Scott Peterson is led into Stanislaus County Superior Court before his arraignment hearing early Monday afternoon. The red jumpsuit means that he is a maximum-security prisoner.
TED BENSON/THE BEE
Posted on 04/22/2003 5:34:21 AM PDT by runningbear
Scott Peterson proclaims innocence to two counts of first-degree murder
Scott Peterson is led into Stanislaus County Superior Court before his arraignment hearing early Monday afternoon. The red jumpsuit means that he is a maximum-security prisoner.
TED BENSON/THE BEE
Scott Peterson proclaims innocence to two counts of first-degree murder
By JOHN COTÉ and PATRICK GIBLIN
BEE STAFF WRITERS
Published: April 22, 2003, 05:09:54 AM PDT
Scott Peterson pleaded innocent Monday to two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife Laci and their unborn son, Conner.
"I am not guilty," Peterson said during his arraignment in a packed Stanislaus County courtroom.
Deputies led Peterson, clean-shaven and with his recently dyed hair cut, into court. His wrists and ankles were shackled, and he wore a red jail jumpsuit.
Peterson showed little emotion through most of the proceedings. He remained stoic as the charges in the death of his wife were read.
However, he closed his eyes tightly and he began to lose his composure as Superior Court Judge Nancy Ashley read the charges involving the murder of his unborn son.
Peterson is charged with three special allegations, one of which would make him eligible for the death pen- alty.
That allegation involves committing more than one murder. The other two allegations involve premeditated murder.
Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton said at a news conference Monday that he has not decided whether to seek the death pen- alty.
That decision likely will be made before a pre-trial hearing scheduled for May 19, Brazelton said.
Ashley ordered Peterson held without bail pending a May 6 bail hearing.
During the arraignment, Peterson told Ashley that he had not retained an attorney. Ashley appointed Public Defender Tim Bazar to represent him.
Bazar had visited Peterson in jail about 10 a.m. Monday, even before he was officially appointed to handle the case.
"We plan to look at the police reports and their evidence and proceed from there," Bazar said before the arraignment. He could not be reached for comment afterward.
Veteran defense attorney Kirk McAllister had represented Peterson during much of the four-month investigation that began when Laci Peterson was reported missing Christmas Eve. Laci Peterson, 27, was eight months pregnant at the time.
Agents arrested Scott Peterson on Friday near Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla. Officials said they were concerned that Peterson would flee the country.
At the time of the arrest, he was sporting a full goatee and lightened hair and had more than $10,000 cash with him at the time of his arrest, a law enforcement source said Monday.
McAllister attended Monday's arraignment, but Bazar represented Peterson.
Before the hearing, McAllister cited attorney- client privilege in declining to say why he was no longer representing Peterson.
To do so, he said, might be construed as a voluntary waiving of the attorney-client privilege. And that could make all of McAllister's private conversations with Peterson and his family available for scrutiny by the district attorney.
Some speculated that cost was a reason why Peterson had turned to the public defender's office for legal representation.
Brazelton said that was not unusual.
arrest warrant
Booking Declaration.
Booking Resgister.
Complaint-criminal.
Laci's family voices grief, gratitude for supporters
EXCERPTED:
Laci's family voices grief, gratitude for supporters
By TY PHILLIPS
BEE STAFF WRITER
Published: April 22, 2003, 05:11:28 AM PDT
Laci Peterson's mother stared into the bright lights of dozens of camera crews Monday to give her daughter something that had been taken away.
A voice.
"In my mind," Sharon Rocha said, "I keep hearing Laci say to me, 'Mom, please find me and Conner and bring us home. I'm scared. Please don't leave us out here all alone. I want to come home. Please don't stop looking for us.'"
Behind Rocha, Laci Peterson's other fam-ily members broke into sobs. Her friends, mostly seated together in the front row, began leaning into each other, holding on for strength. Veteran reporters set down their pens to wipe away tears.
Rocha's speech served as the emotional crescendo to Monday's news conference at the Modesto Police Department -- the first time the Rocha family spoke publicly since learning that Laci's body had been recovered.
Moments later, Rocha focused seething words toward her daughter's killer. Again, Rocha brought back the thought of her daughter's voice.
"I can only hope that the sound of Laci's voice begging for her life and begging for the life of her unborn child is heard over and over and over again in the mind of that person every day for the rest of his life," Rocha said.
"The person responsible should be held accountable and punished for the tragedy and devastation forced upon so many of us."
Rocha stopped short of naming Scott Peterson as her daughter's suspected killer.
"I know you guys want us to say something about Scott," Laci's step-father, Ron Grantski said earlier in the news conference. "We're not going to do that. ... I feel sorry for (Scott's parents,) Jackie and Lee. They don't deserve this. But Laci and our family didn't either."
Dennis Rocha, Laci's father, gave a short speech, thanking those who had helped in the effort to find his daughter. News conferences have been extremely difficult for him emotionally, and he seemed unable to finish Monday.
One of Laci's longtime friends, Rene Tomlinson, spoke about the qualities that drew so many people to want to be around Laci.
"She taught us how to laugh," Tomlinson said. "And not just giggle. How to laugh loud and often."
Sharon Rocha used the first half of her statement to thank all the volunteers who helped the family, posting fliers and searching.
"If Laci were here now, she'd be absolutely amazed at the outpouring of love and concern for her and Conner," Rocha said. "I know in my heart she is fully aware of the love we have for her."
In the four months since Laci Peterson was reported missing on Christmas Eve, Rocha's public demeanor has remained somewhat measured. Rocha has offered the world honest emotion and heartfelt words, but there always was a sense she was holding back from saying everything she was thinking and feeling.
That ended Monday.
(Excerpt) Read more at modestobee.com ...
I didn't hear that. I wonder how his parents will try to explain that. I wonder if Scott had Europe in mind.
I love the Post's headline:
SCOTT: I'M JUST MR. INNOCENT
"I knew I should have hit it further to the right on the 18th hole...
surely would have missed that durned bunker..."
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