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Laci's things in tug of war
The Modesto Bee ^ | May 31, 2003 | Garth Stapely and John Cote'

Posted on 05/31/2003 8:41:50 AM PDT by runningbear

Laci's things in tug of war


Laci Peterson's brother Brent Rocha loads a rocking chair from her Modesto home into the back of a truck Friday morning.

Laci's things in tug of war

By GARTH STAPLEY and JOHN COTÉ

BEE STAFF WRITERS

Published: May 31, 2003, 07:16:10 AM PDT

Laci Peterson's family and friends removed truckloads of items from the slain Modesto woman's house on Friday, touching off controversy between her family and that of her husband.

Police responded to the Covena Avenue home at about 10 a.m. after a security company reported that the alarm had been triggered, Capt. Greg Savelli said.

Officers determined that Laci Peterson's family and friends were removing items that belonged to Laci, said Savelli, who added that officers documented what was taken.

"We're treating this as a civil dispute over property," he said. "It was clear to the Police Department that this was not a burglary.

Peterson's husband, Scott, 30, has been charged with double murder and faces the death penalty in the killings of his 27-year-old wife and their unborn son, Conner.

Savelli said the fallout from Friday's property removal "was best handled between the families and their attorneys."

Adam Stewart, an attorney for Laci Peterson's family, said the family had been in contact with Scott Peterson's defense team, who had agreed to allow Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, to go through the house on Tuesday. She was to be accompanied by representatives of the defense team, and all items taken were to be photographed and videotaped.

Scott Peterson's parents and lawyers expressed outrage that the Rochas did not follow the agreement.

Jackie Peterson said the people who went into the home Friday had "absolutely no permission to be in that house. I have a lot of empathy for Sharon, but she does not have a right to go in our house and take what she wants."

Rocha did not appear to be among the packers. Calls placed to the Rocha home were not accepted.

Seven vehicles loaded

Among the items loaded into seven vehicles were a crib, a rocking chair and a box with Graco printed on the outside. Graco makes such products as strollers, highchairs and car seats.

Laci Peterson's family announced Wednesday that it had hired attorneys to help recover items from the house. A list included her wedding dress, jewelry and Conner's crib.

Jackie Peterson told The Bee that the security company notified her by telephone in San Diego County that the house alarm had been tripped.

The property removal appeared to take Scott Peterson's defense team by surprise.

Matthew Dalton, an attorney with lead defense attorney Mark Geragos' law firm, drove to the house and asked reporters if someone had reported a burglary.

Dalton went to Stewart's Modesto law office Friday morning and dropped off some items requested by the Rocha family, Stewart said.

Monday, the defense team moved other items, including what appeared to be gifts, to the Modesto office of defense co-counsel Kirk McAllister, for transfer to Laci Peterson's family. But the items had not been picked up by Friday morning, McAllister said.

Stewart said in front of the home that it would be "ridiculous" to suggest that the Rochas broke into the home.

"I apologize for it coming down to this," he said. "This is not the way we operate. This is for Laci, for Conner and Laci's family. It is not for the media or Mr. Scott Peterson's defense in any way, shape or form. It's depressing that it's come down to this."

Stanislaus County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold said prosecutors had no legal authority over the house.

"It's not a crime scene," Goold said. " This is a civil problem between the Rochas and the Petersons."

The house title is in Laci and Scott Petersons' names, county records show. In such a joint tenancy, when one titleholder dies, the title goes to the other.

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Incident brings Peterson case close to home
Victim's family moves items from house, raising the issue of ownership.

Incident brings Peterson case close to home
Victim's family moves items from house, raising the issue of ownership.

By Garth Stapley and John Coté
The Modesto Bee

(Published Saturday, May 31, 2003, 4:47 AM)

MODESTO -- Laci Peterson's family and friends removed truckloads of items from the slain Modesto woman's house Friday, touching off controversy between her family and that of her husband.

Police officers were dispatched after a security company notified them that the alarm at the Covena Avenue home had been triggered, Capt. Greg Savelli said.

Officers determined that members of the Rocha family and friends of Laci Peterson were removing items that belonged to the slain woman and documented what was taken, Savelli said.

"We're treating this as a civil dispute over property," he said. "It was clear to the police department that this was not a burglary. It was a dispute over property and was best handled between the families and their attorneys."

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Judge cites Peterson right to fair trial in denying report access

Judge cites Peterson right to fair trial in denying report access

By JOHN COTÉ
BEE STAFF WRITER

Published: May 31, 2003, 07:16:56 AM PDT

A Stanislaus County judge on Friday ordered that arrest and search warrants remain sealed in the case against Scott Peterson, who is accused of murdering his pregnant wife and unborn son.

Superior Court Judge Al Giro-lami's ruling also ordered the autopsy reports for Laci and Conner to stay sealed.

Thursday, District Attorney James Brazelton reversed his position and asked to have the autopsy reports made public, and the matter is set for hearing June 6.

Brazelton's about-face came after part of the fetus's autopsy report was leaked to the media. Prosecutors said that portion was clearly "skewed in favor of the defense."

Defense attorneys, coroner's officials, police and prosecutors have denied leaking the information.

Friday, in his ruling on all the documents, Girolami said releasing them "might irreparably harm the continued investigation into this criminal matter."

"Despite the fact that the complaint has been issued and a suspect has been arrested, the investigation and search for both incriminating and exonerating evidence in this matter continues," Girolami wrote.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys argued that releasing the documents could impede Peterson's right to a fair trial and damage an ongoing investigation.

Girolami agreed, saying in his ruling that releasing the documents "might result in the evidence being destroyed and witnesses being reluctant to step forward."

A group of newspapers, including The Bee, are seeking to have the documents unsealed.

Right to view reports argued

Charity Kenyon, an attorney representing the newspapers, argued that the public's right to view court documents was fundamental in an open legal system.

Other means exist for ensuring

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Judge orders Laci Peterson autopsy report sealed

Judge orders Laci Peterson autopsy report sealed

The Modesto Bee

The Associated Press

Published: May 31, 2003, 06:49:17 AM PDT

MODESTO, Calif. (AP) - A judge ruled Friday that an autopsy report on the deaths of Laci Peterson and her unborn son should remain sealed along with other search warrant and arrest records.

Superior Court Judge Al Girolami said releasing the information could hamper the murder investigation and prejudice public opinion before a trial begins.

Girolami is scheduled to hear more arguments June 6 from prosecutors preparing a murder case against Peterson's husband, Scott Peterson. Prosecutors on Thursday asked that the autopsy reports be released to the public. They argued that media leaks of the reports are biased toward the defense.

Girolami also ordered that leaks of sealed information stop and indicated he would consider a gag order to stop the prosecution and defense teams from talking to the media.

Scott Peterson, 30, is accused of killing his wife and unborn son, whom the couple had planned to name Conner, last December 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.

Several media outlets have released details of the coroner's report, and a spokeswoman for Laci Peterson's family members said Thursday they were "devastated" at hearing autopsy reports without warning on television.

The leaked reports indicated the unborn son had plastic tape wrapped around his neck and a significant cut across the shoulders.

Meanwhile, friends of Laci Peterson removed several personal articles Friday from the single-story Modesto home where she and Scott Peterson lived.

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MOM'S MOVING MOMENT

MOM'S MOVING MOMENT

By HOWARD BREUER and MARSHA KRANES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 31, 2003 -- Laci Peterson's mother - shattered by the graphic details leaked from the 25-page autopsy of her unborn grandson - yesterday began removing her slain daughter's belongings from the home she had shared with her accused murderer husband, Scott.

Sharon Rocha, accompanied by several friends and relatives, was seen at the Modesto, Calif., house removing the rocking chair Laci had bought to use when she nursed her infant son, as well as unopened Christmas gifts, clothing, chairs, lamps and artwork.

In doing so, she ignored the advice of her lawyer, Al Clark, that she wait until he, Scott Peterson's lawyers and court officials work out the procedures to be followed when she entered the house.

Modesto police arrived while Rocha was there, and she and her entourage left a short time later after packing seven cars full of Laci's belongings.

Hours later, lawyers representing Laci's family and Scott Peterson started haggling over whether removing the items was legal.

Scott Peterson's mother, Jackie, expressed outrage that the items had been removed since Laci's family had "absolutely no permission to be in that house."

Scott Peterson has pleaded not guilty to killing his wife and their unborn son.

Laci's family said Wednesday that they had hired lawyers to help them retrieve a baby crib and jewelry from the home.

Meanwhile, Clark told Fox News his client's anger over the grisly revelations leaked from her daughter's and grandson's sealed autopsy reports drove her to go get her daughter's possessions.

A family spokeswoman said Rocha was "devastated" by the reports describing how the near full-term fetus of her grandson Conner had plastic tape wrapped around the neck and a large cut across the chest when he was found in the shallow waters of San Francisco Bay last month.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: avoidingchildsupport; baby; babyunborn; conner; deathpenaltytime; dontubelievemyalibi; getarope; ibefishing; laci; lacipeterson; smallbaby; smallchild; sonkiller; unborn; wifekiller
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To: Chad Fairbanks
"If the law supposes that," said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, "the law is a ass--a idiot."

A ass--which the Petersons may kiss.

801 posted on 06/02/2003 12:53:36 AM PDT by Devil_Anse ("If the DA did that (squeezing hat emphatically in both hands), why, the DA is a ass...")
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Oh, lookie. The Rochas have been tried and convicted already. Funny how Scott has the presumption of innocence (as we are frequently and repetitiously reminded), but they don't.
802 posted on 06/02/2003 12:55:15 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Chad Fairbanks
LOL! Well, that solves everything. Next!
803 posted on 06/02/2003 12:58:12 AM PDT by Devil_Anse ("If that's what the DA says, then the DA is a ass--a idiot.")
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To: runningbear
The media filmed it, and that's the "evidence" in the poster's "trial" of the Rochas, who have now been "convicted" of "theft" without regard for that presumption of innocence thingie--as the same poster put it.
804 posted on 06/02/2003 1:00:22 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Chad Fairbanks
But you forgot the presumption of innocence "thingie".
805 posted on 06/02/2003 1:02:05 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Chad Fairbanks
The Wedding Dress, though, for example, should have been handed over pronto...

Whaddya MEAN? I think Amber might've looked GOOD in that wedding dress!

806 posted on 06/02/2003 1:04:08 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Uh-oh. Stand by for media-generated trial and conviction for theft.
807 posted on 06/02/2003 1:07:21 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Oh, and goodness, you don't suppose that vehicle of Laci's Scott sold might have been property that her heirs had a claim on? Gee, where'd the funds from that go, anyway?
808 posted on 06/02/2003 1:09:31 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: runningbear
Oh, and you know, what a shame... if Scott is the one who killed her, no doubt he had in mind to avoid all those messy property squabbles that a divorce would have brought... aw, but here they are anyway.
809 posted on 06/02/2003 1:12:37 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: freedox
Now the "mob mentality" has tried and convicted the Rochas of theft. Deplorable, that mob mentality.
810 posted on 06/02/2003 1:14:00 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Devil_Anse
Hey you!(nite)
811 posted on 06/02/2003 1:14:12 AM PDT by oceanperch
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To: Sacajaweau
whether there is a will stating all goes to Scott

That would be one of those good news/bad news situations.

"Scott, the good news is, that will leaving everything to you means they have to give back all her stuff now, yes, Scott, the diamonds, too. Scott, the bad news is, that will leaving everything to you tends to prove you had a motive to murder her."

812 posted on 06/02/2003 1:16:54 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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Comment #813 Removed by Moderator

To: Rusty Roberts
Yes, and during those 3 or more months, there was time for the defense team to do all this videotaping and testing it supposedly wanted to do. What were they waiting for? The police released the property a long time ago.

And you have zeroed in the THE question: WHEN were Laci's rings taken to the jeweler? And WHY was she not wearing her wedding ring when she died---or... WAS SHE?
814 posted on 06/02/2003 1:24:55 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Canadian Outrage
What're you talking about, CO? He likes trial by media just fine. He's already tried and convicted the Rochas of theft, presumably based solely on media reports he's heard.
815 posted on 06/02/2003 1:26:53 AM PDT by Devil_Anse (Major credit to cherry for this point)
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To: Chad Fairbanks
What they did was commit theft

Thanks for the quick trial and conviction. You sure rebutted their presumption of innocence quite ably, with your evidence... um, it WAS rebutted with evidence, wasn't it?

Do us a favor and do a quick trial on whether Scott murdered Laci, 'kay? People are on the edge of their seats waiting to find out.

816 posted on 06/02/2003 1:31:21 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: candeee
I think the house belongs to Scott at the moment, too.

Sharon had permission to enter the house. Jackie Peterson, who holds a general power of attorney from the house's owner, said, "Sharon can go in that house any time she wants to." This statement was heard by millions of people.
817 posted on 06/02/2003 1:38:04 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: GrandMoM
Your post got me laughing!!
818 posted on 06/02/2003 1:38:49 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: candeee
Are we sure Scott is the sole heir? It ain't necessarily so.
819 posted on 06/02/2003 1:40:13 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Canadian Outrage
How can FR be "all Laci all the time" (per Post 305) if there is a Westerfield thread in the smoky back room? Someone must've gotten their facts wrong!
820 posted on 06/02/2003 1:41:42 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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