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......

[Canadian Outrage]

That's what a reasonable person would do Eva but to say "missing" - Sharon, with a mother's instinct KNEW IMMEDIATELY it was bad.

[Canadian Outrage]

The ONE anchor that they found in Peterson's boat - fit PERFECTLY into the one gallon plastic bucket!!

[Canadian Outrage]

Hurry back Jax. I had to get home from work and I'm now trying furiously to catch up LOL. Very prolific we all are today.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Check it twice a year. And get a new one about every three years, even if it seems to work.

Howlin, I will never forget that December and how graciously and with all your horrible pain, you pleaded with everyone, via FR, to get detectors. I know a lot of people did, including me.

I also bought them for my daughters' homes. I always think of you when I walk by and catch that little green light out of the corner of my eye.

[Jackie-O]

I'm back and watching Greta...waiting for Lis to get off work so I can pick her up.
I'll keep ya pinged.

[Canadian Outrage]

I took your advice on the CO detector Howlin. I had no idea that it could really happen. My husband had even said, Natural Gas is odorless but they make it have an odor so that you can detect it. BUT, if you were sleeping or something, that wouldn't matter a hoot.!! Your pain must have been overwhelming.!!

[Jackie-O]

They just went over a bit of Amy's direct to open the show...courtroom dark on Friday's for the duration of the trial, MG will cross on Monday.

[EllaMinnow]

Today's testimony re-cap from Reuters:

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Reuters) - Scott Peterson's sister-in-law, testifying at his murder trial on Thursday, undermined key elements of his statements to police as to when his wife Laci vanished from their central California home and what she was wearing.
In the second day of testimony at the sensational double murder trial, Laci Peterson's half-sister Amy Rocha told jurors she saw Laci on Dec. 23, 2002 -- the evening before she supposedly vanished from her Modesto home -- wearing cream-colored pants similar to the ones found four months later on her dead body.

Prosecutors were expected to argue that Rocha's testimony proves that Laci never changed into the black pants that Scott Peterson said she was wearing when he last saw her on the next day, Christmas Eve.

Police believe Laci died either late on the night of Dec. 23 or in the early morning hours of Dec. 24.

"She had a black blouse with green polka dots or flowers, cream colored pants and black shoes," said Rocha, a 23-year-old hairstylist.

"As you sit here today, is there any doubt in your mind as to what color those pants are?" asked prosecutor Rick Distaso.

"No doubt," Rocha said.

Rocha was the last member of Laci's family to see the murdered woman alive and the first to take the witness stand against Scott Peterson. If convicted of murdering Laci and the couple's unborn son, Conner, the 31-year-old Modesto man could be sentenced to death.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos, who had just begun his cross-examination of Rocha when testimony concluded for the week, is expected to summon witnesses who say they saw Laci walking her dog on the morning of Christmas Eve and that she was wearing black pants.

Rocha said Scott and Laci regularly visited her at the salon where she worked for haircuts -- Scott once a month, Laci every five to six weeks. She said that on Dec. 23, 2002, she met Scott and Laci at her salon at about 5:45 p.m., and Laci sat nearby as she cut Scott's hair.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=5340231

[Canadian Outrage]

Well the Prosecutor has a cement "expert" listed to testify. They must have something to prove with regard to the cement. Did any of you ever see that picture that was posted just a couple months after Laci went missing? It showed Snotty standing in his driving with a pile of bricks beside him. The caption said "Scott Peterson's latest bowel movements"!! ROFL!! That really cracked me up because the Police were searching his house big time then.

[Jackie-O]

Laura Ingle said she saw a few jurors look at Snott today on the way in, some smiled and nodded as if to say hello. Greta says this is not something the Pros likes to see...any interaction between the defendant and the jurors.
They better not do the thumbs up thing!!

[Canadian Outrage]

Thanks girl - I needed that boost. Although I remain steadfast in my perception of WHO killed Laci, CA juries do worry me a bit. As to Geragos, he's the most over rated CLOWN around. Let's not forget, Michael Jackson fired his butt!!

[EllaMinnow]

;) That was a California jury, too. And they voted for the death penalty.

Let's hope that the only fruits and nuts in the courtroom are the Petersons!

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Laura Ingle said she saw a few jurors look at Snott today on the way in, some smiled and nodded as if to say hello

Let's hope that it's just nervousness because they already know they are very likely going to fry the guy.

[Canadian Outrage]

Yes I think your right, Peterson viewed that baby as an intolerable "encumbrance". Besides the fact that he just plain wanted to be "free"!! Even divorcing Laci was beneath him because of his greed for money. It's really sad because although a divorce would have likely hurt Laci alot being that she was completely UNaware of what kind of man she married. Laci was the type "to know her was to LOVE her"!! Scotty never counted on the outrage that would erupt over something happening to Laci!! I notice, that Peterson never established any lasting male friendships at all. He has NO friends, NONE. There has been nobody at this trial on his side but that sickening family that are acting like white trash. In fact, they ARE white trash imo

[Jackie-O]

I don't know..I don't like the sound of that. And a few times MG got the jurors chuckling from reports...once when he took a jab at LE.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

We're all not fruits and nuts...........honest. ; *)

[Canadian Outrage]

Good points Rusty!! Also, if it were a "surprise gift" for Ron, WHY would Laci NOT know??

[Canadian Outrage]

Me neither. I wouldn't want to assist his ratings in any way.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I don't know..I don't like the sound of that. And a few times MG got the jurors chuckling from reports

UGH !!!!!! I don't know how any decent person could find that creep at all entertaining or amusing.

[Canadian Outrage]

Jack I think people are just so outraged over what happened to this beautiful lovely and innocent young girl, wanting so very much to be a mother, that it has sparked the interest of the world really. Her shining beautiful face and the innocence of her and her baby together with the utter BRUTALITY of this crime has captured the publics attention. We want to SEE Justice for her and Connor done!!