Attorney McAllister
Posted on 05/02/2003 5:48:38 AM PDT by 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 This material may not be published, broadcast,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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbc11.com ...
Sorry to hear that you have been ill. I hope you're feeling better.
When they start to complain we say: "Hey! People come from all over the state to stay with us...that's how good we are."
I understand the sarcasm and, please don't take this like I am picking on you Devil but this statement has been misqouted enough. It is not correct and it IS extremely predjudicial. I KNOW it also sounds really lame but we can pick the "lameness" apart, it is just that when eveyone keeps relating this statement as if it were a fact they are only "helping" SP with his case,
Here's my point; I first heard this statement her followed by 2 differant media stations. I was like, "no way, he really said that?" "I'm getting a paper."
Most people are not as interested as we are in this case. They would hear that statement from 2 media stations and withiut reading the thing for themselves just take their word for it.
If I remember right, Brazelton didn't find any wrong doing when that airline hostess brought fourth information to a grand jury against Gary Condit. So, Condit wasn't under a grand jury indictment, from the Chaundra Levy case. He felt there was not enough evidence to have a Grand Jury investigation, and made many upset by that decision because they felt there was. Don't know, only what news stated.
No mystery who bought OJ's playbook off eBay.
At least they're not claiming it could be a suicide like the Susan Ostrich look-a-like defense attorney on Greta's show.
The defense -- whether criminal or civil -- gets surrebuttal. The point is not the terminology but correctly anticipating how your opposition will present its evidence and argument.
Yes, you have to correctly put yourself in your opponent's shoes and make sure that they will not choose to forego their opposing evidence to forestall your rebuttal. My experience -- particularly in criminal cases, but in civil cases as well -- is that juries have a tough time when the defense presents no case and simply tries to poke holes in the prosecution/plaintiff's case. Juries particularly want a story, a theme and simply pointing out deficiencies in the other side's proof is generally not enough.
No, not at all. But the real pros in any prosecutor's office are not the elected prosecutor (who is primarily a politician). I am generally familiar with Stanislaus County and a prosecutor's office in a County of that size will have enough murder cases (and other tough felonies) to have at least a couple of really good guys on their felony trial team.
My only point is you shouldn't judge the efficacy of the prosecution by the politician hogging the camera. The guy who does the actual courtroom work will be much better.
I agree, talk is cheap. Show me the pictures. WITH Amber's testimony that the pictures were not doctored.
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