Haggling Over Evidence in Peterson Trial

The Guardian ^ | 3/01/2004 | Brian Skoloff

[onyx]

Nighttime is my favorite time of every day. I often overindulge and pay for it the following morning. LOL!

[Canadian Outrage]

I think it's most mothers "favorite" time! LOL

[Canadian Outrage]

Well gal, think I'll have a bowl of salad and hit the hay. I want to watch LKL with Nancy Grace hosting regarding the Martha Stewart Conviction(S)!! Yeah!! See y'all tomorrow it would seem. Sweet dreams. CO

[onyx]

I'd be happiest with 8 hours of daylight and 16 hours of nighttime.

[drjulie]

"I just have to type you what was posted on CTV this afternoon."

Thanks for posting that information. It is very telling - I think we will learn quite a bit during the trial.

[Devil_Anse]

That's some VERY thought-provoking stuff, CO!! First, though, I don't think they would allow anyone to testify as to conclusions that can be drawn about Scott's personality from the way he writes. If there's a handwriting expert on there, then as you said, it's gonna be someone who is going to say WHO wrote something, by comparing the something to known samples of that person's handwriting. And that someone is almost certainly Scott Peterson. And I think you are right--it may well be that strange poster he put up for the searchers.

Thanks for reminding me of that poster--it was extremely STRANGE. He KNEW she was dead from the first, and he showed it in so many ways! And he was still hiding from the media; we mustn't forget how very strange it was in the early days, when we could barely tell who or where the husband of the missing woman WAS. And he couldn't even sign his thank-you poster with his NAME! The fact that he thought he could hide his identity from everyone, while his wife remained missing, goes a long way to show just how far removed from reality this man's thinking is.

The fingerprint and firearms experts--really intriguing. I have no idea what the firearms expert will say. We have never heard any serious stories of a gun being used, so WHY?

And we've never heard anything really definite saying that they used fingerprints in this investigation, so WHY THAT?

[drjulie]

My guessses/opinions/beliefs....
Banking/finance - I think they may want to show that there was financial strain and this could have been a piece of the motive. It gets a bit complicated (e.g., Michael Peterson trial last summer). The prosecution tried to paint a picture of financial difficulty in that case but the defense was able to present a different interpretation of the same facts. I was very impressed with the defense on that point. Here we may have refinancing of the home, possibly credit cards, other soures of income (illegal or legal, such as his expense accounts) etc.
Handwriting - I definately do not think it's a personality analysis. This is not an insanity defense and even if it was they would use something more valid than handwriting (like an MMPI). I think this may relate to the banking/finance. Perhaps Scott forged signatures on documents - credit card accounts, bank accounts, etc. may have been opened without Laci's knowledge. There also could be insurance policies that we are not aware of.
Fingerprints - Interesting!!! My guess is fingerprints on the duct tape.
Firearms - I think this question may be due to the fact that he had guns, nothing more. Some people are very prejudiced against people who have firearms. They assume that if you have a gun you are more likely to be involved in illegal/inappropriate activities.
Drugs/alcohol/affairs - Again I think the defense wants to exclude people who would be very prejudiced by this information. If a defendant takes recreational drugs a particular type of person would be very offended by that and may go on to assume that the defendant is more likely to be guilty.
JMO...and based somewhat on my two experiences with jury duty. Many of the questions asked on the questionnaire and verbally related to prejudices we might have. On one trial that involved alcohol the defendant's attorney asked each of us about our drinking habits...did we ever drink, had we ever been drunk, how do we feel about people who drink, etc. The attorney also asked about firearm beliefs however, firearms were not involved in the crime. The defendant just possessed them.

[RGSpincich]

As DA says, that is thought provoking stuff, CO. BUT what about question #45 on the questionnaire?
"Do you have a bumper sticker on your car?"

[drjulie]

I don't know if this has been posted yet - but you can read the actual questionnaire at the modbee

www.modbee.com/man/peterson/questionnaire.pdf

[Sandylapper]

In and out these days. Thanks! Hope all is going well for you!

[Canadian Outrage]

I just re-read it this morning LOL. I would hate to count the spelling errors. It was late and I was tired. I really can spell. *L*

[Canadian Outrage]

I agree with you about the fingerprint analysis being used to determine his character. Not gonna happen. God knows, he showed his lack of character or bad character, if you will, without somebody decifering the size and shape of letters. The other points, I'm convinced there is real EVIDENCE in this case. It's coming. We can be prepared for some "hot" moments. Can't wait to see Geragos flipping around the Court room in his bound to be, many eruptions!! LOL

[Canadian Outrage]

Yeah I can't believe that that question was even approved by the Judge. I suppose it may be important to the defense if people are Republicans, Pro-Life, etc.

[Lucy Lake]

Maybe having a bumper sticker would indicate a person is more passionate about their beliefs while no bumper sticker would show a person is more laid back. Which isn't necessarily so, I just don't want to mess up my car.

[Canadian Outrage]

Same here grizz. I don't like stickers plastered all over my cars.

[Lucy Lake]

Hi CO, that was an interesting article, sure raises lots of questions.

[Canadian Outrage]

I'm anxious to see what is coming. The picking of the Jury however, is likely the most important thing at hand. It can make or break a case.

[Lucy Lake]

Maybe the more liberal among us are the ones with bumper stickers.

This afternoon I noticed lots of middle aged, pony-tailed guys driving around in their beat up old vans with bumper stickers. I live in what is known as Berkeley East, so maybe it isn't true in other parts of the country.

[Canadian Outrage]

LOL - I call them the Hollywood Hippies!! They never seem have gotten out of the 60's!!

[Lucy Lake]

**Hollywood Hippies**

This medium sized Montana town is one of the most liberal places on the planet and is full of old hippies; they're stuck in the 60's when they aren't hugging a tree.