First full day of testimony in Laci Peterson murder case

WHNT19.com ^ | 6/2004

[runningbear]

ALL SNIP ITS:

First full day of testimony in Laci Peterson murder case

Redwood City, California-AP _ The first full day of testimony gets under way today in Scott Peterson's murder trial in Redwood City, California.

He's accused of murdering his wife and their unborn son.

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Geragos deconstructs prosecution's case against Peterson

Article Last Updated: Thursday, June 03, 2004 - 3:09:35 AM PST

Geragos deconstructs prosecution's case against Peterson

Defense attorney: Fetus was born full-term therefore defendant's not responsible for murders

By Jason Dearen, STAFF WRITER

REDWOOD CITY -- Scott Peterson is a cad not a killer, his defense attorney said Wednesday as he began an assault on the very essence of the evidence against Peterson -- when his wife and child died.

In the scenario cast by attorney Mark Geragos, the child was born alive weeks after Christmas Eve 2002, the date prosecutors say his mother, Laci Peterson, had been killed.

"If this baby was born alive, clearly Scott Peterson had nothing to do with this murder," Geragos explained to the six men and six women of the jury. .......

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Peterson's lawyer attacks investigators' work

"Posted on Thu, Jun. 03, 2004

Peterson's lawyer attacks investigators' work

By Brian Anderson

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

REDWOOD CITY - Saying Scott Peterson was "stone-cold innocent," defense attorney Mark Geragos blasted the police detectives Wednesday who investigated the murder of Laci Peterson and the thin case he said they cobbled together against her husband.

In his first chance to lay out his side of the case, Geragos said Modesto police believed early on that Peterson had something to do with his wife's Dec. 24, 2002, disappearance and they worked to prove only that. Through slipshod detective work, lies and far-fetched theories, they built a laughable case from circumstantial evidence that led to the prosecution of an innocent man, he said.

"The evidence is going to show beyond any doubt that not only is Scott Peterson not guilty.""......

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Circus talk pans out
First day draws media, gawkers and other crazies.

Circus talk pans out
First day draws media, gawkers and other crazies.

Published on Wednesday, June 2, 2004

URL: http://www.examiner.com/article/index.cfm/i/060204n_peterson2

REDWOOD CITY -- The same gravity that is holding together the "12 galaxies" apparently had enough pull to draw San Francisco's eccentric sign-toting icon, Frank Chiu, and others looking for a little collateral publicity, to the Redwood City Courthouse on Tuesday for the start of the Scott Peterson murder trial.

Parked near the courthouse in a van covered with biblical and anti-abortion messages, Ronald Brock of San Diego sought attention for his message that killing an unborn child, through abortion or any other means, is a crime.

"Murder is murder, give Conner justice," read a banner on the van. Conner was the name Scott and Laci Peterson planned to give their unborn child before a pregnant Laci disappeared in late 2002. Her husband is facing two counts of murder for their deaths.".....

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Geragos: Peterson didn't do it

Geragos: Peterson didn't do it

By GARTH STAPLEY
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: June 2, 2004, 01:32:27 PM PDT

1:23 p.m., PDT: REDWOOD CITY - Scott Peterson had nothing to do with his pregnant wife’s murder - and his legal team will prove it, defense attorney Mark Geragos declared dramatically this morning during his opening statement.

“The evidence is going to show clearly, beyond any doubt, that not only was Scott not guilty, but stone-cold innocent,” Geragos told jurors.

Peterson, 31, of Modesto, came under media and police scrutiny after Laci Peterson vanished Dec. 24, 2002. But Peterson had no opportunity to kill her and their unborn son, Conner, Geragos said.

Evidence will show the baby was born alive, the Los Angeles lawyer announced in a series of revelations. They include:

Laci Peterson knew that her husband bought a fishing boat shortly before she vanished - and “was in the boat Dec. 20.”

The Petersons didn’t talk about the boat, even during......

[Howlin]

LOL....the police asked him what kind of lures he was using and he said, "Silver."

Santiago he ain't.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Lee does a Charlie chan impersonation and then waits for the laugh from the jury.

I KNEW it. He fancies himself some kind of mystery solver who will tah-dah the jury with his hat full of rabbits.

[BunnySlippers]

I'm inclined to believe that the jury's response will be negative. Everyone involved (apparently except the Petersons) acknowledges the gravity of the situation.

[BunnySlippers]

I used to see him on Greta last year, railing about Geragos. It made me like him!

The reason I like Feiger is that he steps completely out of the defense perspective mode when it suits him. He sounds like he's giving his real opinion rather than being a defense attorney. And he's impish. ;)

[Howlin]

I thought I heard Crier say "Where is that gallon bucket" today.......so I immediately thought she meant that he used a gallon bucket to make them. But she definitely said that there were SIX areas on the floor where you could tell he had made anchors.

[Rusty Roberts]

I don't know. Pulling a boat and all and there's traffic in CA. He managed to cement the body pretty well, but he sure didn't think thru his story or time line. And who did he call? Their home telephone? Did he leave a message I wonder?

I'm beginning to think, with this family, Scott might actually have had help in the middle of transporting Laci. Anything is possible with them, as they obviously believe his s&*t don't stink, and helping do away with a daughter inlaw/grandson, well....in the big picture./sarcasm

Might help explain why daughter-in-law Janey is working so damn hard for Scott: she's seen what happens when you screw the family.

[Eva]

The real question is why would he call and say Laci is missing? Wouldn't a more rational question have been, have you seen her, have you talked to her, do you have any idea where she might be?

[texasbluebell]

That's it! Thanks for posting it.

Yes, a lovely woman.

[Howlin]

I have no idea, unless he thought he should call somebody to give him cover........he couldn't have waited later into the night........somebody would have asked him why he hadn't been worried about a woman in her condition being gone.

[ladyinred]

Agree with you. The media is also going to contribute to this murderer getting off by broadcasting every possible stupid lie the slime defense attorney puts out there. Disgusting.

[Eva]

I thought that Scott and Laci were expected at her parents' home on Christmas Eve.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Well, DUH, small! (Slapping myself upside head) Of course he would've gotten a ration for not calling earlier.

[Howlin]

I recall something about that, but am not sure which night they were coming......or were they coming to her house?

Somebody will be along in a minute to fill us all in!

[Howlin]

I just think that it got "bigger" than he thought it would right off the bat, you know?

By the second day, people all across the country knew about it -- by the third day, unbeknownst to us, people were already pulling away from him, i.e., the spa operator.

[BunnySlippers]

I would say most definately a trial is necessary and I'm sure all here would agree. In truth, the police let very few facts out so I do look forward to the trial. However, from what I know so far (and my opinion will change if the facts bear it out) Peterson sure appears guilty. In fact it might be effective to ask how closely you are following the case.

Like it or not, trials have become an object of interest. I know I enjoy them for what I learn about the law and human nature. But ultimately, if I was actually on the jury I would (as I know all here would) take my civic responsibilities seriously.

I'm sorry to hear about your child.

[Jackie-O]

Most industrial supplies deal in five gallon buckets so that's why I assumed that they were such. Most all of our supplies come in five gallon containers. But they are quite heavy when filled with liquid, I can imagine what the heft would be in concrete. I can't see him loading five 5gal bucket anchors into that little boat along with his tubby a$$ and poor Laci's pregnant body without sinking it.
So one gallon buckets would seem more likely.

[Howlin]

Well, I know nothing even less about the size of anchors than I do about concrete........LOL.


It was kind of surprising to hear Crier talk about the six anchors and five of them being missing; she said "You can almost imagine one of them attached to each one of her limbs."

Perhaps some "boater" will be along to help us out!

[BunnySlippers]

I KNEW it. He fancies himself some kind of mystery solver who will tah-dah the jury with his hat full of rabbits.

Or satisfying what he thinks is the "stupid" American's desire for stereotype. He's disgusting.

[Howlin]

My point is I trully don't know what would cause me greater emotional pain; for my child to die or for my child to be tried for murder, pain if he were guilty, more pain I think if I thought he were innocent.

I have been thinking about this remark of yours since you posted it. I wanted to be fair.

I wanted to be honest.

I have lost my only son a few years ago....27 years old.

That hurts more.

[Jackie-O]

I was just thinking about all of the inconsistent things that may come out when Laci's family are on the stand. All the lies and avoided questions by Snotty when questioned by Brett, Sharon and Ron, and many others he was around during the search for Laci.
Allot of that has not come out because of the gag order, and of course the Rochas have abided by it. Every time (and they were few) I saw them on a show, you could tell they were just bursting with anger because of what they knew, but did not let it out to protect the integrity of the case.
Those moments...and Sharon's unbridled passion and anger at her pressie after Snott was arrested, was the sincher for me...he did it.
I'm going to go off line for a bit. I'll be back to check LKL in a bit.