PETERSON GUILTY (Guilty 1st Deg M/Laci, Guilty 2nd Deg M/Conner w/Special Circumstances)

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

News Alert: Scott Peterson Verdict to be announced today at 4:00 Eastern Time.

[MaryJaneNC]

Well it taints the evidence....and the conviction since it is against the law...for jurors to do experiments. It was a huge mistake by the judge to allow this.

[Txsleuth]

I remember the exact show you are talking about-- It was Greta and she had her "gang" on and Geragos was one of them. Geragos and the guy from Minnesota? (can't remember name-longish hair) both said THEY wouldn't want to defend him because it looked like a SLAM DUNK.

[AnAmericanMother]

What little I have watched Nancy, she was adament that there was nothing to convict Scott on.

What you may be thinking of is her saying that there was no direct evidence in this case to convict. That's quite true - it's a very circumstantial case, nothing directly tying the defendant to the crime.

But IMHO the circumstantial evidence is pretty damning. Apparently the jury thought so too.

[Howlin]

...and the "testing" of evidence by a juror will allow for an appeal.

Did you miss the part where that juror kicked that juror off?

And Judge Napolitano thinks there will BE appeals (aren't there always?) and listed some of the things that could be appealed; I haven't heard him say that those appeals will be granted.

[MaryJaneNC]

Most of the legal experts said the evidence was not there. It could indeed be a reversal on appeal.

[Desecrated]

but that is my whole point it was not actuaally an experiment b/c the jury could not have come to any valid conclusion b/c the boat was not in the water. thus harmless error.

[Howlin]

I doubt that it will be even granted a hearing; this judge has covered his butt from Day One.

[AnAmericanMother]

Yeah, I'm outa the trial business too.

A busy trial practice and a gaggle of children don't mix well at all. I started looking to bail when I missed my daughter's kindergarten Christmas pageant (boo on the judge who set a trial for CHRISTMAS EVE!)

[Howlin]

BTW, death penalty cases are automatically appealed in most cases; I don't know about CA though.

[Hi Heels]

It ain't SF and it ain't LA....therefore, those people voted Bush.....

What a great month. Republican government. Muslim lunatic dead. Castro sick. Peterson fries. Marines winning. Democrats whining, and it's only the 12th.

[Carolinamom]

Doesn't circumstantial evidence carry the same weight as hard evidence in law?

[Christian4Bush]

I hope he gets the death penalty. He's eligible for it with the special circumstance.

I hope he fries as well.

Actually, here in Cali, he'd get the "triple cocktail". But in this case, I wouldn't mind the "Green Mile" treatment...though in the spirit of humanity, you must wet the sponge.

[SheLion]

But IMHO the circumstantial evidence is pretty damning. Apparently the jury thought so too.

Not just the jury. A lot of us believed that Snott was guilty of this horrible crime. We are very thankful he didn't walk out of there today, a free man.

[gg188]

Look at Gloria Alredd's bottom lip. She's got a fat lip. On the left side. Weird.

[Desecrated]

yes it is automatically appealed for years in cali as well

[Txsleuth]

I have heard of murder case that have resulted in a Guilty verdit when the body was never found!!!!!!!

[Howlin]

Yes, it is.

BTW, Geragos is getting totally trashed on CTV for not showing up today.

[Gucho]

"This story is more than just 'happened during a slow news cycle,' imo."

Our Troops in Fallujah is by no means a slow news cycle.

[Jokelahoma]

Well then I would put the question back to you... have you seen all the evidence? Did you hear all the testimony? Have you seen with your own eyes the exhibits that were presented? If not, you aren't in any better position than am I to judge what the jury did or did not see. I can only say that based on the little bit I heard, he seemed guilty. That, however, isn't the important part of this. The important part is that twelve people, charged with sitting and hearing the evidence for weeks, found him guilty.

Again, using your criteria ( "do you think these people didn't read the paper or watch the news?" ) no one can ever get a fair trial.

[Mo1]

They are ripping MG apart on Court TV for not showing up for the verdict