[Chancellor Palpatine]

It has to be premeditation. His actions don't resemble what you'd expect from someone who accidentally killed, then tried to cover it up. His arrogance has premeditation written all over it, IMHO.

[Dante3]

I tend to agree that it was premeditated.

Also, there was a report (perhaps not accurate) that he had been checking on his computer about the tides.

IMHO, Att. Gen. Lockyer was grandstanding at the press conference. He was the only one who read every word he said. Then he pops up on Larry King, making me wonder of he is CNN's boy.