Scott Peterson
Posted on 11/18/2003 5:50:38 AM PST by runningbear
Scott Peterson
SQUEAMISH SCOTT
By HOWARD BREUER
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November 18, 2003 -- MODESTO, Calif. - Scott Peterson uncharacteristically excused himself from court yesterday morning as prosecutors called to the stand a pathologist who graphically detailed the state of the bodies of his slain wife and unborn son.
"Yes, I do not wish to be present during this witness," Peterson, 31, calmly told the judge as he was returned to his cell. "It's my choice."
It was the first time since Peterson's mid-April arrest that he waived his right to appear in court.
Brian Lee Peterson, who autopsied the bodies as a pathologist for Contra Costa County, testified that he couldn't figure out how Laci died because her head, neck and most of her limbs and organs were missing.
In contrast, he said, Connor Peterson's body, which washed ashore approximately a day earlier, was nearly intact save for a tear in the right shoulder that extended into the baby's abdominal area. He said the baby's brain and organs were "in a liquefied state."
"Laci's body showed evidence of animal feeding. Connor's didn't," the pathologist testified.
"As I tried to reconcile these two things, it made intellectual sense to me that his body was protected up until the end, when the uterus eventually wore away and allowed his release." He speculated that "the baby's body may have been released at around the same time that Laci floated to the surface."
Peterson the pathologist also testified that he "looked for evidence of tool marks showing [Laci's] body was cut apart, but there was no evidence of cutting or chewing."
Although much of Laci's body was missing, he testified, it still had a bra fastened at two hooks, Jockey-brand panties and khaki maternity trousers, the legs of which "were reduced to thread."
"Additionally, there was some duct tape sticking to the front waistband of the trousers," the pathologist testified. He also told the court that the baby had 11/2 loops of plastic tape around his neck, knotted near the left shoulder.
He said the tape was loose, and when he pulled at the front of it, there was a 2-centimeter gap between the tape and the neck. "My opinion was that this tape, this loop existed elsewhere," he said. "It was just flotsam or jetsam that ended up on the body."
Defense attorney Mark Geragos asked why the tape wasn't looser around Connor's neck if it had simply drifted......
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Watery grave gives up few clues in Laci Peterson killing
Posted on Tue, Nov. 18, 2003
Watery grave gives up few clues in Laci Peterson killing
BRIAN MELLEY
Associated Press
MODESTO, Calif. - By the time the sea surrendered Laci Peterson's childless body, it had washed away any evidence of how she was killed, leaving only decomposed remains ravaged by sea creatures and the tides, according to a forensic pathologist.
Her head, neck, forearms, most of one leg and many of her internal organs were missing, Dr. Brian Peterson testified Monday. But her womb was still attached to her empty midsection after months in the water.
The graphic testimony came as prosecutors began presenting their final witnesses in the hearing to determine whether Scott Peterson stands trial on murder charges in the slaying of his pregnant wife.
Prosecutors said they planned to call two more police witnesses and the hearing could conclude Tuesday. Defense lawyer Mark Geragos said he will decide whether to call his own witnesses after hearing the rest of the prosecution's case.
Meanwhile, a judge ruled that a disputed form of DNA analysis on a hair found in Scott Peterson's boat can be used to try to prove he killed his wife and dumped her body in San Francisco Bay.
The ruling was a victory for prosecutors, who are making a case based mostly on circumstantial evidence without the help of the kinds of clues that often appear on the bodies of crime victims.
While authorities have theorized the 27-year-old substitute teacher was killed in her Modesto home Dec. 23 or 24 and then ferried to her watery grave, the hair sample is the only evidence presented so far establishing that she may have been on her husband's boat, which he bought two weeks before she vanished.
As the testimony on Monday turned to the condition of the remains of his wife and the child they planned to name Conner, Scott Peterson left the courtroom.
"I do not want to be present during this portion," he told the judge in waiving his right to hear all the testimony against him. Laci Peterson's family was also absent from that portion of the hearing.
Dr. Peterson, no relation to the couple, said there was no evidence any weapon had been used on the mother-to-be, but he said he could not determine if three of her ribs were broken before or after she was killed. The coroner ruled the death a homicide, but did not offer a cause.
The doctor said Laci Peterson's upper belly was worn away, and while her uterus was intact there was no evidence she had given birth.
He testified that the fetus had a gash in.......
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Hair DNA allowed in Peterson case Important decision -- evidence mostly circumstantial
Hair DNA allowed in Peterson case Important decision -- evidence mostly circumstantial
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, November 18, 2003
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Modesto -- A disputed form of DNA testing done on a hair found on Scott Peterson's boat can be used as evidence that the former fertilizer salesman killed his pregnant wife and dumped her body in San Francisco Bay, a judge ruled Monday.
Judge Al Girolami of the Stanislaus County Superior Court said he would allow mitochondrial DNA testing on a hair found on Peterson's boat, which Peterson said he took to the Berkeley Marina on a solo fishing trip Christmas Eve, the day Laci Peterson was reported missing.
The judge's decision marks a key ruling in a largely circumstantial case against Peterson. The hair, which has emerged as an important physical piece of evidence, was found on pliers in Peterson's boat and could have belonged to his wife, an FBI scientist has testified.
Prosecutors have said the testing procedure has been used in courtrooms across the country, but Peterson's attorneys, who had sought to exclude the hair as evidence, had criticized the mitochondrial DNA test as unreliable.
Mitochondrial DNA, genetic material that is inherited from the mother, cannot be used to identify a single person; nuclear DNA can. The judge told prosecutors Monday that they could tell a jury that chances are the mitochondrial DNA from the hair could be found in one out of every 112 whites.
Peterson, 31, who has pleaded not guilty in the slayings, asked to leave the courtroom Monday before forensic pathologist Brian Peterson, who is not related to him, provided graphic testimony about the badly decomposed remains of Laci Peterson and her unborn son. Their bodies washed ashore separately in Richmond in April.
"Yes, I do not wish to be present during this witness," Scott Peterson told the judge.
Laci Peterson's body was missing its head, neck, forearms and left leg, and most of her internal organs, and there was no evidence of tool marks or gunshot wounds that would determine her cause of death, the pathologist said.........
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Peterson Pathologist Saw No Wounds
Peterson Pathologist Saw No Wounds
Pathologist Who Examined Laci Peterson's Body Found No Evidence of Wounds
The Associated Press
MODESTO, Calif. Nov. 17 — A pathologist who examined Laci Peterson's badly decomposed body testified Monday that he could not determine how she died or what weapon may have been used to kill her.
Testifying for the prosecution at a preliminary hearing for Scott Peterson, forensic pathologist Dr. Brian Peterson, no relation to the couple, said Laci Peterson's neck, head, forearms and most of one leg were missing.
He attributed the poor condition of the body to exposure to saltwater and sea creatures.
Dr. Peterson said that her abdomen was worn away, but that there was no evidence she had given birth.
Meanwhile, the judge ruled that prosecutors can use a disputed form of DNA analysis on a hair found in Scott Peterson's boat to try to prove that he killed his pregnant wife and dumped her body in San Francisco Bay.
Mitochondrial DNA has rarely been used as evidence in California court cases and it cannot provide a definitive match. Peterson's lawyers challenged the evidence as unreliable, arguing that the statistics used to determine the chances of a genetic match are faulty.
But Superior Court Judge Al Girolami said prosecutors could tell a jury that the mitochondrial DNA from that specific strand of hair could be found in one out of every 112 whites.
The ruling came at the start of the fourth week of the preliminary hearing being held to determine if there is enough evidence against Scott Peterson to try him on murder charges. He could get the death penalty if convicted.
Scott Peterson, 31, left the courtroom on Monday when testimony turned to the state of his wife's corpse and the remains of their son.
Dr. Peterson testified that the fetus was in relatively ......
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Peterson puzzle depends on pieces
Peterson puzzle depends on pieces
By GARTH STAPLEY
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: November 17, 2003, 07:23:31 AM PST
So far, it's all about circumstantial evidence. No smoking gun has emerged in Scott Peterson's ongoing preliminary hearing, watched and reported and dissected for 2 1/2 weeks by news writers and camera crews from across the continent.
No cause of death. No murder weapon. No eyewitness.
No problem, say prosecutors.
Authorities hope to convince a judge that the 31-year-old former fertilizer salesman should stand trial on charges that he murdered his pregnant wife, Laci, and unborn son, Conner. The preliminary hearing should conclude this week, perhaps as soon as a day or two.
"A circumstantial evidence case doesn't necessarily give you a nice, tightly written story," said Ruth Jones, a criminal law professor at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.
So much the better for headlines and TV ratings, if people accept the theory that a good mystery at drip-drip pace keeps a news-hungry public coming back.
Prosecutors appear more than happy to comply. Though they haven't produced a smoking gun, they have established what some crime experts are calling a solid foundation for a circumstantial case.
Asked to list important evidence revealed so far, two legal observers put location, location, location at the top.
"(Peterson's) choice of alibi leading directly to where the bodies were found is probably the biggest thing against him," said Modesto defense attorney Ernie Spokes, a former prosecutor.
Peterson told police he fished alone in San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve, returning to an empty house. He produced a boat ramp receipt from the Berkeley Marina..........
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Prosecutors In Peterson Case To Wrap Up Hearing
Pathologist Could Not Find How Laci Peterson Died
Prosecutors In Peterson Case To Wrap Up Hearing
Pathologist Could Not Find How Laci Peterson Died
POSTED: 8:12 PM PST November 17, 2003
UPDATED: 8:15 PM PST November 17, 2003
MODESTO, Calif. -- Prosecutors say they expect to wrap up their case against Scott Peterson on Tuesday in the hearing to determine if he stands trial on charges of murdering his wife and unborn son.
Stanislaus County prosecutors say they plan to put two more police officers on the stand in the preliminary hearing.
Defense lawyer Mark Geragos says he may call witnesses but won't make that decision until he hears from the final prosecution witness.
The attorney for Peterson's mistress says the defense may call her as a witness. Attorney Gloria Allred says prosecutors will oppose any defense effort to put the Fresno massage therapist on the stand.
Prosecutors have opted not to put Amber Frey on the stand and have used police to introduce testimony that may come from her.
Meanwhile, a pathologist has testified during Monday's hearing that he could find no sign of how Laci Peterson died.
The pathologist said that Laci Peterson's neck, head, forearms and one of her feet were missing. He said he could not determine what weapon may have been used to kill her.
In another development, the judge ruled Monday that prosecutors can use a disputed form of DNA analysis on a hair found in Scott Peterson's boat......
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Peterson preliminary hearing may wrap up today
Peterson preliminary hearing may wrap up today
Modesto, California-AP -- Lawyers say Scott Peterson's preliminary hearing could conclude today.
The hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to try Peterson on charges he killed his wife Laci and their unborn son is into its fourth week.
Prosecutors plan to call two more police witnesses today. They won a legal round yesterday when a judge ruled a disputed form of D-N-A found in Scott Peterson's boat may be used as evidence against him.
At issue is D-N-A derived from a human hair found in some pliers. Investigators believe the hair belonged to Laci Peterson. Scott Peterson's lawyers say such D-N-A evidence is unreliable......
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Laci Detective Ignored Tip
Link to other Laci Peterson stories
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Court begins at 9:00 am (PST) on Monday, November 17th in Department 2 of Superior Court. This will be the 12th day of the Scott Peterson Preliminary Hearing. Media members with seating credentials must be seated in the courtroom by 8:45 am.
A court "Minute Order" for 11/17/03 hearing now online. Click on "Court Docs" to view the PDF file."
Superior Court, Stanislaus County November 17, 2003
Minute Order: Preliminary Hearing (ie; Eleventh day court provided overview)
I swear, I could push the needle on this guy myself.
Geragos also suggested the tape might have been used by the baby's killers to tie a plastic bag around his neck.
There is a place in hell for this man.
Peterson researched lakes, reservoirs on computer
By GARTH STAPLEY
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: November 17, 2003, 05:11:00 PM PST
5:05 p.m., PST: Scott Peterson researched bodies of water on his home computer - including San Francisco Bay, where the remains of his wife and son were recovered, a technology expert testified this afternoon.
But Modesto police forensic computer investigator Kirk Stockham also acknowledged during the 11th day of testimony in the ongoing preliminary hearing that Peterson had visited sport fishing Web sites as well.
Peterson, 31, told police he fished alone in the bay Christmas Eve before returning to an empty house. Authorities believe he killed his pregnant wife, Laci, that morning or the night before.
Prosecutors said they intend to rest their double-murder case tomorrow, and lead defense attorney Mark Geragos of Los Angeles said he may call no witnesses. That would conclude the three-week hearing, at the end of which Judge Al Girolami will decide whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.
Peterson faces the death penalty if convicted.
Prosecutor Rick Distaso said he intends tomorrow to call Modesto police Detective Jon Buehler to the stand. Buehler served as handler to Amber Frey, Peterson’s girlfriend when his wife disappeared.
Frey has said she did not know Peterson was married when they met Nov. 20. She has cooperated with authorities since Dec. 30, including taping her phone conversations with the defendant.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he would testify to some of their communications,” said Gloria Allred, Frey’s attorney.
California law regarding preliminary hearings allows detectives to relay their conversations with key witnesses, sparing them from testifying. The witnesses must appear at trial, however.
Geragos reserved the right to call Frey as a witness for the defense at the ongoing hearing. Geragos said he will decide after hearing what Buehler has to say.
“Once they put the person on, I’ll make a decision,” Geragos said. If Geragos does call Frey, the Fresno massage therapist and single mother would not be available to testify immediately, Allred said. Allred and Geragos would not hazard a guess as to whether Girolami would allow tape recordings of conversations between Peterson and Frey to be played at the hearing.
Stockham said Peterson had researched lakes and reservoirs in the Central ......
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