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 This material may not be published, broadcast,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.

[BunnySlippers]

I'm wondering if, in the fight, Amber's name did come out?

Could be. You know how the tabloids are ... they are either right on the mark or off in left field. So far, on this case, they've been right all along. I suppose it depends on the validity of their paid sources.

[Canadian Outrage]

She's the one whose husband is a City Councillor. The old gal looks like she's pushing 80 tho. A vigorous cross examination of her would be painful to watch. She'd get shredded. Why doesn't she drop that crap already??

[RGSpincich]

still advertising their tip line

Still advertising their potential witness line...as DA predicted weeks ago.

[runningbear]

C....did you post that NY Post front page photo of Scaught, called, Monster in Chains, April 19, 2003? Trying to find it... That is what I think of him after seeing those pics in NE...

[SoCar]

We can only hope the change of venue won't be to a Holloywood type place. You can bet it won't be tried in Modesto or the Central Valley after the idiot mayor proclaimed Scott could not get a fair trial there.

BTW can anyone in or near Modesto explain why this loser Carmine something got elected mayor? He made me retch the first time I heard him speak during the Chandra affair. He must be a RAT!

[RGSpincich]

NOT Feiger. All of a sudden he ain't so bad. LOL

[Devil_Anse]

No, I think the court was requiring her to come in and be paid as an appointed attorney, since the boys were out of funds and she was the one who knew the case. No, they can't make someone work for free, but with these people like Abramson and Geragos, I think making them work for appointed defender rates is almost like making them work for nothing, compared to the usual fees they charge.

There's a rule in this state's attorney behavior code that says a lawyer can't withdraw from representing someone once the case has been set for trial, unless there are some very strong reasons. In the case of the Menendez brothers, not only had the case been set for trial, but it had been to trial, had mistried, and was on its way to a second trial. However, I can't say whether CA necessarily has that same rule.

[Canadian Outrage]

I don't think the DA's office will drop it tho. If they can get it in, it will be gooooooood. I pray they get a pro-prosecution Judge. And a Judge that will control the Lawyers.

[BunnySlippers]

Suddenly tonight I saw those very same attorneys who were hanging Scott last week, raising reasonable doubt all over the place. Seems like they're all stepping in behind the GURUgos.

Yes, I noticed the same thing. They are all in lock step now. One of the pundits said that Geragos' comments would not (of course) come into the trial, but would be played endlessly during commentary on LKL, Greta, et al for effect.

[BunnySlippers]

>o? If she was, she's a better woman than I would have been.

IMO one of the MOST outrageous statements coming from Scott was that :aci was okay with the affair. Any woman, especially any woman who is pregnant is not going to be okay with it. It was so preposterous a staement that it taints everything he has said.

[Rusty Roberts]

I can see Laci possibly holding off on telling her family till after holidays, but there is always someone, a best friend you confide in. As much as she might have wanted to keep this to herself, she would have talked to someone, I'm certain of that.

IF, and that's a big IF, this is a leak from the police, and is reflected somehow in these warrants as part of the reasoning for the search, then yes, he had to kill her before the holidays were over: he had no choice. He "knew" she hadn't old the family yet, so he could still be "perfect".

And can't you hear Jackie now....see, Laci made him do it....

[runningbear]

.....seems to go back as why did sp tell police on the day the call came in to dispatch that Laci Peterson is missing, and they came to investigate the call, and wanted to look inside the Covena home, Dec 24th, as reported, SP told the MPD no, get a search warrant. (it is his 4th amendment right to say, and do so), in which MPD did get that warrant, 2 days later, obtained. So, SP hasn't and didn't play ball with MPD from the get go on the whereabouts of missing Laci.

It was noted, I believe on the day of the 24th, that the house had a strong odor of bleach.

[Canadian Outrage]

HOWEVER, None of these Lawyers know the evidence yet!! I really pray that they re-search the Bay and I pray to God they find her head attached to an anchor and cement in her body cavities. Also another anchor attached to her let or arm wouldn't hurt either.

[Canadian Outrage]

Yup and along with ALL the other LIES he's told. I mean he has been impeached already. One thing is for sure, Snott won't be testifying.!!

[mass55th]

(btw, what daycare would let someone just pick up a child

What mother would let a perfect stranger pick her only child up from daycare? Amber Frey is a dope! She'd only been dating Peterson for a month when she began letting him pick her daughter up. How do you let someone you've known for 30 days be responsible for picking up your daughter and being alone with her? I don't know where these people get their brains. She needs to get down on her knees and thank God that she and her little girl were saved from being Scott Peterson's next victims.

[runningbear]

The Mitchells are maybe into lots of RE stuff...Looking at the MSNBC clip of her, I would question her memory, and ability to see correctly. Also, I think it was stated several weeks ago, she was recovering from surgery...Could she have been on medications?

[runningbear]

trying to field for more phony witnesses....

[Canadian Outrage]

I heard the criminalist say that the strong bleach odor was a bad sign. And who the hell comes homes from fishing, finds his late term pregnant wife missing and proceeds to mop the floor, have a shower and change clothes as well as wash his own clothes. All of these things were done BEFORE he even called Laci's Mom and stepdad.

[SoCar]

She'll probably stick to her story until the end of time lest she be called senile. Her testimony would certainly be shredded much like Rosa Lopez's. Maybe Geragos can pull a "Dream Team" and try out her testimony without the jury being present. Instead of claiming she's going to leave the country he can say she is so old that she might die so they need to videotape her on the stand. The jury can be dismissed for a day or so and the state can waste money and resources cross examining her. If she does poorly as expected, the defense can never show the jury her testimony as with Rosa Lopez. They can gauge whether the jury ever hears her by media reation.

Their "star witness" can get a trial run at no cost to them! I've always wondred if this tactic is in the defense attorney's bag of tricks and if Ito was obligated to let it happen that way. Wouldn't it be better to only let them videotape Rosa if they had to play it later in the trial. Did Ito have any discretion here?

Either Geragos never uses her or we see the emergency videotape out of the jury's presence ploy. That's my guess.

[runningbear]

yes he is a rat...and that was his third attempt and won for mayoral race in Modesto. Ever since, he fights, he does what he does, investigations of him, and nothing building for Modesto but homes... I met him briefly once, and thought he was a conservative man, HA! Yes, a politician should keep his/her mouth shut until the case is tried. Unlike the legislations that may become because of incidents like this. As the White House stated last Friday on fetal homicide.

If change of venue, I hope it stays in Northern Ca, rather than Southern, Hollywood style. It should stay near the area, and the Bay Area, and any other portion if deemed venue change, should be chosen.