Judge tells Peterson jury to keep quiet

San Mateo County Times ^ | Tuesday, June 29, 2004

[runningbear]

Judge tells Peterson jury to keep quiet

Article Last Updated: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 3:39:53 AM PST

Judge tells Peterson jury to keep quiet

REDWOOD CITY -- The judge in the Scott Peterson double-murder trial Monday warned all of the trial participants not to talk about the case to the media.

Judge Alfred Delucchi was responding to stories that surfaced at the end of last week, when a representative of the Modesto Police Department publicly defended Detective Al Brocchini, who has been the subject of harsh criticism by Peterson's lawyer Mark Geragos during his time on the witness stand.

"This has to stop. Go tell the chief he's going to have to sit on his people," Delucchi told a Modesto police captain. .........

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The Peterson Trial

MONDAY

Judge Alfred Delucchi scolded Modesto police Monday.

Lead defense attorney Mark Geragos continued his quest to show that Modesto police zeroed in on his client, Scott Peterson, while ignoring other credible leads that poured in after 27-year-old Laci Peterson was reported missing.

First Geragos pointed to Kim McGregor, a neighbor who admitted to police that she stole a video camera, several jackets and Laci Peterson's Social Security card from the Petersons' Covena Avenue home.

He also suggested that Amber Frey, Scott Peterson's former girlfriend, held back some taped phone calls from authorities after agreeing to secretly record her conversations with Scott.

The suggestions came during a wide-ranging cross-examination of Detective Al Brocchini, who took the witness stand for a fourth day.

Also, Superior Court Judge Alfred Delucchi released dozens ........

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Defense turns to other suspects

The judge in the Peterson trial released photos Monday, including this one of the rags Scott Peterson said he took out of the washing machine when he returned from fishing Dec. 24, 2002.

Defense turns to other suspects

Evidence photo released Monday by the judge in the Peterson trial.

Evidence photo released Monday by the judge in the Peterson trial.

By JOHN COTÉ and SUSAN HERENDEEN
BEE STAFF WRITERS

Last Updated: June 29, 2004, 05:31:25 AM PDT

REDWOOD CITY -- Kim McGregor appeared to be infatuated with Scott Peterson, and she robbed his home after his wife disappeared.

Monday, Peterson's defense team pointed to the Peterson neighbor as an indication that police ignored other suspects in the missing-person case that turned into a double homicide.

Lead attorney Mark Geragos also suggested that Peterson's former girlfriend, Amber Frey -- after she agreed to secretly record her conversations with Peterson -- did not reveal some of the calls.

The questioning about McGregor and Frey came as Geragos cross-examined Modesto police Detective Al Brocchini for a third day. The defense scored a blow toward the end of last week when Brocchini admitted that he "excised" a key piece of information from a police report.

Sgt. Ed Steele came to Brocchini's defense Friday in an interview with The Associated Press, violating a gag order in the case. This led to a warning -- but no sanctions -- from Superior Court Judge Alfred Delucchi to the Police Department.

Delucchi reminded all of the participants that the order issued by Stanislaus County Judge Al Girolami before the trial began forbids not only the attorneys and police from commenting on the case but also any witnesses who have been subpoenaed, including family members of either Scott or Laci Peterson. The judge said that while he did not want to be a "policeman," he would not hesitate to use his authority to prevent anyone involved in the trial from talking to the media.

"If it doesn't stop, I'm going to have to do something ...........

[Devil_Anse]

Okay, so if the gun is ruled out regarding the murder, then they need to quit concentrating on proving that point, and start emphasizing to the jury that it was LEGAL and PROPER under California law for Brocchini to take the gun, w/o notice to Scott. Because, thinking back to what I read about CA law at the time of the prelim, under those circumstances what Brocchini did was completely proper.

[Devil_Anse]

Wonder why the hand grips on the gun were missing? Could such things break if you used the gun as a blunt object to beat someone in the head?

[gopheraj]

I agree and watched Greta last night and she said they did some research and found that at the time this guy called the tip in about the duct tape dumping in the ocean thing, there was NO info out on any duct tape yet anywhere they could find. So IMO even though the cop said it wasn't credible, this guy is probably telling the truth. Cop (sorry - can't spell Broccolini LOL) probably did not want to put him up as a credible witness and have gagmeoff shoot him down.

[RGSpincich]

I didn't know the hand grips were missing.

But I do know that Geragos didn't get Brocchini to admit that the tip for "getting rid of bodies in salt water" was bogus. Geragos had nothing to do with it. Distaso choreographed the whole thing to show how ridiculous Geragos's claims have been.

Distaso knowing created a "bzzzz" in the courtroom with the bogus info then went back and discredited it himself. Showing how investigators ignore tips on both sides of the issue when warranted. An excellent job to restore credibility in Brocchini.

http://courttv.com/trials/peterson/062904_ctv.html

[Devil_Anse]

Yes, thank heaven Distaso and Brocchini have finally gotten a chance to answer Geragos' ridiculous implied charges of "bias".

Yes, the gun is missing the hand grips! I mean, does this gun have significance or not? Why would he mention it in his opening statement if it has absolutely no significance? I still don't get it, but all I can come up with is that maybe it was used to hit her in the head.

[RGSpincich]

No blood on the gun, but strands of hair/fiber and debris. Doesn't seem like the gun was recently cleaned to remove any blood evidence that would be present if it was used as a blunt object. They introduce the gun and move off quickly into coworkers testimony, the forensic people may revisit the gun when it's their turn.

OTH, The only expert thus far was an firearms ID expert not a forensic guy. this witness not finding blood evidence may be irrelevant.

[RGSpincich]

there was NO info out on any duct tape yet anywhere they could find.

Except that Peterson was video taped daily walking around with duct tape supposedly on his way to put up posters. And not to mention the "$500,000. REWARD" sign was duct taped to a couple of steel stakes on Peterson's lawn.

Of course a bogus tipster would claim duct tape was used, Peterson was photographed with duct tape everyday for a while. Greta needs new investigators.

Duct tape was mentioned here by yours truly in February of 2003.

[sissyjane]

Beth Karas on CTV keeps saying it has NO roll in Laci's killing. She could be wrong,I guess.

[Devil_Anse]

Well, I hope we can trust the state to at least bring in all this evidence about the gun ONLY if it means something. They shouldn't bore the jury, otherwise.

So I'm still in hope that the gun will mean SOMETHING.

[Devil_Anse]

Someone on the Court TV board suggested that maybe all the talk about the gun not having recently been fired could be an attempt to head off some future claim by the defense that "Scott was so despondent he considered suicide".

I don't think for ONE MINUTE that the little creep ever considered suicide. However, even if he did, that would prove nothing. Both guilty people and innocent people commit or attempt suicide. Look at that Charles Stuart guy who killed his pregnant wife in Boston.

[fiesti]

That same person opened the door to it, and is now complaining about the door HE himself opened.

Amen to that and I still think Distacio (sp) let MG hem SP into the timeline that we now have with the Martha Stewart meragine bit....Don't think these prosacutors are fools

[hergus]

Me too, him and Susan McD...I disliked him and his attitude then and was revolted when he switched sides in mid stream to defend Scott purely for the $$$, since he prononced him guilty as a TH.

The P's musn't have been watching his commentary on TV prior to offering him the job of defense attorney.

[lakey]

If I were the detective on this case I'd ask to talk with Scotty every day or so... "Hey Scott, that's a really nice depth finder you have on the boat there. What's the best water depth to fish for sturgeon? Oh really, how bout pointing out some of the places you tried out in the bay that day and what was the water depth there?

I'd check with the manufacture of the depth finder and see if any data could be gleaned if it is the type that records.

I tend to believe that Laci is at the bottom of a deep hole of water. Probably a lake or river and most likely towed out after dropping her in at another location separate from where he launched the boat.

Not many people would be out on Xmas eve and a slow moving boat would appear as if someone was trolling.

357 posted on 03/01/2003 8:45:40 PM MST by FireTrack

Excellent, excellent, FireTrack! Thanks for the link, RG!