Prosecutors want autopsy results unsealed

The Modesto Bee ^ | May 29 2003 | John Cote' and Garth Stapely

[Howlin]

Exactly. And he's counting on US being dumb. Pity.

[RGSpincich]

Why in the world would this information have been an AMENDMENT?

The Geragos Road Map.

[An American In Dairyland]

Thanks for posting all this info. Much appreciated here.

[An American In Dairyland]

>> Actually, scratch that...I refused to turn on my TV this morning. No, no...wait...nevermind.....I don't even own 3 TVs. <<

LOL. I'm going to start calling you "Racehorse Velveeta."

[An American In Dairyland]

>>In L.A., you can hire Graveyard Tours (I think that's the name) to drive you around in a hearse to all the famous crime scenes. <<

I've been to LA twice and wanted to take that tour but ran out of time both times. I understand they take you to the cemeteries, too. I've always been a true crime fan, read lots of the books, watch the movie versions. Perhaps that is ghoulish but there must be a lot of people who do the same or these businesses would have failed long ago.

[Howlin]

"Dark side?"

[Freedom2specul8]

:) I think it's hard to stay away not only because of the oddity of the case..but because there are a lot of good people here...

[Amore]

Just sort of a reference to a couple of things. One, "the dark side" to those posters who look down on those of us who like to post on crime threads and, two, "the dark side" because previous crime threads have often gotten so acrimonious, smoky, dark, and unpleasant.

[uvular]

I'm not clear what the deal is with this amendment, either. Per Geraldo, it is 10 pages long, with text, chart, and an appendix-and I believe he also said included pics (according to my notes that I wrote down yesterday!) Wasn't the initial autopsy report just one page?

At any rate, Geraldo also said the amendment part was just given to attorneys on Monday. The lateness of receiving it, was due to some 'error'; attorneys should have gotten it sooner than Monday apparantly.

[justshe]

From yesterday's thread.....I saw your "thank you". You're welcome.

[Spunky]

" Wasn't the initial autopsy report just one page?"

I think I heard it was something like 27-28 pages.

[Freedom2specul8]

Saw you on the other thread asking if the judge would unseal... Are you on RB's ping list?

"Superior Court Judge Al Girolami is scheduled to hear the motion June 6."

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Thanks, Kim. I believe I am on one, but not the list at work.

But someone directed me here anyway. :-) I appreciate the thought.

[Howlin]

the dark side" because previous crime threads have often gotten so acrimonious, smoky, dark, and unpleasant.

Well, we need to all work to make sure these don't get like that -- because the vast majority of us are here to talk about the crime and trial and the facts of the case, and we sure don't want to let a few disruptors cause these to end up in the SBR.

"the dark side" to those posters who look down on those of us who like to post on crime threads

Of course you're referring to the ones who drop by threads to say how stupid we are for being here. I've never quite understood what they get out of coming on threads they look down their noses at and pontificating. Evidently the concept of "clicking on by" is foreign to them. :-)

[spectre]

"Dark side?"..

Hummm? The way most of us have interruped and used this expression relates to crime forum discussions.

Opposing sides call the others "The Dark Side".

A good example of this would be if someone on these particular threads were to change their mind and decide that Scott is being unfairly persecuted and didn't do it.

It would be said they crossed over to "the dark side"..

[uvular]

I too, hope someone gets nailed for this cruel leak!

If you see or hear anything from Mr. Abrams today, would you kindly ping me? Will be checking in off and on; got lots of yard work to do before the rain starts back up this evening! I'm so excited to get things looking pretty, after one long, nasty winter!

[clouda]

Autopsy Leak 'Devastates' Laci's Family

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V5467.AP-Laci-Peterson.html

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)--The family of Laci Peterson on Friday denounced as ``incredibly insensitive'' the disclosure of sealed autopsy results indicating her unborn son had plastic tape wrapped around his neck and a significant cut across the shoulders.

A source close to the case who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed information in the autopsy to The Associated Press on Thursday. The information was first reported by cable news channel MSNBC, which said it had received a portion of the autopsy report completed by the Contra Costa County coroner's office.

Prosecutors responded later in the day by saying the leaked information was misleading and asked that the results be unsealed.

``The information being leaked has clearly been skewed in favor of the defense,'' wrote Deputy Stanislaus County District Attorney David Harris. ``By releasing the autopsy reports the court will allow the media to see what the actual facts are and then accurate information may be reported to mitigate recent adverse publicity.''

Through their spokeswoman, Kim Petersen, Peterson's relatives said they learned the autopsy details from television, without warning.

``No family should ever have to learn the autopsy results of somebody they love on national TV, and that's exactly what happened,'' Petersen said Friday on NBC's ``Today'' show.

She said Sharon Rocha, Peterson's mother, was ``devastated.''

``She asked me to go out and convey the pain that was inflicted on their family. ... She just implores the media to be sensitive and remember that this isn't a story, this is their life,'' Petersen said.

The autopsy results had been sealed by court order after Stanislaus County prosecutors said releasing them would jeopardize Scott Peterson's right to a fair trial.

Only the prosecution and defense were given copies of the reports, and prosecutors said they had not shared results with police or Laci Peterson's family.

In a statement, District Attorney James Brazelton said ``evidence in this case should be presented in court through the testimony of witnesses and not selectively leaked to the news media by unknown persons whom the press will not identify.''

The Contra Costa County coroner's office did not comment on the report.

Part of the autopsy indicated the unborn baby boy had 1 1/2 loops of plastic tape around his neck, MSNBC said.

Scott Peterson, 30, of Modesto, is accused of killing his wife and unborn son, whom the couple had planned to name Conner, last Dec. 23 or 24 in their home. Laci, 27, was eight months pregnant at the time. The bodies washed ashore in San Francisco Bay last month.

Contra Costa County authorities concluded their autopsy report earlier this month, but did not disclose the cause of death.

It's possible the baby's body was cut shoulder to shoulder or became wrapped in the tape because of its long submersion in San Francisco Bay, the MSNBC report said, adding that the part of the coroner's report the network received ``doesn't prove anything one way or another.''

Mark Geragos, Peterson's defense attorney, would not comment on the report. He said Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Al Girolami, during a closed meeting in his chambers Tuesday, ``more than telegraphed that he does not want us commenting on the case.''

Girolami had said he was considering a gag order to prevent news leaks.

Geragos has suggested that members of a satanic cult were the killers. He has also hinted that a female mystery witness could lead authorities to the real killer and free Scott Peterson.

[Howlin]

I was just going to flip over there to see if he's on today.......LOL. I'll ping you if he says anything different.

I'll be in and out today as well; my husband's been gone all week, so today will be the "get it all back where it belongs before he gets home" day, if you get my drift.