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.
Good! No doubt in her mind!
Was just reading your post and a thought came to me. If Laci's body had remnants of khaki colored pants on and gagmeos said he can produce people to say they saw her in black pants, then how did she get back into those khaki pants? Did she put on dirty pants from the previous day? IMO these people are wrong.
Also saw where you lost your son. I am so sorry! We lost our only son in 1993 at 19 years old. Know your pain!