Laci's things in tug of war

The Modesto Bee ^ | May 31, 2003 | Garth Stapely and John Cote'

[Chad Fairbanks]

As I stated, none of the 'participants' in this story are looking 'good' - Tee lawyers, the families, the suspect, the media, etc...

But what the hell, just so I can fit in with everyone, let me join the "Scott is scum and should be beaten to death without a trial, since we all KNOW he's guilty, and the Rochas are Saints" crowd and say "Scott is guilty guilty guilty!"...

There. Happy now? :0)

[TomB]

(they set off the alarm, which indicates a unconventional mehtod of entry, to me)

No, the vast majority of alarms are set off when you open the door. You then need to punch in a code within 30 seconds or so to keep the alarm from going off.

So while the may have broken in, I doubt it, because Geragos would have undoubtedly pointed that out. As it seems now, the used a key, but found the alarm code had been changed (it's easy to do).

[realpatriot71]

LOL

[WellsFargo94]

CF, crime tape had been removed...if Geragos hadn't gotten it all by now, he's just plain lazy or careless...I know the Petersons are fighting for their son's life, but shame on 'em for this.

Completely agree.

[runningbear]

Not sure, but as scaughty was arrested, he had planned knowlingly prior should he be arrested, wasted no time signging the power of attorney to his parents,notorized.

RG:
Do you still have that link to that doc?

[Chad Fairbanks]

The Rocha's attorney was on FNC yesterday, and he said there was no agreement, and that they had tried to reach one. The implication was that Geragos et al stonewalled them.

Well, of course that's what he'd say, and the other side will say it was opposing counsel's fault it fell through - that's how it works... everyone jockeying for position in the "PR Game"... never mind what happens in court, it's public perception that matters to everyone, apparenlty... :(

[Chad Fairbanks]

Not sure, but as scaughty was arrested, he had planned knowlingly prior should he be arrested, wasted no time signging the power of attorney to his parents,notorized

Hmmm... well, I cna't speak for anyone else, but I don't see why that is such a damning thing to do - if MY wife were murdered, and there were no suspects I'd probably prepare for possible arrest too, whether I was guilty of it or not, just because the pressure is always on the police in high-profile cases...

[runningbear]

but since the memorial, the Rochas have pretty much stayed out of the media limelife, until that autopsy reports started breaking... then you now have yesterday's events... So, in most part the Peterson family is evolving these events, because of their scaughty boy.

And yes, parents always will protect, and defend their children. Sometimes, knowing what they did was true indeed... ;o)

[MizSterious]

I see. So you take Geragos' statements at face value, but anything by the Rochas' attorney is self-serving junk? For what it's worth, he also stated that he in no way condoned what Mrs. Rochas did, and that he wished she would have waited until they wound their way through court to do it right.

[runningbear]

I think so, especially after KTVU's story, I posted on another post....

[libbylu]

The Rochas hired attorneys 2 1/2 months ago because the Petersons wouldn't let her in. What probably ticked off Sharon the most was Ms. Peterson calling in to Greta's show, acting like there was no problem, and saying she would "leave the plants outside for them to pick up". Geragos is as slimy as SP, and that butt running around asking if a burglary had been reported "afraid the rochas would plant evidence" is slime too.
Excuse me, she had been patient long enough. I would have done just what they did but wouldn't have waited so long. I'm glad she got the jewlry too, hope she got it all. the petersons still have their son at least for now. Sharon deserves to have some of Laci's things, the petersons are just plain mean.

[BonnieJ]

A friend of Laci's mom said on Greta yesterday that Laci's jewelry was all missing. I wonder if he sold it or gave it to other women.

Why does Geragos have any reputation at all? Does anyone know of a case he has actually won? McDougal went to prison, Ryder was convicted. Who else?

This case IS over-played and it's hard to understand. They are very ordinary people and one of thousands of murders, most equally "interesting" and every one just as tragic. We just turn the coverage off now most days. It's non-stop. Rita Cosby, Geraldo and Greta are the worst of them on Fox, totally obsessed! Larry King will do anything to get his ratings back. That's not likely! He's fading with CNN.

[AntiGuv]

If there is forensic evidence, then that's an altogether different matter. I'll admit I've only paid superficial notice to this media story, so I really shouldn't even participate in the thread. Not even sure why I clicked on this one - LOL!

[runningbear]

LOL... good thing I swallowed my coffee before reading your post...;o)

[Chad Fairbanks]

No, I don't trust lawyers in general, ESPECIALLY in high-profile cases... Both families are looking amazingly disfunctional right now, and I think EVEYRONE involved should be ashamed - Laci and the baby are dead, we all know that, and at this point, that is all we REALLY know - now, another man's life hangs in the balance, and to see the two families duking it out in the public arena is tragis, pathetic, and sickening - why can't everyone (on both sides) just shut the hell up, stop mucking up everything, and wait for the trial???

Based on what I see here on FR, I don't see how Scott Peterson will ever be able to have an impartial jury that hasn't already been saturated by information and leaks in this case - and THAT is what bothers me most about this case - another 'trial by media' and everything being emotion-driven, rather than fact driven...

I wish the judge would issue a gag order on everyone, INCLUDING and ESPECIALLY the families...

[mass55th]

Not that it's germane to this case or anything, but I wans't entirely convinced at first, but eventually came around...

I hear where you're coming from. My mind on Westerfield's guilt was set from Day 1, as it is with Scaughty. But, that's me, and I can blame it on 23 years of dealing with murderers, rapists and robbers, etc. day after day. I've seen the games they play, the lies they tell, and the manipulating behavior they exhibit even after being caught, convicted and incarcerated. It's a never-ending game with them. They've all been framed, and don't belong in prison you know!

In a way I envy you your ability to look at this the way you do. On the other hand, I'm rarely disappointed when all the facts come out. But at least we live in a country where we can each have our own points of view.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I just don't like 'Trial By Media'... that's relaly my point-of-view on this... everything else is secondary... ;0)

[WellsFargo94]

I'm glad she got the jewlry too, hope she got it all.

The jewelry included Laci's wedding band, diamond ring, and diamonds that were once Laci's grandmother's.

[Defiant]

Were you also not totally convinced of David Westerfield's guilt?

As some of you may recall, I was totally convinced of David Westerfield's guilt. But it was after hearing of the hair, fiber and blood evidence. When I heard early on about his meandering trip to the desert that weekend, it seemed to me that this is probably the guy who did it, but that there wasn't enough to convict yet. It took some physical evidence tying him to the crime--a weird set of circumstances wasn't quite enough.

Where we are with Peterson, I believe, is where we were with Westerfield when all we knew was he took a weird desert trip. Peterson took an odd trip to the very bay where Laci's body showed up later, and that may be enough for probable cause to charge him with the crime, and to believe that he probably is the guy who did it.

It's not enough, without more, I believe, to convict him, and when his defense brings in the facts that there were burglars, the dog found wandering with the leash attached, the guy who said he saw a pregnant lady walking a dog on December 24 AFTER Scott left for his trip, it will generate reasonable doubt pretty easily. Anyone could have dumped the body in the bay after reading that the police suspected the husband, and he had been fishing in the bay.

To convict, I think the police are going to need to tie something on the bodies or at the bottom of the bay with Scott--duct tape match, fingerprint on the tape, concrete block from Scott's business, blood splatters in the boat that match Laci, something like that. Otherwise, right now, there's no way you can convict him. But that's just my opinion.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Who cares about unimportant things like evidence and due process and stuff? The media is on the case, and they are trustworthy and totally unbiased, and are always driven by cold, hard fact, not emotion and stuff... why sweat it? We got our man. Let's just skip the trial and get right to the sentencing...

(do I really need a sarcasm tag?)