Justin Falconer, previously known to the world as Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson murder trial, speaks with the media after he was kicked off the jury Wednesday.
JOHN GREEN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted on 06/24/2004 5:54:22 AM PDT by runningbear
MODESTO False alarm near ex-Peterson home
MODESTO False alarm near ex-Peterson home
Charlie Goodyear
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
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When a group of children reported hearing screams and seeing a woman's body in a creek not far from the former home of Scott and Laci Peterson, police in Modesto geared up for the worst Tuesday night.
A short time later, authorities, using a helicopter and searchers on the ground, found what had prompted the scare -- a large beaver.
The false alarm came in around 8:30 p.m. with disturbing details. The children, at least one of whom was 11 years old, said a dark-haired woman's body, clothed in a ripped white shirt, was floating in Modesto's Dry Creek........
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Peterson's account of events is attacked
His wife's pregnancy ended her walks in the park, friends testify.
By John Cote and Garth Stapley -- Modesto Bee
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, June 22, 2004
REDWOOD CITY - A string of prosecution witnesses testified Monday that Laci Peterson frequently complained of fatigue and had pledged to give up exercise walks in the weeks before her disappearance. Scott Peterson claims his wife planned to walk the couple's dog the morning he left for a solo fishing trip and returned to an empty home.........
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Juror dismissed from panel
By Jason Dearen
Snip it:
"Breaks in the case
The major break for detectives came in late December, when Amber Frey called the Modesto Police Department's tip line. "I was standing behind the clerk's desk; she was typing in a claim from someone claiming to be his girlfriend," Brocchini said.
Brocchini and another detective drove to Frey's house to check her story. Moments later they were at a Radio Shack, purchasing a recording device for her cell phone.
"I told her not to tell (Peterson) you are working with the police. Just let him keep talking to you ..." Brocchini said. Distaso asked how long it took for Frey to record a call.
"She recorded a conversation while we were there," he said.
The other break came while studying a photograph of Scott Peterson's boat two months after it was taken. For the firs time, Brocchini noticed a pair of pliers with a hair attached resting on the boat's bottom. The hair discovery "was kind of an exciting moment for us," said Brocchini. That hair has not been identified as Laci's, but has been excluded by DNA testing from belonging to Peterson.
At one point in the video, Brocchini tried to confuse Peterson but had the tactic backfire. Peterson said he made two calls to Laci from the marina that day, one at 2:17 p.m. and another on his way home around 4:30 p.m. "I have a couple of concerns. One is from the cell phone call at 12:17, you said 2:17 but the time stamp (on Peterson's cell phone) says 12:17," Brocchini says in an accusatory tone.
Peterson grabs the cell phone and checks the time stamp. After checking he tells Brocchini he mixed up the times. "You said it," Peterson said. With a slight pause to look at his notes, Brocchini admits, "Yeah, you're right."".....
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Juror No. 5 removed, motion for mistrial denied
Justin Falconer, previously known to the world as Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson murder trial, speaks with the media after he was kicked off the jury Wednesday.
JOHN GREEN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Snip it:
"Falconer said he would not vote to convict Peterson of murdering his wife, Laci, an unborn son, Conner, from the testimony so far presented. Speaking to a media throng outside the courthouse, he declined to comment on whether other jurors felt similarly. "
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Pinging on the events
Pinging on the events
A beaver in Modesto? I lived in California almost all of my life, and the first beaver that I had ever seen in the wild didn't occur until I moved to the east coast. The only wildlife I have seen in Modesto was a skunk, which a second cousin of mine promptly shot.
Just doesn't seem like beaver country.
Snip IT:
"After being dismissed, he sharply criticized the prosecution's case to date, calling the testimony of Laci Peterson's yoga teacher "a joke" and saying prosecutor Rick Distaso isn't laying out a clear explanation for how he believes Peterson murdered his wife and unborn son.
"I'm not getting a story out of him," Fal- coner said. "Sometimes you're sitting there left going, 'What was that for? Why was that person there?' ... So far I'm just falling asleep."
Falconer said he would not vote to convict Peterson of murdering his wife, Laci, and unborn son, Conner, based on testimony so far presented.
"He'd be innocent," Falconer said. "The prosecution hasn't given us any reason to believe otherwise.""
I listened to Falconer on KCBS.com and "For the Record" with Greta, and I have several questions on this guy, and notions... Keeps saying, "us"....speaks alot in third person!
LOL... well, strange animals do show at odd places.... Just think, in Palo Alto, they keep reporting mountain lion sightings....
One of my neighbors, who had listened pretty much to the entire press conference, felt a number of his statements sounded familiar.
Yesterday, on Bill O'Reilly they had the tape of Justin talking to Laci's brother and it was determined that he had used the word "lose" not news and apparently Justin later lied about it.
Once again, free speech has removed all doubt as to Justin Falconers abilities. Scary thought number one of juror number five, he's supposed to be an airport screener? The only thing that stands between a terrorist and an airplane is this goofus?
JF: Hey, Mohammad. I notice several suspicious devices on the xray and the dog has alerted for explosives.
Mo: Yes, my wife will be flying without me today and she is pregnant.
JF: I understand. Go on.
The Bay Area has always been Mountain Lion country. A few years back, a jogger at a park along the American River in Sacramento was taken down by one. When I lived in Antioch, I used to go walking up at Black Diamond Mines- and there were cautions about them there.
Without irrigation, the Modesto area is awfully dry and without commercial orchards, not very wooded. There is a river there, but I've never seen any beaver in it. Could be wrong, but it seems a really odd place for them to turn up.
Maybe they were on the verge to axe him? Who knows!!... He reminds me of the bully kid on the block!
>>When I lived in Antioch, I used to go walking up at Black Diamond Mines- and there were cautions about them there.<<
I live in Antioch, and right now we have a LOT of coyotes. Two years ago one tried to attack my golden retriever while I was walking her on the SIDEWALK on Hillcrest Ave.
Yeah, like on the Peterson jury, for instance...! I'm glad they bounced that flake. Watched an interview on Fox this morning, and if this is what we rely upon for justice in this country, we're in deeeeeep trouble!
Sounds like their population is way up.
I miss Antioch very much right now. Every July 4th, I'd go down to the Wallace Arms and quaff a few pints, then go to the mob scene at the Riverview Lodge. I'd always leave just before the grand finale- which I'd still see anyway when walking back to the car. The traffic is awful getting out of there on the 4th. :-)
>>Geragos demanded angerly at the detective, why aren't you looking at me when I am asking you questions? .. <<
...and the judge told the Detctive-who was looking at the jury while testifyiny-,that he could look where-ever he wanted.
CTV forum had the purported transcript of the exchange, noting both Brent and #5 said "in the news", referring to cameras won't publish Brent's picture as he is with a juror. I have no way to know the truth of this...The judge had not yet seen the tape when this was said...
The juror was much more"reasoned" the more he was interviewed. He rationalized every action, lie, and reaction of Scott and said the prosecution made HUGE mistakes....
His statement about pregnant women being crazy was only brought up by interviewers, not the juror last night. He's on again this morning...Look for him on GMA or Today!...
I think the judge had looked him over and decided he was too friendly around the courtroom....Geragos weeps...;)
The CNN reporter just noted that the juror downplayed his behavior. She had noticed the trial artist shooing him away after he wanted to see the "artwork" and he did speak to Geragos. Perhaps it was a greeting but it is not to be done.
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