Posted on 07/23/2004 5:39:17 AM PDT by runningbear
Expert undercuts single hair theory
Expert undercuts single hair theory
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By JOHN COTÉ and GARTH STAPLEY
BEE STAFF WRITERS
Last Updated: July 23, 2004, 04:24:13 AM PDT
REDWOOD CITY - Two hair fragments reportedly found in pliers in Scott Peterson's boat probably were not from a single hair, a prosecution expert testified Thursday. The testimony undercut an earlier prosecution assertion that a single hair belonging to Laci Peterson broke in an evidence envelope.
The hair fragments have been the only physical evidence presented at trial that could link Laci Peterson to her husband's boat, which prosecutors contend he used to dump his pregnant wife's body in San Francisco Bay.
The hairs were also at the core of defense allegations that evidence was likely "altered" in police custody and that DNA tests showing the fragments could be Laci Peterson's but not her husband's are unreliable. A previous judge ruled the evidence would be admissible at trial.
While not crippling to the prosecution's case, it could fuel the defense theme that police were sloppy or worse in their pursuit of Peterson, legal observers said.
Microscopic examination showed both hair fragments were consistent with samples of Laci Peterson's hair but didn't appear to be from the same strand, testified Rodney Oswalt, a criminalist with the California Department of Justice. ............
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DNA expert identifies remains in Peterson trial
DNA expert identifies remains in Peterson trial
BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, July 22, 2004
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(07-22) 10:43 PDT REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) --
A DNA expert spent half an hour Thursday verifying a fundamental fact in Scott Peterson's murder trial: the remains that washed ashore along San Francisco Bay were indeed those of Laci Peterson and the couple's fetus.
Angelynn Moore of the California Department of Justice said comparisons of blood and tissue samples from the badly decomposed remains matched cheek swabs from Laci Peterson's parents and blood from Scott Peterson.
Moore began her mostly procedural hour-long testimony Wednesday and returned to the witness stand Thursday morning. Prosecutors apparently declined to have the judge instruct the jury that both sides agreed on the identities of the bodies.
A day earlier, jurors winced when shown graphic images as another criminalist testified about evidence collected from Laci Peterson's remains.
John Nelson, who works in the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department crime lab, said he was present during Laci Peterson's autopsy on April 14, the day her body washed ashore along San Francisco Bay.
Among the items obtained from the body for analysis were four hairs, a piece of red plastic, some plant material and a 15-inch long piece of duct tape, Nelson said..........
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Photos of Laci Force Mother Out of Courtroom
Photos of Laci Force Mother Out of Courtroom
Simon Perez
Watch the Video
Photos of Laci Peterson's remains shown to the jury Wednesday sent her mother Sharon Rocha out of the courtroom.
Scott Peterson, charged with killing his wife and her unborn child, sat staring straight ahead as Contra Costa County criminalist John Nelson did an inventory of the remains.
Nelson told the jury he found a piece of duct tape on what was left of the body, as well as duct tape on a plastic tarp. The prosecution still hasn't tied the two pieces of evidence together.
Meanwhile, defense attorney Mark Geragos continues........
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Jurors view gruesome remains of Laci Peterson's body
Jurors view gruesome remains of Laci Peterson's body
Scott Peterson did not look at the screen Wednesday as prosecutors showed photos of his wife's remains that were found on the shore of San Francisco Bay.
By Bryan Lavietes
Court TV
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Pictures of Laci Peterson's decayed remains cast a pall on the courtroom Wednesday in the double-murder trial of her husband, Scott Peterson.
Sharon Rocha left court twice during afternoon testimony that centered on physical evidence found on and around the pregnant woman's headless body. Jurors stole glances but did not stare at a photo of Laci Peterson's chest cavity and a gruesome image of her right leg — with bone clearly visible through a gash in the skin.
Prosecutors showed the photos, which were shot by criminalist John Nelson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department, to illustrate a 15-inch piece of duct tape that investigators found attached to her waistband and across her right thigh.
Nelson also testified Wednesday about four foreign hairs and plant material he collected from Laci Peterson's body.
Story continues ........
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7:00 pm PT, Wednesday, Jul 21, 2004 Update: Photos Drive Laci Peterson's Mother From Court
By Bay City News Service
REDWOOD CITY, CA - Laci Peterson's mother wept in court today and left the courtroom at one point as prosecutors in the Scott Peterson double murder trial displayed graphic photos of remains of both her daughter and unborn grandson.
The photos included separate pictures of Laci Peterson's badly decomposed leg and upper chest area and pictures of bones taken from both sets of remains for laboratory analysis.
The bones were taken from the legs of both sets of remains and used to positively identify them as Laci Peterson and her unborn son. The remains were found along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in two separate locations in April 2003.
California Department of Justice Criminalist Angelynn Moore performed the DNA analysis on both sets of remains. She gave jurors and the courtroom audience a basic science lesson on DNA analysis, complete with a PowerPoint presentation, late in the afternoon.
Trial observer Jim Hammer, a former San Francisco homicide prosecutor, said Sharon Rocha's visible grief could have a powerful impact on the jury.........
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Expert's hair testimony could help Peterson
Expert's hair testimony could help Peterson
By The Modesto Bee
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, July 23, 2004 Get weekday updates of Sacramento Bee headlines and breaking news. Sign up here.
REDWOOD CITY - Two hair fragments found in pliers in Scott Peterson's boat probably were not from a single hair, according to expert testimony given Thursday in Peterson's trial for the murders of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
The testimony could lend credence to defense attorney Mark Geragos' claim of sloppy work by the Modesto Police Department.
Rodney Oswalt of the California Department of Justice originally gave his opinion on the two hairs during a battle lasting several days last fall over whether the hair evidence could be used at trial. Prosecutors, eager to link the body of Peterson's pregnant wife to his fishing boat, won that round when a judge ruled that a jury could decide the importance of the hair - or hairs.
Prosecutors allege Peterson used the boat to ferry his wife's body out onto San Francisco Bay and dump it overboard after he ........
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Peterson defense attacks key prosecution evidence as inadmissible
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Peterson defense attacks key prosecution evidence as inadmissible
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) - Defense lawyers in Scott Peterson's murder trial are questioning the admissibility of the prosecution's key piece of evidence -- a single strand of dark hair.
Detectives have testified they collected a single strand of hair from a pair of pliers found on Peterson's boat.
That's the same boat prosecutors allege he used to ferry the body of his wife -- Laci Peterson -- out onto San Francisco Bay to dipsose of her.
However, when they opened the evidence envelope several months later, two hairs were present.......
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Peterson Jurors See Graphic Autopsy Photos
Peterson Jurors See Graphic Autopsy Photos
Laci Peterson's Mother Leaves Courtroom
POSTED: 7:57 pm PDT July 21, 2004
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Jurors in Scott Peterson's murder trial on Wednesday were shown graphic photos of his dead wife's badly decomposed body and unborn son while a criminalist testified about evidence collected from the remains.
Laci Peterson's mother wept in court and left the courtroom when the photos were displayed.
The photos included separate pictures of Laci Peterson's badly decomposed leg and upper chest area and pictures of bones taken from both sets of remains for laboratory analysis.
John Nelson, who works in the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department crime lab, said he was present during Laci Peterson's autopsy on April 14, the day her body washed ashore along San Francisco Bay.
Among the items obtained from the body for analysis were four hairs, a piece of red plastic, some plant material and a 15-inch long piece of duct tape, Nelson said. Prosecutors displayed a photo showing the tape draped across the woman's upper thigh, which appeared to be marred with a large ...........
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'Hairy' Day At Peterson Trial Court Resumes Monday
Scott Peterson
(ABCNEWS.com)
July 22 (AP) — Defense lawyers in Scott Peterson's murder trial on Thursday questioned the admissibility of the prosecution's key piece of physical evidence -- a single strand of dark hair -- in a flurry of heated exchanges that led the judge to remove the jury from the courtroom. ...........
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Thursday's Highlights In Peterson Case
July 22 (AP) — MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS: Testimony focused Thursday on hair samples collected from Scott Peterson's boat and from Laci Peterson's badly decomposed body.
Defense lawyers questioned the admissibility of the prosecution's key piece of evidence - a single strand of dark hair found on the boat. Police had previously testified they collected the hair from a pair of pliers found on Peterson's boat - the vehicle prosecutors allege he used to ferry his wife's body out onto San Francisco Bay. But when investigators opened the evidence envelope several months later, two hairs were present. Defense lawyers suggest police botched the collection process, possibility even contaminating the evidence.
Also Thursday, one prosecution witness - a criminologist who specializes in hair analysis - countered the prosecution's own theory that the hairs came from a single strand that broke apart. The expert said the strands were likely two ...........
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In last efforts to find Laci, a psychic, a sweatshirt, and a shoe
Noreen Renier, who appeared Thursday on Court TV's "Catherine Crier Live," was hired by Scott Peterson's mother to help find her daughter-in-law Laci.
By Emanuella Grinberg
Court TV
A psychic consulted by Scott Peterson's mother in the month before the bodies of his wife and unborn son were found provided details about the murders that are startingly similar to theories put forth by prosecutors.
While in a somnolent state, self-described psychic detective Noreen Renier claimed to sense the corpse of Laci Peterson submerged in a body of water and weighed down by cement.
At times, her visions also appeared to implicate Scott Peterson in the killings.
Renier performed several readings for Scott Peterson's mother, Jackie, which are detailed in transcripts obtained by Crier.
Story continues ......
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Local Family Speaks Out Against Domestic Violence
Local Family Speaks Out Against Domestic Violence
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LC Nolan, father
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
Shannon Broe
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John Broe
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Reported by: John McQuiston
Web produced by: Stacy Puzo
Photographed by: 9News
7/22/2004 10:58:54 PM
At least one study has shown that the leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide.
A Tri-state family knows that unfortunate fact all too well, but they're trying to change it.
It was almost three years ago that Shannon Broe's husband, John, murdered her.
To help cope with thier loss, her parents have become advocates against domestic violence but it's still tough for them to see cases like the missing woman from Utah or the Laci Peterson case, which they said looks like a re-run of their own.
"I've lived with the thing for almost three years and I want someone else to die and I'm not joking," said LC Nolan, Broe's father.
LC and his wife.........
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(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
Even if it is Lacy's hair, it doesn't prove Scott killed her. I haven't been to Mr. M's office in 10 years but he says he's found my hairs in there because a hair can travel on clothing or anything. Frankly, I'd be more suspicious if they hadn't found any hairs.
Pinging....
Pinging....
Pinging....
;o)
I haven't been able to watch Fox in months because of all the Laci B.S. and now you bring this Š¶¦Þ to Freerepublic.
A man may of may not have killed his wife, Whoppie do! Let's spend every waking hour dicussing it!!
troll along now!
It's too bad the prosecutors don't have those cement anchors, it would go a long way toward sealing the case. With some luck they'll find them before the trial ends. I really don't think the hairs will have much impact either way as they could have come from anywhere.
The thing that bothers me about this case (and similar cases, such as the one pertaining to that girl ....Joan Ramsey or something like that) is that the cops and prosecutors seem to focus on one suspect, and then devote all their resources towards that person. There is nothing wrong with that approach, unless it turns into something myopic whereby all other probables are ignored.
good morning RB..... After the Jury seeing how distraught Laci's Mom has been during the trial, and then a look at Snott, where he sits with no emotion as his hacked up wife and child are shown, speaks volumes as to guilt or innocence. I would think the Jury would be more moved by this type of behavior than any one piece of evidence. A weapon with Snott's fingerprints could have various explanations but his conduct during the search and trial tell the story here. Simply if he gave a sh*t he would be crying and upset like the Rochas, however, he is trying to hide his guilt and that seems to take a priority to his acting hurt. Even if he were innocent he would be so full of guilt for leaving his wife in a position where something like this could happen to her, and that would be a natural reaction.
None of this matters. All you need to know is that SP was a lying, cheating SOB of a husband - hang'em.
tells me, he didn't love Laci at all, nor the wanting of his child soon to have been born, but he killed them both. The silence of hidden domestic violence...
Where have you been??? These threads have been running daily for the past year and a half!!
There is a crime and corruption topic in this forum for FReepers who are interested it that sort of thing.
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same may be occurring with the Lori Hacking missing person case.... Another weird case being profiling...
I think the finale, if there is one, will be Amber and the closing arguements....
ROFL..... heeheee....
Who forced you to click on this article, when, after all, there are hundreds more that might be more to your liking?
I don't see how they can ever find them. They're probably buried beneath several feet of silt by now, and I'm sure Scott thought Laci would be too. I don't think he ever thought anyone would find her.
I figured that.... one of the "me" boomers? ;o)
I haven't been following this case at all, (I got my fill of CourTV, hyped up cases with O.J., yes, I still feel "satisfied" from that), but what does it matter that they aren't the same exact hair? As far as I understand it, the prosecution's contention is that since her hair was found in his boat, it shows that he was with her on that "fishing trip" (i.e the mission to dump her body). Speaking of O.J., this just sounds like another defense tactic to punch unreasonalbe holes in the forensic science.
But again, I haven't been following it. As well as being my first post to a Laci Peterson thread, this will probably be my last. I really don't care either way what happens with this guy.
thanks...interesting thoughts...
1-800-MOUSEREPAIR
I was watching O'Reilly last night and the two TH's said that the hairs were stuck together with hair spray (or something)(and could account for the report at first of one hair) and they had been crushed like in between the pliers - even said "like they were caught as chicken wire was being wound around Laci's head.
yes, and on KTVU.com news, and other tv news, besides the online papers I have read. Heather's notes are something else for insights. www.kgo.com abc7
Could be like finding a needle in a haystack at this point which is unfortunate, just as with OJ I'm convinced more than ever this guy is guilty as sin.
Hee hee! Go Jackie!!
It was aliens! Aliens forced him to click!! LOL!!
Love it!! Keep a can of that ready for all the Peterson threads!
That one's a beaut, Jackie!!!
Runningbear, you are the soul of courtesy!!!
Now you've got me laughing again!!!!
Yes, and Scott did have chicken wire in the back of his truck.
I've used needle-nosed pliers to grab hold of things, or to twist things. However, to those of us who don't use such tools frequently, some of a tool's uses may not be as obvious.
I hope everyone knows that in addition to being used in a way similar to regular pliers, pliers like those Scott had can also be used to CUT WIRE. If you open the pliers up really wide, and put the wire as far down between the "prongs" as possible, there is a sort of sharp blade down there like a small, industrial-strength, scissors. That's how you cut the wire.
And of course needle-nose pliers are useful in grabbing hold of something thin like the end of a piece of chicken wire, and twisting it. For example, if you wanted to fasten something to the chicken wire, such as a weight...
That thing about "two distinct hairs from two different people" came straight out of a Mercury News article. Now we see a CNN article in which they say Oswalt testified that both the pliers hairs were "consistent with Laci".
I'm really starting to think the Mercury News article is in error.
These hairs on Laci's body or more precisely on the duct tape on Laci's body are the hairs to watch.
I have read elsewhere that at least some of the hairs are not Laci's and that there are some animal fibers on the tape as well.
If any of this forensic evidence links to Scott, I think his goose is cooked.
On the other hand if there are human hairs not belongin to either Scott or Laci, then I think the prosecution is faced with an even higher mountain to climb.
Here's the link to the article...
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/07/22/laci.peterson.ap/index.html
Thoughts on Juror No. 6: The juror who was seen grimacing and turning away while Oswalt the "hair weirdo" testified.
No. 6 is a fireman/paramedic. Could he be personally acquainted with Oswalt?
We hear that No. 6 used to sit with Justin during breaks, and they talked together.
I have also read that No. 6 doesn't like Justin's replacement, the new Juror No. 5. The new Juror 5 is that guy who's both a doctor and a lawyer.
The doctor/lawyer guy is said to take lots of notes.
In my opinion, it's possible--not certain, just possible--that the doctor/lawyer guy could get voted foreman of the jury. I say this b/c I think the other jurors are probably looking to him for answers. I say THAT b/c when a lawyer is on a jury, that's what the other jurors do. They are curious about procedural things, even though they know it has no real bearing on their subsequent discussion of the facts.
So, suppose new No. 5 does become the foreman. And suppose new No. 5 is not like Justin at all. (Hooray for ANY juror who's not like Justin!) The jurors will at least listen to the foreman's point of view. Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but it seems like new No. 5 is just going to try to put all the known facts together, and will not buy the smoke and mirrors and histrionics.
And the foreman's views do influence other jurors' views.
yes, was reading accounts of animal hairs being testified, yesterday, and Wednesday's testimony. I think it was at least 10 hair samples were from animal.
not sure, can't find any updates on the jury problem. Other than heard some blogging on CTV forum...
From San Jose Mercury News... "William L. Seuis, 39, was on his way home from work and still in his police uniform when the accident occurred at 2:15 p.m. on the I-238 Freeway near Castro Valley. Witnesses told the CHP that Seuis was thrown from his motorcycle when the truck's trailer struck him."
Exactly. Those pliers can cut small/medium wire easily. I have used them to twist chicken wire myself. It is much easier to use than regular pliers.
Mornin' rb.
Saw last night where you mentioned the near 100 degree temp.
Strange as it may seem, we had the exact same readings over here on this side of town. :)
Enjoy your weekend and thanks for the continuing coverage.
KRON sure seemed to enjoy how crappy the prosecutions evidence is so far... last might they reported how bad the evidence was (without any real commentary on it)
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