Former Attorney Says Defense Is 'Strong'Kirk McAllister Is Protecting Key Witnesses

NBC11 ^ | May 1, 2003 | Karen Brown

[runningbear]

Former Attorney Says Defense Is 'Strong'
Kirk McAllister Is Protecting Key Witnesses

Attorney McAllister

Former Attorney Says Defense Is 'Strong'
Kirk McAllister Is Protecting Key Witnesses

Karen Brown

POSTED: 10:25 p.m. PDT May 1, 2003
UPDATED: 10:58 p.m. PDT May 1, 2003

MODESTO, Calif. -- Scott Peterson's former attorney says he has some powerful evidence that will help defend Peterson against charges that he murdered his wife, Laci, and his unborn son.

Scott Peterson's original attorney, Kirk McAllister (pictured left) said his office has uncovered evidence that will exonerate Peterson -- evidence that will be turned over to his new attorney. Defense sources say the new attorney will be Mark Garagos, NBC11's Karen Brown reported.

To send condolences Laci Case(my insert)

Condolences:
1508 Coffee Road
Suite H
Modesto, CA 95355

McAllister told NBC11 that the defense's case is "strong."

When asked why, he said, "because we investigated it instead of calling press conferences like the police did."

The key to Peterson's defense will be the testimony of witnesses uncovered by McAllister, witnesses he says need to be protected, Brown reported.

"I'm protecting witnesses, because I have concerns for them if I go public," he said.

According to defense sources, Los Angeles attorney Mark Garagos -- who has represented high-profile clients like Winona Ryder -- will take over the case Friday morning.

The current public defender says getting Garagos will only strengthen Peterson's defense.

"I think he's going to do a great job," said Kent Faulkner, the deputy public defender. "He's got the resources. He's got the knowledge. He's got the connections. I think it'll change the landscape of the way the case is tried."

Meanwhile, the District Attorney's office issued a statement saying, "We treat all cases as the case needs to be treated. Who the defense attorney is, is not going to change what we do."

In the meantime, Laci Peterson's family is busy preparing for the memorial that will take place Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Modesto.

Scott Peterson has not made an official request to attend that memorial, but the sheriff here says if that request is made, he'll deny it, Brown reported. Sign-up For Breaking News E-mail Alerts Copyright 2003 by NBC11.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,

Public defender says he believes Geragos will assist Peterson

EXCERPTED:

Public defender says he believes Geragos will assist Peterson

By JOHN COTÉ
BEE STAFF WRITER

Published: May 2, 2003, 05:11:14 AM PDT

Stanislaus County Public Defender Tim Bazar said he expects Los Angeles attorney Mark Geragos to step in today to defend Scott Peterson, who is charged with murdering his wife and unborn son.

"I do anticipate that he is going to come in on the case,"

Bazar said Thursday afternoon. "But I've got to hear it from the judge."

Peterson, 30, is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner.

Superior Court Judge Nancy Ashley appointed the public defender to the case last week. A hearing scheduled for 8:30 a.m. today before Judge Al Girolami is designated for substitution of counsel.

If Geragos steps in, the public defender's office would turn over the case completely

Bazar said.

"It's just not appropriate for a county agency to take a secondary role," Bazar said. "We wouldn't be in a position to actually control the course of the case."

Bazar said his office has canceled one contract extended to a potential expert, and ceased efforts to retain other experts and investigators.

"I don't think it'd be prudent to spend county money on a case where it appears we would be off the case in a matter of hours," Bazar said.

Geragos said Wednesday on the CNN program "Larry King Live" that he would make a decision on the case Thursday. But Geragos did not return calls Thursday.

In Modesto on Tuesday, Geragos met with Peterson and representatives of the public defender's office.

LA lawyer expected to take case

Laci Peterson

LA lawyer expected to take case

By JOHN COTÉ
BEE STAFF WRITER

Published: May 2, 2003, 05:11:44 AM PDT

About 3,000 people are ex-pected to attend a Sunday afternoon memorial service for Laci Peterson, the Modesto woman whose remains were found last month along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay.

That turnout would be more than double the estimated 1,200 people who nearly a year ago paid their respects to Chandra Levy, a Modesto woman whose disappearance, like Peterson's, gripped the nation.

The 24-year-old Levy was the subject of a major search and intense media coverage after she disappeared in 2001 in Washington, D.C., where she had just completed a federal internship. Her remains were found almost 13 months later in a District of Columbia park.

The body of Peterson's unborn son, Conner, washed ashore about a mile from his mother's body. Scott Peterson, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in the slayings of his wife and son. He faces the death penalty.

The memorial service is set to take place on what would have been Laci Peterson's 28th birthday.

"The family wanted it to be on her birthday," spokeswoman Kim Petersen said.

Family and friends are slated to speak at the memorial service, which will include a video tribute, choir performance and other music.

"There will be songs that were some of Laci's favorites and ones that had a lot of meaning to the family," Petersen said.

The memorial service is set to start at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church, and is expected to last an hour.

Streets near the large church generally are closed for Sunday services, but there will be more closures this week, and they will be longer, police said.

The city will have 17 officers on duty around the church Sunday, Lt. Gary Watts said. Four will be working overtime, and another four will be reserves.

The extra police were required because several scheduled officers already are assigned to other events on the Cinco de Mayo weekend, he said. The city will absorb the approximately $1,200 extra cost, Watts said.

[Rusty Roberts]

Actually, a speedy trial, with a change in venue could benifit Scott. The DA, for all it's talk is no where ready to put on it's case. This tactic worked for OJ, it could work for Scott as well. He will not be less hated in one to two years, and, as has been pointed out, several of these "witnesses" are getting on in years and might not be around come trial date.

It's a roll of the dice either way, but he's been doing that ever since 12/23.

[Rusty Roberts]

"Those Peterson parents are so full of S--t!!"

This just begggggs....They are full of the s--t Scott has lost,lol

[Canadian Outrage]

Peterson is pretty arrogant. I mean does he not realize that cameras really DO take pictures??? Maybe he's just good at having affairs and this is the first one to catch up to him. But back to the rolling the dice etc. Surely, please tell me, that California would NOT want to set another wife murderer free. For one thing the OJ case was won strictly by race baiting!! THAT Jury had decided they were'nt going to find OJ guilty on the first day of the trial. It wouldn't have mattered what the Prosecutors did. In fact the amount of blood and DNA evidence that they had was an avalanche and just because one little sample might get contaminated it certainly doesn't make it somebody else's blood. It was LUDICROUS but those prosecutors were cooked the day the Jury was selected.

[Canadian Outrage]

OH FOFL!! Good point. If the poor boy keeps losing weight he might just disappear.

[Canadian Outrage]

I believe you. There had to be a number of plea bargained resolutions.

[runningbear]

RG...thanks, they worked from this link this time... lol...

[runningbear]

watching Geragos, well see about how well he would do on this case. He is for one, rebuying the public's opinion on gaining SP innocence, and 2, he is experience in media savvy control.. But I am not sure on him being really really really good as a trial attorney. All pending... He is trying be a Johnny Cochrane... He ain't Johnny!

[Rusty Roberts]

The thing is with these eye witnesses, even if they were believable, which I think they will prove not to be (all too easily challenged), this alone would not be enough to clear Scott of the charges. There would need to be more, than simply a possible sighting of Laci after the time Scott says he last saw her. All we have right now is his own statement of when he left the house, does not mean he actually left then, does it? Someone saw him loading his truck, but we have not heard that anyone saw him drive away, have we?

I will say, at this point in time, there is not enough that is known to convict Scott, but there is enough that is known to suspect him. If there is any connection made to the cement, to her bedclothes, to amniotic fluid or other such matter in the house-boat-truck, or copious blood/spatter, he is toast. These are just a few of the items that could convince me beyond a reasonable doubt. Believe it or not, I would be relieved to learn it was not Scott, but I don't think that's gonna be the case.

I do not suspect Amber. She may be guilty of very bad judgement (btw, what daycare would let someone just pick up a child...usually you have go through FBI like checks before that happens and a toddler wouldn't just go willingly with someone so new, just curious)but that's all I see at this point. Glad someone got to her about the memorial, another terrible mis-step in judgement

[runningbear]

how?

[runningbear]

I see your point on those possibles... Yep, I heard it down before... ;o)

[Yeti]

This tactic worked for OJ, it could work for Scott as well.

It didn't work too well for Him-Whose-Name-We-Do-Not-Speak.

Sequestration might be an important part of that strategy. If the jurors go home and listen to Nancy Grace making things up every night, it can't be good for impartiality, and the media makes a tie between the mob and the jury.

If the jury is bufferred from the mob mentality, oblivious to it, then the defense can take advantage of a hastily put together prosecution case. But if the jury feels community pressure and Nancy Grace's on-air testimony pollutes their consideration of the evidence, a weak case will not be a problem for the prosecution.

Time will tell what the defense has up its sleeve.

[runningbear]

KTVU, I haven't click on it yet, has a video clip of the LKL segment... so if anyone didn't hear or see when Lee Peterson called and chastised Nancy Grace, it maybe.....

There are some telling traits from Lee that SP learned behavior wise from the parents....

[MHGinTN]

Look for 'things' to leak out, if Garagos thinks his case is weak. The shyster has a way of playing the media off against the courts and public opinion ... remember the Susan McDougall manipulations of PO? Garagos is as sleazy as they come. He will have leaks and inuendo flying left and right prior to trial, manipulating everything like the creepy shylock he is. If the state has witnesses and Garagos learns of them, he will sic the presstitutes on them knowing full well the sensationalism the presstitutes lust for. This is going to become a circus, a puppet show with Garagos holding the strings.

[Canadian Outrage]

I just finished sending a stinging email to CNN. I told them I will NEVER watch LKL again. I told them Larry King either by choice or incapability, could not and did not control the disgusting behaviour of Lee Peterson openly attacking one of his guests. I said that it was Mr. King's duty to not tolerate such ignorance. I even questioned if it might have been a set up since CNN is so left leaning anyway. I forget all I said, but I really was disgusted with that. Peterson was out of control. Yelling at Nancy, "Don't interrupt me". Actually Nancy was able to hold her own quite well but she King was the moderator and should never have allowed it. He sure has no trouble cutting people off as I've witnessed on many occasions before.

[runningbear]

you who....way to go Vel... yippie... That's them..

[runningbear]

ping #1, come hear Amber, let me pat your fanny.... (his hand is on her a##.....

[Canadian Outrage]

I'm sure Laci's family were shown ALL of these pictures. No wonder Brent oozed such animosity. Remember when he barked into the microphone: What have you done with my sister?"

[Yeti]

He will have leaks and inuendo flying left and right prior to trial, manipulating everything

Well, that's ALL we have had so far, so all he can do is add balance. If I were being convicted in the media, I would want my lawyer to defend me in the media.

[Canadian Outrage]

I agree with you, Geragos is as slippery as snot on a doorknob. I don't trust the guy at all.!!

[Yeti]

Not to say I think that's GOOD, just that I think the Peterson's would expect that for their money.