Prosecution claims Peterson's pickup was used to dump body

The Contra Costa Times ^ | Dec 3, 2003 | Brian Anderson

[runningbear]

Prosecution claims Peterson's pickup was used to dump body

Posted on Wed, Dec. 03, 2003

Prosecution claims Peterson's pickup was used to dump body

By Brian Anderson
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

With hands bloodied, Scott Peterson hauled the body of his wife, Laci, from their Modesto house to his pickup truck in an hours-long effort to dispose of her in San Francisco Bay, prosecutors said in court papers filed Tuesday.

Stanislaus County prosecutors said they believe Peterson drove his Ford F-150 to a warehouse he used for work, hooked up his fishing boat and steered his truck west. He had cut his hands killing his pregnant wife either Dec. 23 or Dec. 24 and was dripping blood in the cab of the truck, according to prosecutors' six-page filing.

"Specifically, the truck was used to transport Laci Peterson's body to the defendant's warehouse ... and also was used to transport her body to the San Francisco Bay," prosecutor Rick Distaso wrote in one of three documents filed Tuesday. "In addition, samples of the defendant's blood were found inside the cab area of the truck."

Distaso pointed as well to debris taken from the truck bed during a police investigation, saying it might turn out to be cement. It is possible that Laci's body was weighted with cement, law enforcement officials have indicated.

The material will be sent to the state crime lab for analysis, Distaso wrote.

The court document is Distaso's response to a defense request to have the truck returned to Peterson's family.

The revelations came as lawyers on both sides of the case prepared to appear today in a Modesto courtroom as the legal drama spins forward.

Peterson is scheduled to be arraigned again in a standard procedure following a preliminary hearing last month. Judge Al Girolami decided after several weeks of testimony that prosecutors had enough evidence to prove that Peterson probably killed his wife.

Peterson has pleaded not guilty to two murder counts with special circumstances that District Attorney......

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Laci Prosecutors Hint at Their Slaying Theory

Laci Prosecutors Hint at Their Slaying Theory

Wednesday, December 03, 2003

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Scott Peterson (search), charged with killing his pregnant wife Laci (search), bled inside the truck he allegedly used to haul away the corpse of his slain wife, prosecutors contend.

In court papers filed Tuesday, prosecutors gave the first hint of their theory of the slaying, arguing to keep the pickup truck as crime evidence.

Prosecutors have never previously said Scott Peterson was wounded in the killing -- saying he was injured either during or after the alleged attack on his wife -- and have never publicly revealed where Laci Peterson was killed.

The mention that her body was trucked to Scott Peterson's nearby warehouse indicates prosecutors believe she was killed at home. It also explains why lawyers sparred at the preliminary hearing over a mop and bucket used to clean the couple's kitchen.

Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton (search) said he wants jurors to view the pickup truck as part of the crime scene.

For their part, defense attorneys want the truck returned to Peterson's family because he faces mounting legal bills and continues to pay $643 in monthly auto payments.

Lawyers will argue the matter Wednesday when Peterson, 31, is scheduled to be arraigned in Stanislaus County Superior Court on two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his wife and unborn son nearly a year ago.

Peterson, a former fertilizer salesman, previously pleaded innocent but faces a second arraignment after a judge ruled last month there was enough......

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Peterson Prosecutors Hint at Their Theory

Peterson Prosecutors Hint at Their Theory
Prosecutors in Laci Peterson Case Hint at Theory Behind Slaying, Saying Scott Bled in Truck

The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Dec. 3 — Prosecutors for the first time hinted at parts of their theory behind the Laci Peterson slaying, saying her husband Scott bled inside the truck he allegedly used to haul her body away after killing her.

Those details and others were presented Tuesday in a court filing prosecutors used to argue that jurors should be allowed to see the truck as evidence.

Prosecutors have never previously said Scott Peterson was wounded in the killing saying he was injured either during or after the alleged attack on his wife and have never publicly revealed where they believe Laci Peterson was killed.

Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton said he wants jurors to view the truck as part of the crime scene because it was used to haul Laci Peterson's body.............

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Cops' Theory In Laci Case Revealed

Cops' Theory In Laci Case Revealed

MODESTO, Calif., Dec. 3, 2003

Scott Peterson (Photo: AP)

Defense attorneys say they want Scott Peterson's pickup truck returned to his family because he faces mounting legal bills and continues to pay $643 in monthly auto payments. The prosecution says it's evidence.

Laci Peterson in July 2002 (Photo: AP)

(CBS/AP) It's been almost a year since Laci Peterson, a 27-year-old substitute teacher, disappeared from her home on Christmas Eve.

Wednesday, her husband, Scott Peterson, will be arraigned on two counts of murder: hers, and that of their unborn son, whose body was found separately from Laci's - but in the same body of water, San Francisco Bay.

Peterson, who was eight months pregnant, was reported missing after her husband said he'd returned from a fishing trip at the Berkeley Marina. Her remains and those of the fetus washed ashore in April.

Peterson, a former fertilizer salesman, previously pleaded not guilty but faces a second arraignment after a judge ruled last month there is enough evidence to go to trial.

The arraignment marks the beginning of the next phase of the case as the defense seeks to move the trial out of Modesto, lawyers argue over the admissibility of evidence and the news media ask the judge to consider unsealing court documents and lifting a gag order in the case.

CBS News Radio's Steve Futterman reports court papers filed by prosecutors in preparation for the arraignment reveal, for the first time, portions of the police theory on how Laci and the unborn child were killed.

The prosecution documents indicate detectives believe Laci was killed at home by her husband, who then loaded her body into his Ford pickup, hiding the body in his fertilizer warehouse before dumping it in San Francisco bay. ..........

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Prosecutors: Peterson's truck involved in killing

Prosecutors: Peterson's truck involved in killing
Vehicle called 'instrument' in death of his pregnant wife

Wednesday, December 3, 2003 Posted: 5:22 AM EST (1022 GMT)

Police refuse to release Scott Peterson's truck.

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MODESTO, California (CNN) -- Prosecutors filed court papers Tuesday saying the Ford F-150 pickup truck seized by authorities from Scott Peterson was "an instrument used in the murder of Laci Peterson" -- and contained Scott Peterson's blood in the cab.

In the filing, the Stanislaus County District Attorney's office rejects Peterson's request to have his bronze-colored truck returned to him.

"Such evidence is relevant and admissible here in that the people contend that the pickup truck was an instrument used in the murder of Laci Peterson," the prosecutors say in some of the most detailed information about their case to date.

"Specifically, the truck was used to transport Laci Peterson's body to the defendant's warehouse at 1027 N. Emerald in Modesto, and was also used to transport her body to the San Francisco Bay."

The motion was filed a day before Scott Peterson is to be arraigned on charges of killing his pregnant wife and their unborn child -- charges that could result in the death penalty. (Full story)

Peterson, 31, has pleaded not guilty.

The defense contends the 2002 Ford truck should be returned because it is not critical evidence.

Prosecutors disagree. ...........

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Prosecutors in Laci Peterson case hint she was killed at home

Prosecutors in Laci Peterson case hint she was killed at home

December 3, 2003

BY BRIAN MELLEY

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Scott Peterson, charged with killing his pregnant wife, Laci, bled inside the truck he allegedly used to haul away the corpse of his slain wife, prosecutors contend.

In court papers filed Tuesday, prosecutors gave the first hint of their theory of the slaying, arguing to keep the pickup truck as crime evidence.

Prosecutors have never previously said Scott Peterson was wounded in the killing -- saying he was injured either during or after the alleged attack on his wife -- and have never publicly revealed where Laci Peterson was killed.

The mention that her body was trucked to Scott Peterson's nearby warehouse indicates prosecutors believe she was killed at home. It also explains why lawyers sparred at the preliminary hearing over a mop and bucket used to clean the couple's kitchen.

Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton said he wants jurors to view the pickup truck as part of the crime scene. AP..........

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latest on pressrelease of current court docs on fileCourt Hearing: "Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at 8:30 am (PST) in Department 2."

[alexandria]

These are my last few days at my Imac...my Dell came today!! I'm so excited, like a kid with a new toy!

Just watch out in throwing out those keyboard shortcuts on the Dell... it flips them out.

[Devil_Anse]

LOL. Nobody questions that Michael Jackson is a guy, either.

"Nobody seemed to question that Scott took the pliers from the house"--You're gonna need better evidence than THAT to prove a fact! If courts went by the "nobody seems to question it" standard, nothing would ever get proved!

[Devil_Anse]

Oh, give it up, RG. After all, you've only been following this case for a few months (well... okay... since the first day), and this poster has been on these threads for a LEAST 24 whole hours!

Haven't you heard about the standards of proof in a courtroom? They are:

1--Beyond a reasonable doubt

2--Preponderance of the evidence

3--Nobody seems to question it, so it MUST therefore be true

[Jackie-O]

LOL!
Did you get a chance to read LKL transcripts yet? The link I posted last night works now, they have been added.
I thought Nancy was getting some pretty tough jabs at Pixie last night.
At one point they were arguing about Snott and Amber's sexual habits, Pixie saying that a full term pregnant Amber would be "explosive" for the defense...showing that their relationship could not have been so serious if she ran out and got preggers right away.
Nancy said something like she could care less about ANYONE'S sexual habits, only if Snott's preferred lifestyle was a motive to kill his wife and child! Pixie had nada to say in response. LOL!

[runningbear]

okay...

[runningbear]

I think scaughty thinks he is a star!

Creepy ......

[runningbear]

ROFL.....

[Devil_Anse]

Thanks for your posting of LKL transcripts. I have used them many times, and you make it very convenient!!

Last night, I was able to catch the late showing of Larry King, so I had the joy of watching the participants. (I can't stand little Chris Pixie's smarmy smile...)

I found it ironic that Nancy Grace, whose law-and-order stance usually marks her as the "token conservative" on the show, was placed in the position of defending Amber's sexual looseness. But it was cool the way she did it: she simply took liberals' argument ("if it feels good, do it") and used it against the Pix-ster. "What right do YOU have to question anyone else's lifestyle?" is essentially what she said. ROFLMAO!!! Guys like Pixley get hoisted on their own petard again and again.

That said, it's not like Amber was Scott's squeeze one day, and pregnant by the chiropractor the next day. This pregnancy must have begun about July or August. So at that time, it had already been 7-8 months since Amber and Scott were anywhere near being an item.

7-8 months?? I'd wager that exceeds the lifespan of most relationships in California!

[runningbear]

it'll be continued... another 2 yrs?... times up again then....heehee..

[runningbear]

what was that movie called: "lords of flat bush"?

[runningbear]

LOL...lol...

[runningbear]

;o)

[pinz-n-needlez]

Good point, DA. This baby wasn't started until well after Amber was finished with Scotty.

Another point the pundits seem to miss, though, (and so did we last winter and spring) is that Amber did not break up Scott's marriage, or cause Scott to fall out of love with Laci.

Scott went looking for a new girlfriend, and asked to be introduced to someone, anyone. He promised to take this new mystery woman to heart (and probably to bed) sight unseen, before he ever knew Amber existed on the face of the earth.

Scott was done with Laci AT LEAST by September or October. Amber just happened to be the prey that he caught in in little hunting expedition.

She has no obligation to be 'true' to Scott, he was totally using her and setting her up, from the get-go. He was already announcing Laci's death two weeks after he met Amber. I wouldn't be surprised if his brilliant criminal mind hadn't decided that if he had a serious girlfriend when he killed his wife and 'pregnancy tissue', that the jury would understand and let him off. (If indeed, he made one small error and they got lucky and caught him, that is.)

The timline that was testified to at the Preliminary Hearing is very revealing. Amber is innocent of alienation of affection. Scott's affection was alienated months, if not years before Laci's death.

Well, nothing like a rant to get the blood flowing in the morning....

Pinz

[Devil_Anse]

You got it, Pinz! The "Ambers" in the life of a guy like Scott are interchangeable. Guys like that will tolerate anything but a reliable, constructive, regular existence. I believe that some people have to have a crisis going at all times. Perhaps these people are more used to the crisis state, than to the regular, calm, peaceful state of existence. And since Scott grew up under Jackie Peterson, I'm sure "crisis" is probably a lot more familiar to him than is peace.

So he might create the crisis state he craves, by cheating on his wife, and having to be very careful not to get caught, and knowing that if he gets caught all hell will break loose, and shivering from the excitement of it all. Kind of like he must have felt during the commission of this murder and the hiding of the body.

[HenryLeeII]

Lots of people have cement, anyone can legally buy it at the hardware store.

After having Peterson in jail for several months now, doesn't it seem kind of lazy or irresponsible on the prosecutor's part to still be saying that the substance found in his pick-up may be cement? What's going to happen if it turns out not to be cement? Does their whole theory crumble? And show me a married man who doesn't have one of his wife's hairs on a tool, scissors, etc. Hair gets around the house and doesn't disentigrate. His lawyers are going to say that he fixed something in the bathroom and the hair stuck to it.

Again, I'm not saying he didn't do it, but the case (as presented to the public so far) seems less than convincing.

[waterstraat]

. The "entire legal round table" may be members of the kitchen drawer tool set brigade, but guys with warehouses and tool boxes don't keep their pliers in the house.

Well, speaking for myself, we keep our pliers in our house/garage/basement. I guess we could take a poll to see how many freepers keep their pliers in their houses/garages, but I would think such a thing is not uncommon.

I would guess that most members of the jury also might keep their pliers in their houses too - so if thats the best you got, he'll go free.

[HenryLeeII]

The "entire legal round table" may be members of the kitchen drawer tool set brigade, but guys with warehouses and tool boxes don't keep their pliers in the house.

And how would a guy with all of his tools in a warehouse two miles away fix a leaky faucet or any other such routine task? Maybe with a pair of pliers he keeps in the home? Or, maybe he took them to the house to fix something then put them back on the boat when he was done. That's all the defense has to say, and its not unreasonable for the jury members to believe that.

I've brought tools to work and other places outside of my home, used them, then took them back home. There could be some sort of DNA evidence (hair, skin cells, dandruff, etc.) from a co-worker that gets on the tools and stays there for a period of time. Its not beyond a reasonable doubt, and in a capital murder trial, that has to be the standard. I'm not saying he didn't do it, but the evidence that the prosecutor has shown the public so far is less-than-airtight. I'm sure he's a psycho with all sorts of issues going on in his head, but that doesn't necessarily equal a murder conviction. If he is guilty and convicted, then let me be the first to say that Laci's parents should each be given a baseball bat and twenty minutes alone with him.