Laci Peterson family seeks items from home

The Fresno Bee ^ | Published Thursday, May 29, 2003, 4:15 AM | John Cote'

[runningbear]

Laci Peterson family seeks items from home

Laci Peterson family seeks items from home
Relatives hire lawyers to retrieve wedding dress, baby crib, other personal belongings.

By John Coté
The Modesto Bee

(Published Thursday, May 29, 2003, 4:15 AM)

MODESTO -- Laci Peterson's family has hired attorneys in an attempt to retrieve her wedding dress, a baby crib and other personal items from her Modesto home, according to a statement released Wednesday.

In the murder case against her husband, court documents made available Wednesday assert the defense team's contention that investigators violated the law by monitoring privileged communications and that Deputy District Attorney Rick Distaso "misled" defense attorneys and the judge about it. Scott Peterson, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in the deaths of his 27-year-old wife and their unborn son, Conner.

Scott Peterson's parents and his attorney have prevented his wife's family from entering the couple's Covena Avenue home and retrieving personal items, according to the statement from attorneys Adam J. Stewart and Albert G. Clark.

The statement came with a 22-point list of items that family members want, including Laci's diplomas and journals, and a watering can that says "Laci's Garden." But family members said that being inside the home that Laci decorated and lived in was more important than retrieving personal items.

According to the statement, lead defense attorney Mark Geragos wrote a letter in response to the request for access. The Laci Peterson family attorneys, in their statement, say that Geragos said it would be "unthinkable to allow anything to be moved or disposed of" until his team had completed its investigation.

Meanwhile, the newly available court documents show that defense attorneys have requested a closed hearing to question prosecutors about wiretaps used to intercept calls between Scott Peterson and his defense team.

The defense drafted the documents before Superior Court Judge Al Girolami on Tuesday ordered prosecutors to turn over "all calls intercepted involving defense counsel or the defense investigator." Also, the defense has asked for a transcript of a Jan. 17 wiretap discussion among Judge Wray Ladine, prosecutors and investigators, the documents reveal.

Defense attorneys have a Friday deadline to file a motion on the wiretap issue.

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Laci Peterson's Family Hires Lawyers to Collect Mementos

Laci Peterson's Family Hires Lawyers to Collect Mementos

MODESTO — A Modesto law firm says it has been hired to help Laci Peterson's family visit their daughter's house and collect her wedding dress, jewelry and other mementos.

Lawyers Adam Stewart and Albert Clark say they were hired after Scott Peterson's family prevented his in-laws from entering the house the couple shared before Laci Peterson vanished just before Christmas.

Scott Peterson has pleaded innocent to murdering his wife and unborn son. The remains of the 27-year-old pregnant substitute teacher and the infant they planned to name Conner were found on the shore of San Francisco Bay last month.

Defense lawyer Mark Geragos says he has worked out an agreement to let Laci Peterson's family visit the house and remove her journals, a food processor and a watering can that said "Laci's Garden."

Copyright © 2003 KABC-TV and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Last Updated: May 28, 2003

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DEFENSE LAWYER TO GET PETERSON PHONE LOGS

DEFENSE LAWYER TO GET PETERSON PHONE LOGS

(05-27-2003) - The judge overseeing the murder case of Scott Peterson ordered Tuesday that police records of telephone calls made between Peterson and his lawyer and investigator be turned over to his new defense attorney.

Prosecutors had not contested the release of the conversations, which they said they had not heard or seen and had ordered sealed when they realized police investigators had been listening to or recording calls.

At least two of the 69 calls between Peterson and Modesto attorney Kirk McAllister were included in the widespread monitoring that also taped Peterson's calls with reporters. Police also listened in on a call between Peterson and a private investigator.

Peterson's new attorney, Mark Geragos, said he expected to receive the police records Tuesday afternoon.

"Once we see exactly what was taped, we'll file the appropriate motions," the Los Angeles attorney said.

Peterson, 30, is accused of killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and unborn son, Conner, last Dec. 23 or 24. Stanislaus County prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

Peterson, arrested April 18, maintains his innocence, saying he last saw his wife when he left for a Christmas Eve fishing trip.

Stanislaus County prosecutors this month notified McAllister, private investigator Gary Ermoian and 64 other people that their conversations were intercepted from Jan. 10 to Feb. 4 under a court-ordered wiretap to gather evidence in the Peterson investigation.

Police are not supposed to listen to talks between attorneys and their clients, which are considered privileged conversations. McAllister said earlier this year he was skeptical of claims that police recording equipment was turned off when it became clear that Peterson was talking with his lawyer.

But John Goold, a chief deputy district attorney for Stanislaus County, told reporters Tuesday that prosecutors have never seen or heard anything from the Peterson-McAllister calls monitored by police.

"Our requirement is to not listen in on privileged phone calls," Goold said.

Also Tuesday, Judge Al Girolami said he was also considering a gag order on lawyers in the case to prevent leaks fueling news stories, and indicated he would wait until July to decide whether to unseal court records reporters are seeking.

Girolami said he would rule by the end of the week whether to unseal police reports and arrest warrants, as well as autopsy results of Laci Peterson and her unborn son.

But the Modesto judge told Charity Kenyon, a Sacramento lawyer representing The Modesto Bee and four other California newspapers, that he would most likely order that the documents remain impounded until a July 15 preliminary hearing, held to determine whether Peterson should go to trial.

Girolami wondered aloud, given the great amount of publicity in the case, whether 12 fair jurors could be found anywhere in California if the information was unsealed.

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Another Peterson trial

Nurse becomes seventh member of Peterson jury

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[Howlin]

Did you hear that they bought his membership back?

[Howlin]

I think you protest too much. You give just as good as you get.

Just like you feel free to express your distaste for Amber, we're all free to express our distaste for the way you do it.

[justshe]

~~~Just like you feel free to express your distaste for Amber, we're all free to express our distaste for the way you do it.~~~

All of us?

[StarFan]

I'd like someone to ask Scott Peterson what he bought Laci for Christmas (if anything). If rumor is factual, he took some of Laci's jewelry to give to Amber as a Christmas gift. Did he know she wouldn't be around to miss it? Hopefully that will come out during the trial.

Did anyone get repulsed when that Jayne W. on Greta, called the baby..."..when the THING came out of her... ".

Why not do what I did and send an e-mail to Greta asking that she bar that angry, accusative, nasty woman from ever appearing. She has resorted to name calling, making Amber out to be a gold digger with a past adding she would just LOVE to cross examine her. She interrupts constantly and is completely out of her realm.

[Canadian Outrage]

Agree with EVERY word you just said.!! In some ways I wish the Rocha's would completely "cut off" ANY relationship with the White Trush Petersons. Peterson's are NOT their friends. And NO the did NOT care about Laci OR their grandson for that matter. As you said about the evidence - I also believe that have some very powerful evidence collected from the house, the boat and his truck. Not to mention all the lies he's been clearly exposed on.

[Diver Dave]

Did you hear that they bought his membership back?

Yeah. The way I heard it, several members got together and bought him out.

BTW, the country club is probably around 8 miles + - from the house on Covina.

[Howlin]

I don't know. I can't keep up with who's not suppose to post to who and who's hitting abuse and who's not. It's been years since I've done IRC chat; lost my touch, I guess. :-)

[Devil_Anse]

Poor Amy! She is truly an innocent victim of this. She looks like she could never smile again. It's so sad that she and Brent, who have their whole lives ahead of them, now have to live with this horror, and the anger and sadness it must make them feel!

[Howlin]

I thought I had read that on here somewhere. I guess they don't want an O.J. hanging out there -- in case he gets off!

[Howlin]

and his truck

Remember how he kept saying "I told the police I had cut my hand that very day."

He knows they have it.

[Devil_Anse]

Oh dear. Sounds like Scott's stories are conflicting, yet again. Amy, to me, is a very credible source.

If he had an 8:00 tee time, he couldn't very well have just moseyed out the door at 9:30, could he? He has to have been lying, somewhere. It was his shaky alibi that first got him suspected, and now his lies are coming home to roost.

[STOCKHRSE]

That was justshe I think....;-)

[uvular]

Bingo! I'll try to remember that this time!

[Canadian Outrage]

Scott Peterson was asked what he bought Laci for Christmas. He said a Louis Vitton wallet. And you better believe he KNEW she wasn't gonna be home for Xmas. I completely DIS-agree with those who say he has done NOTHING to demonstrate PRE-meditation. In fact, he's done a whole whack of things to demonstrate that.

[Amelia]

Now that you mention it, I'd like to know if there's a new rule that says you can talk about other people as rudely as you'd like, but if you ask them not to post to you, they have to be polite and honor that request.

Or is this a public forum, where anyone who posts should expect anyone else on the thread to respond (in a civil manner, of course)?

[justshe]

Well......I think there must be a psychic channel on mIRC these days. Even if you are NOT ASKED to not post to someone....you are supposed to 'divine' it. And if you don't 'divine' it.......and you post to a person who is psychically telling you NOT to post to them.....they'll hit the abuse button on you. *SHIVERS*

So beware. There are creatures great and small....a-broad.

[Devil_Anse]

If I haven't already asked you not to post to me--and I think I have--consider it asked. From now on I'll just hit the abuse button. Your friends can ridicule the use of the abuse button, but when they do, they are ridiculing more than just me. Heh-heh.

[Howlin]

Be a big girl and stop whining about people who don't agree with you.

[Devil_Anse]

Yes, a reputable source.

[RGSpincich]

that was the press release prior to filing the motion with the court.

Actually that press release was to let the media/public know that they (DA) would be filing the motion and why. They just misspoke when they said that they would withdraw their opposition to the sealing of the autopsy report. They meant to say that they would withdraw their opposition to releasing the autopsy report.