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Scott Peterson proclaims innocence to two counts of first-degree murder
The Modesto Bee ^ | Published: April 22, 2003, 05:09:54 AM PDT | John Cote' and Patrick Giblin

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 ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: alimony; avoidanceof; avoidingalimony; avoidingchildsupport; avoidingreallife; bleachblondeguy; capitalpunishment; childsupport; conner; deathpenaltytime; deathrow; getarope; getawaywithit; guilty; killerhusbands; killyerwife; laci; lacipeterson; peterson; sonkiller; sunin; sweetgirl; sweetwife; whatasweetgirl; wifekiller
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Yesterday's events..
1 posted on 04/22/2003 5:34:21 AM PDT by runningbear
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To: runningbear; Rheo; spectre; Jaded; Mystery Y; Searching4Justice; brneyedgirl; Scupoli; sissyjane; ..
pinging on yesterday's events, and images of legal documents.
2 posted on 04/22/2003 5:37:50 AM PDT by runningbear (Lurkers beware, Freeping is public opinions based on facts, theories, and news online.......)
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To: runningbear
wow, get a load of the marital status on the booking register:
single!
3 posted on 04/22/2003 5:39:11 AM PDT by runningbear (Lurkers beware, Freeping is public opinions based on facts, theories, and news online.......)
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To: runningbear
My prediction:

Peterson will be convicted of double murder. He will be sentenced to death.

While he is waiting the 25 years or so it will take for his sentence to be carried out, he will receive thousands of pieces of fan mail from adoring women.

He will marry one of his fans and be permitted conjugal visits with her.

In the meantime NOW, NARAL, PFAW and other groups will file many suits in an attempt to argue that murdering Conner Peterson wasn't murder at all, but simply a private decision between a woman and her murderer.

4 posted on 04/22/2003 5:40:44 AM PDT by wideawake (Support our troops and their Commander-in-Chief)
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To: runningbear
Thanks again for the pings, rb!

Single ... that's the first thing I noticed too.
It says it all.
5 posted on 04/22/2003 5:41:34 AM PDT by maggief
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To: runningbear
have to state another thing, over the weekend media stating SP had 10k cash on him. How come not stated in the property in the booking register? States, no cash, but a Visa card, and I gather that Mercedes belong to Joe Peterson?
6 posted on 04/22/2003 5:43:17 AM PDT by runningbear (Lurkers beware, Freeping is public opinions based on facts, theories, and news online.......)
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To: wideawake
that is terrible but you did sum it up as all doable...
7 posted on 04/22/2003 5:44:08 AM PDT by runningbear (Lurkers beware, Freeping is public opinions based on facts, theories, and news online.......)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: runningbear
this article is too funny, in some respects...

Courthouse media frenzy lures crowd of the curious

Excerpted:

Courthouse media frenzy lures crowd of the curious

By TY PHILLIPS
BEE STAFF WRITER

Published: April 22, 2003, 05:32:10 AM PDT

Attorney Kirk McAllister nearly made it unscathed to the corner of 11th and I streets Monday afternoon. But the enemy waited a block away, in front of the Stanislaus County Courthouse. Scores of reporters and camera people stood and watched in all directions, looking for players making entrances in the Scott Peterson murder arraignment.

At 1:08 p.m., someone spotted McAllister, who had represented Scott Peterson until the arraignment, approaching from across the street. The man tucked his camera beneath his arm and quietly sprinted away from the throng in a mad dash.

Another reporter saw what was happening and took off behind him. Then another. And another.

"Where are you going?" one reporter asked a fleeing colleague.

"There he is," the colleague replied, talking and running in full stride.

"Who?"

"It's McAllister."

The reporter caught up, and they took off together. The rumble grew. Within seconds, the entire pack had crossed 11th Street and formed a mob around McAllister.

Enter Elizabeth and William Schwarz of Ceres. They had just finished eating lunch at Dewz Restaurant, which exits onto 11th and I. The media swarm nearly swallowed the couple.

"All of a sudden, everybody was running toward us," Elizabeth Schwarz said. "We had to back up to get out of the way. We stood under the awning until it all went by."

10 posted on 04/22/2003 5:47:40 AM PDT by runningbear (Lurkers beware, Freeping is public opinions based on facts, theories, and news online.......)
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To: runningbear
Maybe their computer program didn't allow for that many digits!
11 posted on 04/22/2003 5:48:26 AM PDT by laker_dad
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To: runningbear
I also couldn't help but notice that the cash amount says 0.00. I wonder where the $10K went?
12 posted on 04/22/2003 5:49:38 AM PDT by Space Wrangler (Now I know what it's like washing windows when you know that there are pigeons on the roof...)
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To: The Boston Stranger
Hoping that the arresting officer taunted SP with that little detail by asking SP and allowing him to provide the answer.
13 posted on 04/22/2003 5:51:52 AM PDT by NautiNurse
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To: Space Wrangler
did they give it to the RO of the Mercedes, or Mom and Dad Petersons?..... skimming?.....
14 posted on 04/22/2003 5:52:19 AM PDT by runningbear (Lurkers beware, Freeping is public opinions based on facts, theories, and news online.......)
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To: laker_dad
LOL.. not up in technology gadgets... ;o)
15 posted on 04/22/2003 5:52:52 AM PDT by runningbear (Lurkers beware, Freeping is public opinions based on facts, theories, and news online.......)
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To: Space Wrangler
Maybe there is a separate receipt for the confiscation of the cash.
16 posted on 04/22/2003 5:54:35 AM PDT by The Red Zone
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To: The Red Zone
Then why even put a 'cash' box on the booking form? Or if there were a seperate receipt, why not put "see page 2" or something like that instead of 0.00? I'm beginning to wonder about that story, but then again Jackie was quick with the excuses for why he had it. Maybe we'll find out some more detail at the 5/6 bail hearing.
17 posted on 04/22/2003 5:58:59 AM PDT by Space Wrangler (Now I know what it's like washing windows when you know that there are pigeons on the roof...)
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To: runningbear
Thanks for the ping RB...Wow you have ood eyes. I missed the single status the first time through. Also notice he wasn't even wearing his wedding band...what a stupid moron.
18 posted on 04/22/2003 6:02:06 AM PDT by melodie (santa..i have been a good girl this year...all i really, really want for xmas, is a spec. ops. guy.)
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To: melodie
ood=good. haven't had enough coffee yet to be able to spell.
19 posted on 04/22/2003 6:05:17 AM PDT by melodie (santa..i have been a good girl this year...all i really, really want for xmas, is a spec. ops. guy.)
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To: runningbear
The cash was found during the search of the car. It was in the trunk. This would be separate paperwork.
20 posted on 04/22/2003 6:08:22 AM PDT by clouda
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