SCOTT TRYST TWIST

BED HOPPER: Scott Peterson, in court recently, "has a need" for adultery, a relative says. - Pool photo

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November 6, 2003 -- MODESTO, Calif. - Scott Peterson might have had up to six extramarital flings, and defense lawyers will use his alleged bed-hopping to debunk claims he killed his wife to be with gal pal Amber Frey, sources told The Post.

The legal counter-punch would try to prove Peterson had no reason to kill for Frey, a 28-year-old massage therapist, because he was happy just running around behind Laci's back, according to defense sources and others familiar with their strategy.

Authorities have theorized that Peterson, a Modesto fertilizer salesman, murdered Laci and their unborn son, Connor, so he could clear the way to take up with Frey.

But if prosecutors push that theory, Peterson's defense is ready to admit the Frey affair was merely one of many.

The Fox News Channel yesterday quoted a family relative, who said Scott Peterson had at least three affairs.

"He has a sexual problem and has a need to sleep with other women," the relative told Fox.

Lead defense lawyer Mark Geragos was not available for comment yesterday. A DA spokesman conceded that the new allegations could be a wild card at Peterson's trial.

"It's hard to say which way that would land," said John Goold, chief deputy DA. "Both sides could have different arguments on the issue."

The series of affairs, if ever used as evidence, would surely be a slippery slope for one side or another, said Fox News Channel legal editor Stan Goldman.

"The prosecution should probably not put all its eggs in that basket, that Amber Frey was the sole motive for killing his wife," said Goldman, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. "If it turns out that he had many other girlfriends, then Amber Frey becomes less and less important."

"But on the other hand, the prosecution could still argue that it wasn't one woman that was the motive to kill his wife, but rather that it was a world of women," Goldman added.

Pregnant Laci, 27, vanished on Christmas Eve while Scott, 31, allegedly went on a solo fishing trip in San Francisco Bay.

The remains of her and Connor washed ashore in April near San Francisco, leading to Peterson's arrest days later.

Yesterday was supposed to be the sixth day of testimony in Scott Peterson's ........

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MODESTO, Calif. (CBS) A police officer said Tuesday that he saw a bucket and mops in plain sight in front of Scott Peterson's home as officers began investigating his pregnant wife's disappearance.

The defense testimony is considered a counterpoint to a possible prosecution argument that Peterson mopped the kitchen after killing Laci Peterson on the night of Dec. 23.

Evers said there was no smell of bleach or other cleaning agents in the house, reports CBS News Correspondent Manuel Gallegus.

Evers testified on the fifth day of a hearing to determine if Peterson, a former fertilizer salesman, will stand trial on two counts of murder for the death of his wife and unborn son.

Peterson, 31, told police he last saw his wife the morning before Christmas as he left to go fishing near Berkeley. He told them he returned to their Modesto home late that afternoon, shortly before family members reported Laci Peterson missing.

The bodies of 27-year-old Laci Peterson and her unborn son washed ashore along the San Francisco Bay in April, about three miles from where her husband said he was fishing.

On Friday, the couple's housekeeper, Margarita Nava, testified that she mopped the kitchen floor Dec. 23 with water and Pine-Sol. She said she put the mop outside to dry but put the bucket on top of the washing machine with rags that needed to be laundered.

On Monday, Scott Peterson's defense attorneys challenged the type of DNA analysis done on a hair found in his boat, saying the technique is too unreliable to be used in court.

Prosecutors believe the hair, found in a pair of pliers in the boat, could be from Peterson's wife, Laci. An FBI crime lab supervisor testified during the preliminary hearing last week that mitochondrial DNA from the hair matched a gene swab taken earlier this year from Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha.

Defense witness William Shields, a biology professor from the State University of New York at Syracuse, testified Monday that while mitochondrial DNA testing can be useful, it is not as precise as other types of DNA testing.

Mitochondrial DNA cannot specifically identify an individual, but if compared with samples taken from a family member, it can show the statistical likelihood that a hair or other tissue came from a certain person.

Peterson is charged with murder in the deaths of his 27-year-old wife and the baby boy she was carrying. The preliminary hearing is to determine if he will stand trial.

There is no evidence Laci Peterson was ever in the boat before her death, and prosecutors are expected to show that she did not even know about the vessel.

Mitochondrial DNA — a molecule that is much smaller than the more familiar nuclear DNA that is used to reveal a person's genetic makeup — helped identify victims of the World Trade Center attack. It can be extracted from hair and bones when little else remains of a body.........

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MODESTO, Calif. - (KRT) - Police became suspicious of Scott Peterson within hours after his wife was reported missing, first when he seemed to trip up on his alibi, then when he smoothed out a small rug that was scrunched up against the back door, a detective testified Tuesday.

While the prosecution is counting on Peterson's initial statements and actions to bolster its case, the defense is expected to use the police's reaction to further its own contention - that police became so focused on Peterson from the start that they neglected to adequately pursue any other leads in the murder of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son.

The defense also pointed out Tuesday that when Detective Jon Evers filed his police report he wrote that there was "nothing out of the ordinary to indicate a struggle or violence had occurred" at the Peterson home. Evers also acknowledged under cross examination that he did not smell any cleaning products when he entered the home - potentially undermining a police theory that Peterson mopped up evidence that day.

Two more detectives plan to take the stand this morning in the sixth day of Peterson's preliminary hearing, which will determine whether the 31-year-old fertilizer salesman will stand trial on two first-degree murder charges. Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant, was reported missing Christmas Eve. Her body and the body of their unborn sun washed up along the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay in April.

One of the star witnesses against Peterson - his former mistress Amber Frey - also could testify as early as Wednesday afternoon. The 28-year-old massage therapist from Fresno could shed light on the only motive suggested so far - that Peterson's feelings for her were so strong that he killed his pregnant wife to be with her.

Tuesday's testimony in Stanislaus County court again focused on Peterson's behavior during his first contact with police.

Evers said Peterson had told him he had spent that day fishing in the San Francisco Bay and came home to find his wife gone and the leash still on the dog in the yard. As he walked through the house with Peterson and a fellow officer, the other officer asked Peterson what he had been fishing for that day. Evers didn't hear Peterson's answer, but Evers said that the fellow officer took him aside a moment later and whispered, "Scott didn't know what he was fishing for."

Evers also said he noticed a throw rug "scrunched" up against the back door jamb, and asked Peterson, "Is that always like that?"

"He said, `Oh, no, the cat and the dog must have been playing,'" Evers testified.

With the toe of his shoe, Peterson then pulled the rug away from the door, Evers said. Although the significance of the rug wasn't mentioned, those in the courtroom were left to wonder whether something heavy, such as a body, had been dragged across it.

But Peterson's defense lawyer, Kirk McAllister, asked Evers why he never mentioned the rug in his police report.

"I was in a hurry when I prepared that," he said, adding that he told detectives about it the next day.

McAllister continued to downplay the significance of the rug when he asked Evers, "Was there a lump under it, like some weapon?"

McAllister also tried to contradict the police theory that Peterson mopped up his crime scene. Evers testified that he noticed a wet mop and bucket along the walkway near the front door, but he conceded he noticed no wet floors when he went through the house after 5 p.m. Christmas Eve. And contrary to previous reports that police smelled bleach in the house, Evers told McAllister he didn't smell any.

"You smelled no odor of any kind - chlorine, bleach or any other cleaning agent?" McAllister asked.

Detectives who are scheduled to take the stand Wednesday will likely be asked whether they smelled bleach, either on that first night or in the next couple of days while Peterson was still living in the modest ranch-style house.

Acting on their suspicions, police asked Peterson that night to take them to his office, which was attached to a warehouse storage unit where he kept his fishing boat - a 14-foot aluminum Gamefisher that was reportedly purchased just two weeks before Laci vanished...........

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MODESTO, Calif. -- Proceedings in the Scott Peterson preliminary hearing were delayed Wednesday after lead defense attorney Mark Geragos was forced to stay in Los Angeles to deal with a hung jury in another murder case.

Geragos was absent from the proceedings on Tuesday, but was expected to be back in Modesto on Wednesday morning. When the court was told he had been delayed, the proceedings were pushed back to 2:30 p.m. in the hopes that Geragos could make it back. But when Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Al Girolami was told Geragos could not make it back at all, he called off the proceedings.

On Tuesday, with defense attorney Kurt McAllister taking the lead, Modesto police officer Jon Evers testified about what he saw when he arrived at the Peterson home on Christmas Eve.

He said he noticed a mop bucket and two mops in front of Scott and Laci Peterson's home. The officer said the mops were in plain view as he entered the modest single-story green-shingled house on Covena Avenue.

Evers also said he never smelled bleach or any other cleaning agent inside the house.

The testimony is considered a counterpoint to a possible prosecution argument that Peterson, 31, cleaned and mopped the kitchen after killing his wife on the night of Dec. 23.

Other officers have reported detecting the scent of bleach in the kitchen. The mop bucket was seized for evidence, Evers said.

Evers testified on the fifth day of a hearing to determine if Peterson will stand trial on two counts of murder for the death of his wife and unborn son.

While Evers' report noted that there was no evidence of a break-in or sign of a struggle in the house, he did notice that a rug by the breezeway was "scrunched" up against the door jamb. He asked Peterson about it.

"I pointed out that it was the first time I noticed the rug scrunched up against the door," Evers said. "I asked him, 'Is that always like that?"'

"He said, 'Oh no, the cat and dog must have been playing,"' Evers said.................

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Laci Peterson was reported missing December 24; her husband, Scott, has pleaded innocent to charges of killing her and their unborn son.

A defense expert says a DNA testing technique used to identify a hair found in Scott Peterson's boat is unreliable.

MODESTO, California (CNN) -- A lawyer for Scott Peterson on Tuesday cross-examined one of the first police officials to interview Peterson after his wife was reported missing.

The cross-examination by defense attorney Kirk McAllister came in an abbreviated session of Peterson's preliminary hearing. Lead defense attorney Mark Geragos was in court in Los Angeles on another case.

Detective Jon Evers interviewed Peterson on December 24 last year, the day Peterson's wife was reported missing by her family.

Evers testified he was told by another law enforcement official that although Peterson said he was fishing in the San Francisco Bay that day, he could not specify the kind of fish he hoped to catch.

Peterson is charged with killing his pregnant wife, Laci, 27, and their unborn son. Their bodies washed up from San Francisco Bay in April.

Peterson, a 31-year-old former fertilizer salesman, has proclaimed his innocence. Prosecutors have said they would seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

They are saying that the prosecution shouldn't hang its hat on Scott killing for Amber. DUH. He did not kill for her. I agree there.

I'm not too sure about that. We're hearing he professed his love to her countless times and in one conversation, after 12/24, promised he would change his schedule to spend more time with her. The fact that he left gifts for her, as well as her child (or children?) in the park, tells me there was much more to it.

As I said earlier, I don't believe he had numerous affairs and believe it's a ploy Geragos/Peterson family is using to disprove the motive. BTW is anyone else disgusted to see Johnnie Cochran appearing on LKL to give his point of view?

When Amber testifies, we'll find out why I'm sure. I went and watched the probably last half of LKL. The tone was VERY different tonight on LKL. Even Pixley wasn't very aggressive. I thought Janine Pirro really spoke well and Jim Hammer, the Homicide Prosecutor from SanFRan also nailed a couple of good points. When they questioned why he lied about stuff, bought the boat cash, the car cash, the change of hair color, the whack of cash, the false identification etc. Pixley said, what this means is that this guy is NEVER going to get bail. And they all laughed. He at least admitted to that. So in fact, he was admitting that Scott clearly and convincingly showed intent to flee by legal standards. I couldn't believe that ONE woman from Nevada I think that phoned in and said well why couldn't Laci have been using the pliers blah blah blah. She was the only ignorant caller that I heard.

I was sort of ticked when I heard that Johnny Cochran was going to be on AGAIN. However, he was pretty tame tonight and he says he only practices civil law now. I think it was pretty much established tonight that the Defense didn't have a very good day at all today!!

Why is Greta and other pundits making a big deal that Scott called Laci on her cell phone to say he's running late and could she pick up the gift basket? It seems obvious it was made to cover his tracks. Hopefully the police have traced the call to find out where it was made and at what time.

I think it was Janine Pirro that said on December 9 th Scott told Amber that he was a "widower". Then she said, two weeks later, his wife WAS dead!! It also occured to me that Sharon Rocha and either Amy or Brent said that she always took her cell phone with her. Strange that her cell phone was in her car!! That fact along with her physical condition absolutely convinces me, Laci was Not walking on December 24th. In fact, I doubt Laci was even breathing.

I'm just hoping that this came out in direct so the Procecution can show later that when they tracked that call, it was made from Covena avenue! Does anyone know if this came out in direct or cross???

No I don't know. One thing Gloria Allred said was that Scott told the police he had ONE cell phone when in fact he had THREE or more. God it's just so obvious. Lie upon Lie upon Lie upon Lie!! Not exactly a demonstration of innocence. Also Jackie, I picked out today that Laci's cell phone was in HER car. She always took it when she went for a walk. She wasn't walking, she wasn't mopping either. Like I said above, Laci wasn't even breathing.

Hi CO....Been here everynight lurking and trying to digest all this stuff...Still racking brain how the police felt sure Laci met with violence early on but suppossedly no forensic ????? Just saw LKL and Crocran still makes me wanna theown up.. How it must feel to know you got a murderer free Don't you know MG wants to be in the cockran category but don't think he will succeed

Good point. They can get records from the cell phone provider to get approximate local of where a caller is when placing a call. I do not know, but it seemed it was direct exam that brought out the info. And from the message Scott left he said he was finishing fishing. Also evidently the message had "Honey" and "Baby" or similar endearments sprinkled in and some pundits wondered if that was his usual way or if he was playing the loving husband for the record he was making.

When I heard he was going to appear AGAIN next Wednesday I wrote a scathing note to LKL about how JC has dishonored his profession, but did caustically thank him for giving us advance notice, lol.

One thing Gloria Allred said was that Scott told the police he had ONE cell phone when in fact he had THREE or more.

Thank you for posting that! I meant to when I heard it and got distracted and there is so much to keep track of today it went out of my head.

Yes, I thought the cell phone lie was interesting....do you think Laci didn't know about those other phones? Maybe one was the "Amber phone". That could very well be what one was for.

God that's sickening cync. He was trying to vindicate himself in his well thought out plan. Trying to show endearment when he had just disposed of her and his son's murdered remains. Again, He's a MONSTER!!

YUP - I do think one was the Amber phone. He was living a double and possibly triple life. I know the Police got records from ALL of his phones. Those records should really tell a tale. More Lies.

Not sure if they traced the call but would be surprised if they didn't. Laci's phone was in her car in a charger.

Apparently the detective who testified today said when he questioned Scott about another woman, he denied it, yet in interview with Diane Sawyer he said he told the police about Amber the first night he was questioned. Geragos will undoubtedly say the detective was mistaken or lying. Remember he's the same creep who represented McDougal, Condit and Roger Clinton.

Or maybe he told them "the lights were off when I was here returning my boat this afternoon, and they're still off." And then maybe he indicated that he knew what the fax said, and maybe they said, "Oh? How were you able to read it with the lights off, when there are no windows in there?"

Good one. Didn't he tell the cops that there was no electricity in there, when they wanted to look around? Maybe him knowing what the fax said proves that there had been electricity the last time he'd been there. He may have said that it had been off for a while.

I can't believe that anyone buys the theory that Amber could not have been such a distraction that he would murder his wife because he had numerous other affairs before Amber and didn't murder Laci, then.

Think about it, this guy was taking Viagra and Amber Fry was a MASSAGE THERAPIST, maybe she was good, very, very good at manipulating and stimulating parts of the body, that needed extra attention.

>>I can't believe that anyone buys the theory that Amber could not have been such a distraction that he would murder his wife because he had numerous other affairs before Amber and didn't murder Laci, then. <<

I doubt that anyone has ever fallen exactly the same way for every person they were attracted to. Some you love more, some less. Some are more sexually appealing, some less.

I believe Snott was obsessed with Amber. He may have once been attracted to and possibly in love with Laci but I think he was physically and mentally obsessed with Amber and it was probably more of sexual thing than a love thing.

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