and has ``been judged all my life.'' The second person asked to return was a woman who looked to be in her early 20s, who is interested in Scientology and cosmetology and who is willing to quit her temporary teaching job to serve on the jury.

WHAT'S NEXT

Jury selection will continue through Thursday. Court is closed Fridays........

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Calif. Man Held Liable for Killing Unborn Victim

[Devil_Anse]

Did this Koklich get life, or life without parole? If he only got life, he might eventually get a parole hearing!

I'm glad he's behind bars for the time being, at least.

[Hank Rearden]

I still want to know why this is a Federal offense? What's not a Federal offense these days? And why is D.C. involved in every damn thing under the sun? Is my copy of the Constitution, severely limiting Big Stupid Federal Government, totally obsolete?

[Canadian Outrage]

HEY GUYS!! Remember when we were discussing that box of 31 items before. Well on CTV it has come up again. When they found Laci's corpse on the shore they also found OTHER clothing that was NOT maternity PLUS other items. Some are speculating that perhaps Laci's scarf and jacket she wore at the Salon Dec. 23rd could be one of them AND what if there is some of SP'S CLOTHING? He may have had Outer clothing such as a long sleeved shirt or light jacket on that he got rid of. All I know is there is something, and IF it is Snott's - that ties him DIRECTLY to this brutal murder. All I know is that there are other items and with the tarp there could also be a blanket, a PILLOWCASE??? perhaps. I know it totals 31 items. Some of them may not be evidencery but I know that likely 31 of them are. I'm going to go and copy the links and post them here. As I've said all along, I just KNOW the Prosecution has some MORE evidence. They have been very confident all along and a Prosecutor MUST be really confident and have something to back themselves up to charge DEATH penalty. BRB

[Devil_Anse]

You make a good point, about the encroachment of the federal government into every aspect of our lives, even into the criminal law, which was traditionally a state matter.

But this particular law has an undercurrent that other federal expansions don't have, IMO. This particular law signals a trend away from the now-30-year federal sanction of abortion. This law's negative effect on legalized abortion is indirect. But there is still an effect. And that can only be good.

[Devil_Anse]

Hey, yeah, CO, I remember that at one point we did read that a pillowcase was missing! It was in that same article which talked about how the cops found some clothing of Laci's (can't remember what, but it was something that had been worn and hadn't been laundered) bunched up in her underwear drawer. And that same article talked about Laci's pajamas being found in a grocery bag in the closet, I think.

[Devil_Anse]

Am I remembering that right? Weren't Laci's pajamas found in a grocery bag in the closet?

If so, it occurs to me that maybe they'd had a fight, and maybe she was hurriedly starting to throw some night things into a bag, to quickly get out of there for the night. Maybe that's what she was doing... and maybe she told him "I'm leaving", meaning she was leaving at least for the night? And she never made it?

[Canadian Outrage]

Snott Peterson must have committed some crime that the Feds are onto. Perhaps it's the drug angle. Maybe you recall that there was mention that one of the ingredients in the fertilizer he sold is also an ingredient used to manufacuture Crystal Meth!! That could have been being sold all over the US. I know this is speculation, it could just as well be inter state money transactions (against the law). I guess we'll find out because the FBI were involved fairly early on. Also the Feds held a Grand Jury in Fresno that Geragos was ticked off about. He couldn't get any of that information. Is Peterson the kind of guy that could commit a federal offense? - YEAH!! CO

[lakey]

Thanks for the ping.

[Canadian Outrage]

Quit yelling gal!! LOL Anyway here's the links, and another one that is an old ctv thread discussing these items.
http://www.modbee.com/reports/laci/...p-7500460c.html

http://www.modbee.com/report/laci/...p-8371227c.html

http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/specia...p-8371227c.html

Here's the old thread:
http://boards.courttv.com/showthrea...ty&pagenumber=1

Hope all these work here. I clicked on them before and they all work. Just to refresh our memories. You and I have been wondering about these 31 items for MONTHS now!!

[Canadian Outrage]

NAH Dev - THIS scumbag blindsided her. I'll betcha my bank account he came up behind her when she was changing. I guess we all will never know for sure. He's too much of a coward to have done anything else imo.

[Canadian Outrage]

I don't know if her pj's were found in a grocery bag or not. What I do remember is that a grocery bag washed up with her and so did a cement bag. I'm dying to know what "other clothing that was NOT maternity" was. Was it a man's piece of clothing (perhaps Scott Peterson's)??? We're gonna find out. Can't wait!

[Hank Rearden]

But if we're to keep any semblance of a Constitutional Republic, our feelings about how "good" a law may be are irrelevant. Everyone has some pet "good" they'd love to see the Feds dominate - that leads to tyranny.

Come to think of it, we're heading there pretty quickly as it is.

[Canadian Outrage]

I agree with you that the Patriot Act is very far reaching. My friends from Texas are very upset with this Act and I certainly understand why. If there were some guarantee that it would be revoked at a future date that could make it a little more pallatabile. But Government NEVER undoes anything like more taxes or more power.

[Devil_Anse]

I can't find the heart to seriously argue this point with you. I think I essentially agree with you.

But Laci and Connor's Law is but a drop in the bucket, considering the constant encroachment of the federal government on our lives. I won't begrudge the poor Rochas their opportunity to feel like they're doing something, to feel like their loved ones' deaths can at least have meaning. Because their daughter's and grandson's deaths were needless tragedy.

I guess that fool, Jay Leno, is getting it right after all. He said, "Iraq needs a constitution? Well, let's just let 'em have ours, I mean, we're not using it anyway!"

Sigh.

[Devil_Anse]

Thanks for the links, CO!!!

[Canadian Outrage]

Holy Moly, I just got home and where are all our SCOWS AND SCOMS???

[Jackie-O]

Ping!!

[Jackie-O]

Well I'm glad that I was out doing yard work so those of you with legal expertise could reply to Hank!

[Jackie-O]

Wow, I remember hearing about this case...it sure went to trial and got resolution fast!
But why life??
Did they not meet they CA criteria for the death penalty??

[Jackie-O]

Lynn, aren't the message boards informative?? There is a poster there that has been attending the trial, got some good info from him/her.
I am so stoked for the trial now! I think there will be so much more circumstantial evidence that we have not herd of!