Posted on 07/20/2004 5:33:48 AM PDT by runningbear
SCOTT'S LAWYER HACKS AWAY AT 'BLOOD' EVIDENCE
SCOTT'S LAWYER HACKS AWAY AT 'BLOOD' EVIDENCE
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July 20, 2004 -- REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A series of suspicious stains in Scott Peterson's pickup truck were not blood, and cops couldn't link a hair in his toolbox to his murdered wife, a detective testified yesterday. Modesto, Calif., Detective Henry Hendee returned to the witness stand at Peterson's murder trial as defense lawyer Mark Geragos resumed his attack on the investigation into the deaths of Peterson's pregnant wife, Laci, and her fetus.
Jurors were told that eight stains found in Peterson's truck, which cops had believed were blood, all tested negative.
Geragos also asked Hendee about a hair found inside the large toolbox in the bed of Peterson's truck, pointing out that tests indicated it came from an officer at the crime scene.
Prosecutors allege Peterson used the toolbox to conceal Laci's body while taking it from the couple's Modesto home, where he murdered her, to San Francisco Bay.
Hendee acknowledged no incriminating evidence was found on the box.
As for a single strand of hair found in Peterson's pliers, prosecutors have already said DNA tests show that one is likely Laci's.
Prosecutors allege Peterson murdered his wife on or around Dec. 24, 2002, then dumped her corpse in the bay. The body, and that of the fetus, washed up on shore the next spring.
Geragos asserts that someone else abducted and killed Laci, then ..........
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Man's '03 'admission' eliminated
Man's '03 'admission' eliminated
BY GARTH STAPLEY and JOHN COTÉ
BEE STAFF WRITERS
Last Updated: July 20, 2004, 05:06:40 AM PDT
REDWOOD CITY -- Modesto Police discounted a sex offender's claim that he killed Laci Peterson because of the man's "history of mental illness," a detective testified Monday in Scott Peterson's murder trial. Also Monday:
Detective Ray Coyle said police found a diary in a dresser while searching the Petersons' home three days after the pregnant woman vanished on Christmas Eve 2002. No details were revealed.
Scott Peterson told police he made a concrete anchor in his warehouse, Detective Dodge Hendee testified, though a pitcher found amid cement powder there did not match a homemade anchor recovered from his boat. Prosecutors have suggested Peterson made a number of anchors to help sink his wife's body in San Francisco Bay.
Stains on the tailgate of Peterson's pickup, the steering wheel and a large storage box in the bed all tested negative for blood, Hendee testified. Only one spot on the interior driver-side door glowed -- signifying blood -- when FBI technicians sprayed it with a special chemical, the detective said........
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Sex Offenders Said Questioned on Peterson
Sex Offenders Said Questioned on Peterson
Tuesday July 20, 2004 12:16 PM
AP Photo NY117
By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) - Scott Peterson's attorney got a detective to acknowledge that police questioned hundreds of registered sex offenders and parolees as possible suspects in the murder of Peterson's wife, but never found 24 and did not always check alibis.
One potential suspect even confessed to the crime but the man's admission was discounted because he had mental problems, Detective Ray Coyle said Monday under questioning from defense attorney Mark Geragos.
``He said he murdered a female named Lisa Peterson, right? ... He said the only witness was the dog ... He said he broke her neck?'' Geragos asked Coyle.
``Yes,'' Coyle replied. .......
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Spots, yes. Blood, no. Peterson detective recounts dead ends
Spots, yes. Blood, no. Peterson detective recounts dead ends
Defense lawyer Mark Geragos cross-examines Detective Henry Hendee Monday.
By Harriet Ryan
Court TV
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — In the end, the spots on the kitchen floor weren't blood, the hair in Scott Peterson's toolbox wasn't Laci's, and the police detectives' "perfect" anchor theory did not hold.
Evidence that seemed to promise insight into the disappearance of Peterson's pregnant wife often led to dead ends, a detective admitted Monday at the fertilizer salesman's murder trial.
The investigator's recounting of fruitless leads underscored the fact that even two months into the capital case, much about Laci Peterson's death remains a mystery.
Prosecutors have suggested Peterson killed the petite brunette in their tidy home, drove her in his truck to a warehouse, packed her in his fishing boat and took her to the San Francisco Bay where he threw her body into the tossing water.
Story continues ........
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THE PETERSON TRIAL
285 sex offenders ruled out as suspects
Defense team tries to show police work was hasty, haphazard
Stacy Finz and Kelly St. John, Chronicle Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
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Modesto police searching for Laci Peterson's killer ruled out a number of registered sex offenders and parolees without ever checking what appeared to be flimsy alibis, a detective testified Monday.
Investigators reviewing 285 sex offenders and parolees also dismissed the confession of an ex-convict after concluding he had a history of mental illness, Detective Ray Coyle testified.
The testimony came as the defense in the double-murder trial of Laci Peterson's husband, Scott Peterson, tried to show that investigators cut corners while tracking down the ex-cons and haphazardly cut them loose because they had already concluded the 31-year-old salesman was guilty of killing his wife and unborn child.
Coyle, a prosecution witness who was recalled to the stand in Redwood City by defense attorney Mark Geragos, acknowledged that in some cases investigators had accepted unverifiable explanations for some of the ex-convicts' whereabouts Dec. 24, 2002, the day Laci Peterson was reported missing. Some of the sex offenders and parolees lived within a mile of the Petersons' Modesto home, Coyle said.
"So you say (attempts to contact all 285 ex-convicts) were completed?" Geragos asked. "That does not mean by any means that (they) were eliminated as suspects?" .........
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The Scott Peterson Trial:
Can Prosecutors Win the Case? And If So, How?
The Scott Peterson Trial:
Can Prosecutors Win the Case? And If So, How?
By JULIE HILDEN
julhil@aol.com
---- Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2004
So far, the prosecution's case against Scott Peterson, in his ongoing California murder trial, has been unimpressive. The prosecution's opening was unconvincing - relying heavily on weak circumstantial evidence that could have an innocent interpretation.
For instance, prosecutors pointed out that (in a wiretapped call) Scott Peterson gave a whistle of relief when an object found on the floor of San Francisco Bay was an anchor, not his wife Laci's body. But so what? Maybe he was relieved because this meant she might still be alive. Is it really evidence suggesting Peterson murdered his wife, if he was happy that an object found was not his wife's body?
To take another example, prosecutors noted in their opening that the jewelry Laci wore every day was still in her bedroom when she disappeared. They imply that therefore she never left the house, and Scott must have killed her there.
But would Laci necessarily have worn her diamond earrings and sapphire ring to walk the dog - which is what the defense, supported by three witnesses, will maintain that she was doing when she disappeared? It wouldn't have been very surprising, especially given that she was eight months pregnant, if she'd walked the dog in her pajamas.
In the last few weeks, as the prosecution's case has unfolded with witness testimony and other evidence, it hasn't improved much. As a result, commentators have been almost universally harsh in their condemnation of the prosecution's effort.
Meanwhile -- as I noted in an earlier column -- Justin Falconer, the juror who was recently dismissed, was adamantly anti-prosecution. . If even one remaining juror feels as strongly as Falconer, the prosecution is in serious trouble.........
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Stains In Peterson Truck Weren't Blood
Stains In Peterson Truck Weren't Blood
POSTED: 7:16 am PDT July 19, 2004
UPDATED: 4:55 pm PDT July 19, 2004
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Tests showed that many of the suspicious stains in Scott Peterson's pickup truck were not blood, and there was no incriminating evidence in a tool box in the vehicle, a detective testified Monday at Peterson's murder trial.
Video
Video On Demand: Claudine Wong Reports On Monday's Peterson Testimony
Video
Video On Demand: Excused Juror Justin Falconer Talks About Death Threat, Fame And Peterson Trial
Detective Henry "Dodge" Hendee returned to the witness stand as defense attorney Mark Geragos continued to attack the investigation, highlighting for jurors that seven stains found in Peterson's truck -- blotches in places including the steering wheel and in the truck's bed that police suspected were blood -- all tested negative.
Geragos continued to pepper the detective with questions about even more tests on suspicious stains found in the Petersons' kitchen, bedroom and on a pair of gloves taken from his truck, repeatedly asking, "What were the results?"
"Negative," Hendee replied.
Hendee said one test of a spot on the inside driver's door of Peterson's truck did test positive for blood. Peterson previously told authorities he had cut his hand and they would likely find his blood on the truck.
Geragos then asked Hendee about a hair found inside a large tool box in the bed of Peterson's truck, pointing out that testing indicated it came from a law enforcement officer processing the crime scene.
"At the time I thought it could possibly be Laci's," Hendee said.
Prosecutors allege Peterson used the tool box to conceal Laci Peterson's body during the drive from the couple's Modesto home to San Francisco Bay.
Hendee acknowledged Monday that no incriminating evidence was found on the tool box...........
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(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
You are definitely right about men vs. women, and the contents of dresser drawers!
One never hears of a husband going through his wife's wallet, either--unless of course he is looking for cash!
I wish they'd get to this diary, and we could find out if anything was in it! But then... I wish they'd get to a LOT of things!!!
I've absolutely HAD IT with CTV reporting on this case. The only person I can stand is Beth Karas. She pointed out to Lisa Bloom this morning that we have only heard from HALF of the Prosecutions witnesses. She mentioned the wiretaps, Amber, Experts, Sonar etc. She said she's sure that the Prosecution isn't happy with the reporting but she said the Distaso knows what he's doing. SO, I have to believe that they are allowing this to go this way for now. The best is being saved for the last and it will be, I hope, One damaging piece of evidence on top of another and another etc. The wiretaps alone will be powerful. In the meantime, it's making me nuts!! I've taken to swearing at the Television and then changing the channel.
I know julie and today I am going to email the Judge again. The Judge should declare a mistrial and start a new one with a new Jury immediately. Peterson would NOT see the outside for even 1 second. The Prosecutors would have his charges filed before he could get back to his cell.!! Either that or they need to be sequestered. I don't know about you guys but these people like Catherine Crier and Abrams etc. ALL need to be peppered with emails and told that we are shutting their shows off. They are nothing but cheap Hollywood trash!
Well, we know it's procedural matters that are delaying the playing of Scott's many media interviews. That is, the media filed motions, and those have to be heard on the 29th. (And I'm sure the media outlets were happy to oblige Geragos by creating a delay.)
As for Amber and the wiretaps, my dim memory tells me that they already had the hearings on the wiretaps' admissibility, during the time when they had the prelim. I don't know of any procedural issues that might further delay the use of Amber and the wiretapped conversations. So I wish they'd get to that stuff SOON.
Same thing for the side scan sonar: I don't know of any procedural things that might delay use of whatever (if anything) they found with sonar BEFORE the bodies washed ashore. So they need to get to it!
And finally, I'd like to FINALLY find out what it was that made them change this case from "missing" to "homicide", in March 2003.
Hi pinz!! You know you are right that there was a LOT of thought and planning that went into carrying this out. The only blood found was on the inside pocket of the drivers door on Peterson's truck. Whether he strangled her or whether he did as you suggested, she didn't have a chance against him. He's a coward, I have no doubt she didn't she anything coming. I'm beginning to think that he made SURE there was none of her blood anywhere. What a horrible thought that she would be dumped in the Bay alive but just unconscious or semi-conscious!!
Thank you for the information. I suppose that drug detection depends to a certain extent on the invasiveness of the procedure. In living people it typically involves testing blood and/or urine for certain by products. In dead people, obviously, you can look at the internal organs. Unfortunately Laci didn't have her organs (except for the uterus) so they couldn't do as much. We are assuming that if he drugged her that he used GHB. Has GHB evidence been presented at trial? Or is that a rumor? I can't remember. I've had rape cases in which we were pretty sure that the victim was drugged with Rohypnol and they couldn't detect it on the rape exam.
We had the same thing here in Kelowna last summer RB. It was terrible. Many people lost their homes. Even some of the firefighters had close calls. There were walls of fire 100 feet high and moving at a phenomenal pace. Scary stuff.
"Dizziness, nausea, respiratory problems..."
This is a real possibility in my mind. I think he liked having Laci at home and his other life on the side. IMO he did not want a child. You make an excellent point - illness is not a part of a "normal" pregnancy. I wonder if the prosecution investigated this?
Dev WHY hasn't the Judge sent this sorry A$$ a letter with a stiff warning???? Also WHY isn't he warning these sitting Jurors??? PLEASE tell me we don't have ANOTHER ITO!! I don't think so but we all may be surprised on the 29th. If he doesn't declare a mistrial he should surely give this Jury a tongue lashing.
Someone on another board suggested that Scott's explanation for calling Amber repeatedly after his wife went "missing" is going to be that he suspected her of causing Laci to "disappear".
Fortunately, there's a good answer to that one: if Scott suspected Amber, why didn't he TELL police about Amber??
I think the gag order is pretty toothless, CO. And we know the uproar that would be caused if anyone tried to curtail fat little Justin's "right to free speech". Justin is off the jury, so I assume that means he is not covered by the gag order at this point.
And obviously nothing is going to stand in the way of Justin's getting his 15+ minutes of TV time, and his pathetic earnings from jumping from TV show to TV show.
OTOH, I'm sure the judge could admonish the jury if he thought there was any truth to Justin's comment that they "discussed the case all the time". I personally think Justin was just flapping his lips when he said that. He is obviously ignorant, and is just trying desperately to say anything that will keep the cameras pointed in his direction.
Dev one thing Peterson can NOT overcome is the STRONG EVIDENCE of his intent to flee. That evidence will bring with it, the instruction from the Judge that it SHOWS CONSCIOUSNESS OF GUILT!! I'm still not listening to the naysayers, even on this thread. The Prosecution is only HALF way through. NONE of the wiretap evidence has been heard, NONE of Ambers evidence has been heard, NONE of the Experts have been heard, NONE of the evidence from the MARCH 12th Side Scan Sonar has been heard or seen. THAT was a different crew altogether than the one that testified they found nothing. Distaso IS allowing Geragos, to paint the floor away on himself. It is the REPORTING that is pi$$ing me off the most. Just some research on these Lawyers tells you a lot. Rick Distaso has tried many many murder cases and he has a 90% WIN RECORD. I think this is Geragos's 2nd. The first one was settled in a deal. So in effect he's NEVER won a murder case. Geragos is a Hollywood clown. According to Beth Karas this morning, something made Geragos STOP with the jokes. NOTHING but NOTHING is funny about the subject matter in that Courtroom. And he's a bonefide A$$hole to attempt to make it so. Somebody said something to him that is obvious according to Beth.
I've wondered that myself a couple times, DA. Your connections make sense.
If he had tested drug strength, maybe he finally got it calibrated correctly this last time.
Don't some drugs stay in the blood, others go into tissue, still others go into bone marrow? I don't really have a clue. Got an "A" in biology because the Tigers won in '68. Sr. Arsenia (no lie!) had a strange grading process!
He seemed pretty sure that there was nothing to find at the house. On the other hand, he thought he eluded his tails pretty well too. lol
Pinz
Good point about the diary Spunky. As to the GHB it breaks down within hours. That is to be expected. The good thing about finding caffeine in her system is that we now know she had a drink of say, coffee, or cola or some other drink that contains caffeine just before she died. THAT drink COULD have contained GHB but it would never be able to be detected even days later. Not so with caffeine. So the possibility hangs there.
Hey stranger. Nice to "see" you.
Petersons and Geragos go together like a hand and a glove. They ALL have NO morals and NO class and they are all proficient liars!! Good choice alright.
If she was planning to get a leg up on her Christmas cooking, she may have had a coke with her pizza. This might have given her a couple hours to get prep work done, the table set, etc. If the drug hit, she could have said, 'forget the table, I'm going to bed,' and started to undress.
Scott would not have risked punching, bashing, strangling etc. in the house, imo, because he had a plan that would leave no evidence.
Given his behavior 'sweet-talking (yech!) women, I would guess he may have been familiar with GBH before Laci's pregnancy.
Neenah do what I did - email the Judge AND the Prosecutors for that matter. Here is the addy: courtfeedback@alameda.courts.ca.gov I would like to see the Judge in particular get a HEAP of emails. It's HIS responsibility to see that these Jurors adhere STRICTLY to the rules. If they can't function on the honor system then they have no honor and should not be jurors.!!
I have NEVER been able to stand Greta Van Sustern. I grew to despise her in the Simpson trial and afterward. She has done nothing but get worse. Catherine Crier used to be good but she has, as you say, become nothing but a media whore. Nancy on the other hand most of the time is the lone voice of reason however, I have NOT appreciated her having that IDIOT #5 ON her show. I sent her an email and let her know that. Whether they give a darn who knows. If their ratings start dropping tho, they'll care.
Defense in Scott Peterson Trial Questions Detective About Sex Offender Investigations
Source: kcbs
Publication date: 2004-07-20
(KCBS/AP) - The defense in the Scott Peterson double murder trial questioned a Modesto Police detective today about the investigation of several sex offenders in connection with the disappearance and murder of Scott's wife Laci Peterson. KCBS reporter Bob Melrose at the courthouse in Redwood City says defense attorney Mark Geragos is trying to convince the jury that investigators did not do a thorough investigation, and that Laci Peterson may have been kidnapped and murdered by someone else.
Today, he cross examined Detective Ray Coyle about a list of sex offenders. Coyle said investigators did the best they could to check those people out, but in nearly all cases, they could not find them or verify their alibis.
Detective Ray Coyle already testified that Modesto police investigating Laci Peterson's disappearance questioned hundreds of registered sex offenders and parolees, but decided not to follow up even though they couldn't verify many of their alibis.
Attorney Mark Geragos repeatedly got the detective to acknowledge that police closed the cases on many of the offenders, marking the files ``complete,'' without eliminating them as suspects.
Holding a list of names in his hand, Geragos asked the detective about several sex offenders with sketchy alibis, including one possible suspect whom Coyle said confessed to the crime. The man's admission was discounted because he had mental problems, Coyle said when he first took the stand Monday.
``He said he murdered a female named Lisa Peterson, right? ... He said the only witness was the dog ... He said he broke her neck?'' defense attorney Mark Geragos asked Coyle Monday.
``Yes,'' Coyle replied.
Geragos continued to tick off more names Tuesday as he worked to create reasonable doubt in the jurors' minds that Peterson killed his pregnant wife. ........
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