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Peterson judge considers defense request for access to unsolved death
CNN.com/Law center ^ | July 8, 2003

Posted on 07/09/2003 5:39:07 AM PDT by runningbear

Peterson judge considers defense request for access to unsolved death

Peterson judge considers defense request for access to unsolved death

Tuesday, July 8, 2003 Posted: 5:51 PM EDT (2151 GMT)

(CNN) -- A California judge Wednesday is expected to hear arguments about turning over a San Francisco police file of an unsolved death of a pregnant woman to the attorneys of a man accused of killing his wife and their unborn child.

Additionally, Judge Al Girolami is expected to consider the fate of wiretap recordings local authorities made of intercepted phone calls during the investigation of Scott Peterson.

Girolami also will consider a motion by the media to have access to wiretap recordings of media calls to Scott Peterson at Wednesday's hearing at the Stanislaus County Courthouse in Modesto, California.

Scott Peterson, 30, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the death of his wife Laci and the couple's unborn son. Prosecutors have said they would seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

The victims' bodies were found in April on the shores of San Francisco Bay near the marina where Peterson said he had launched his boat on a fishing trip Christmas Eve. The area is about 80 miles from the Peterson home in Modesto.

Lawyers for Scott Peterson have urged Girolami to order police in San Francisco to provide them with information about the death of Evelyn Hernandez, whose body was found last year.

Peterson's lawyers say the unsolved killing of Hernandez could contain clues to the identity of the "actual perpetrators" of the slaying of Laci Peterson and the Peterson's unborn son.

Laci Peterson's body was found in April on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, across from San Francisco.

San Francisco authorities have asked Girolami to quash a May 29 subpoena to turn over all investigative records in the Hernandez case. In court papers, City Attorney Dennis Herrera said the case is still "open and active" and the release of any information in the file might "result in the perpetrator of the crime avoiding detection."

But Peterson's lawyers say San Francisco police contacted Modesto authorities in early January, two weeks after Laci Peterson disappeared, and provided information about the Hernandez case. Because of that, Peterson lawyer Mark Geragos argued in court papers, investigators should provide information on the Hernandez case to the defense.

Hernandez, 24, was found dead July 24, 2002, in the water near the Bay Bridge ......

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Laci's Mother Testifies for Unborn Victims of Violence Act

Laci's Mother Testifies for Unborn Victims of Violence Act

The mother of victim Laci Peterson is lobbying Congress for the passage of a bill that would grant newborn rights to fetuses.

Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, is at the Capitol on behalf of the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act." The Republican-backed measure would make the act of harming a fetus during an attack on its mother a federal offense.

Pro-choice advocates oppose the bill, commonly known as "Laci and Conner's Law." They say it would create more restrictive rules on women.

(((There is a video clip on the URL site)))

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Red Lion Manager Loses Job After Pulling Welcome Mat From Petersons

(((There is a video clip on the URL site)))

Red Lion Manager Loses Job After Pulling Welcome Mat From Petersons

The Modesto hotel manager who helped search efforts for Laci Peterson has been forced from his job.

Brad Saltzman said the Red Lion Hotel told him to resign or be fired after he told Scott Peterson's parents they should find accommodations elsewhere.

Saltzman said he decided to pull the welcome mat after he heard Scott Peterson's father, Lee, on television accuse Laci's mother Sharon Rocha of burglarizing her daughter's house. Before that, Saltzman had tried to make the Petersons feel welcome by giving them discounted rates while they were in town looking for Laci Peterson.

"I just couldn't rent Lee a room," said Saltzman. "I just couldn't be in that hotel and be the presiding general manager and have Lee Peterson staying there."

After he discussed his decision publicly, hotel managers called him to the home office in Kansas. The vice president and CEO of the company met with him and had his check ready ......

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Peterson judge will take up wiretaps
Technical expert discovered 176 more recordings in June.

Peterson judge will take up wiretaps
Technical expert discovered 176 more recordings in June.

By John Coté
The Modesto Bee
(Published Tuesday, July 8, 2003, 5:42 AM)

MODESTO -- A judge Wednesday is scheduled to consider what to do with up to 176 newly discovered wiretap recordings of Scott Peterson's calls.

A technical expert discovered the recordings June 13 while examining the computerized system used during two wiretaps on Peterson's phone, according to court documents. He said the problem stemmed from a "peculiarity" in wireless technology.

Authorities secured the first wiretap for the fertilizer salesman's phone 17 days after his pregnant wife, Laci, was reported missing on Christmas Eve.

Peterson has been charged with two counts of murder in the death of his wife and the couple's unborn son, Conner. He has pleaded innocent. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The new calls could contain "off-hook dead air" or "pertinent, nonpertinent and privileged information," according to documents filed by the prosecution.

Before the discovery, defense attorneys indicated they would seek sanctions against prosecutors claiming investigators intercepted 71 other calls between Peterson and his defense team and listened to parts of three of them.

During Wednesday's hearing, Judge Al Girolami also is slated to consider requests from 22 journalists -- including four from The Modesto Bee -- to review their calls intercepted during the wiretaps.

Girolami had earlier ruled against journalists who had sought to keep the recordings from either the defense or prosecution.

In addition, Girolami is scheduled to hear arguments about turning over a San Francisco police file into the unsolved death of a pregnant woman whose body was found last July along the waterfront in San Francisco.

Defense attorneys subpoenaed the file May 30, saying it contains information that "directly relates to identifying the actual perpetrators in the abduction and killing of Laci Peterson and her unborn son."

San Francisco police so far have refused to provide it to the defense, citing the continuing investigation into the death of Evelyn Hernandez, a 24-year-old single mother who disappeared in May 2002.

Like Hernandez, Laci Peterson was roughly.........

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: avoidingchildsupport; baby; babyunborn; conner; deathpenaltytime; dontubelievemyalibi; getarope; ibefishing; laci; lacipeterson; smallbaby; smallchild; sonkiller; unborn; wifekiller
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To: Canadian Outrage
I like this Judge.

So do I!

21 posted on 07/09/2003 4:09:56 PM PDT by clouda
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To: runningbear
Thanks for the ping. At one point during the hearing, the attorneys are laughing at something the judge says, and Scooter joins in with a smirk on his face. What a jerk.
22 posted on 07/09/2003 4:17:35 PM PDT by clouda
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To: runningbear
Thanks for the ping, RB. I've been so busy I missed the TV coverage so getting the info here has been a big help. Hope your vacation was a good one!
23 posted on 07/09/2003 5:01:35 PM PDT by An American In Dairyland
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To: runningbear
Thanks RB, glad you had a good time. I missed the hearing, so I have some catching up to do.
24 posted on 07/09/2003 6:24:38 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: All
Did anyone watch the coverage after today's hearing? I missed it, but from what I gathered this evening is the possiblity of no cameras in the courtroom during the pre-trail hearing. And, I am aware that the reporters will have the opportunity to listen to their recorded messages with Scott. Is there anything further? Not that I know of, unless some of you will enlighten me?
25 posted on 07/09/2003 9:58:20 PM PDT by brneyedgirl
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To: All
Did anyone watch the coverage after today's hearing? I missed it, but from what I gathered this evening is the possiblity of no cameras in the courtroom during the pre-trail hearing. And, I am aware that the reporters will have the opportunity to listen to their recorded messages with Scott. Is there anything further? Not that I know of, unless some of you will enlighten me?
26 posted on 07/09/2003 9:58:20 PM PDT by brneyedgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


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