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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[Canadian Outrage]

Yeah I watched him answering Diane Sawyer in his "now infamous" interview. It was completely obvious he was lying. Sawyer said something like "why would there be blood in your truck?" He says well I cut my hands all the time, She says on December 24th? He says yeah, shows her his knuckle and says see here! She says How'd you do that? It was PAINFULLY obvious he was making up THAT answer on the spot. "Oh says he, I was reaching for something outta my tool box and cut my knuckle and it bled and there is blood on the inside pocket of the door"!! It was such a load of BS even Sawyer kinda raised her eyebrows. THAT was a TOTALLY BIZARRE interview.

[uvular]

Your thoughts about Amy reminded me of what she said on Greta's last night, when Greta asked Sharon, Ron, and Amy how this has effected them. Amy said something along the line of it had effected her 'the most'. Anyone else remember her specific comment?

If I recall correctly, can we expect Amy to have some pretty damning testimony herself?

[justshe]

The First Amendment does NOT apply to Free Republic. It only applies to FEDERAL law being imposed on the citizenry....see the word CONGRESS.


Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[uvular]

Be sure when you watch LKL rerun, you check out what Nancy Grace said about Laci's gift. She said there was no gift under the tree for Laci from Scott...

Paging...you have freepmail!

[An American In Dairyland]

Didn't OJ say something like that when asked about blood in his house which had to be there *before* he (ahem) cut his finger on a glass in Chicago? I could swear OJ said he bled all the time in his house.

[Howlin]

I have a question: why is Cyril Wecht on MSNBC calling this "scotch tape?"

[RGSpincich]

No, he said "Scott's tape"....

[Howlin]

Is it any wonder he's not giving interviews? I guess Jackie is out trying to rehabilitate him.......LOL.

[justshe]

I am not the source.

The Constitution is the 'reputable' source.

The only way this would apply is if the government told you you can't post on FR.

"Free Speech" is often miscontrued as a right within the confines of private business. It is misused..and misunderstood.

The only rights to post on this forum are 'owned' by Jim Robinson. He makes the rules. But you have NO rights to post on this forum that do not come from him.

[Howlin]

You wish! LOL.

[Diver Dave]

I have a question: why is Cyril Wecht on MSNBC calling this "scotch tape?"

Are you sure he's not saying "Scaught's tape"?

[Howlin]

Hmmm...why do I get the feeling I'm in a vaudeville routine? :-)

[uvular]

I had heard that, too! Maybe he's been on too many shows today. He hasn't even seen this addendum to the autopsy, has he? He was holding up the original 1 page autopsy on LKL.

[justshe]

I heard Greta today say that it will be possible, if the person did NOT wear gloves, to lift fingerprints off the sticky side of the tape. Water does not degrade the fingerprints on the tape.

[Canadian Outrage]

Could well be. Amy was the LAST person in the family to see and talk with Scott and Laci at about 7:30 pm on Dec. 23rd. Amy had just cut Scott's hair. Other than Scott, Amy was the last to "see" Laci and other than Scott, Sharon Rocha was the "last" to speak with Laci at 8:30pm!! Only God in Heaven knows what happened in THAT house after 8:30 pm on December 23rd. IMHO Laci was killed on Dec. 23rd OR in the early hours of Dec. 24th. I still lean to the 23rd tho because Scott had to get his "package" all put together and load it up and drive 85 miles to dispose of same.

[StarFan]

She said there was no gift under the tree for Laci from Scott... Thanks, I'm catching the rerun now. Didn't realize they asked Scott what he purchased for Laci and "no gift under the tree" speaks volumes. The fact that he took her jewelry to pass on to Amber is something that will be deafening to a juror's ear.

[Devil_Anse]

Well, for starters, if he told her he had an 8:00 tee time on the 24th, that clearly conflicts with what he told others. Hmmm. The old alibi was never very strong. It's just been weakened.

Then, also, Amy can testify to what BOTH Scott and Laci were wearing when they were last seen. That's important. Also, clearly the police took Amy in the house for some reason related to evidence. She'd testify about that, too. Oh, I think Amy can do a lot for the prosecution.

[Canadian Outrage]

Boy I didn't know that the gift wasn't under the tree. I do KNOW because I heard it from Janey Peterson when asked, that Snott had bought her the LV Wallet. Ever get the impression that the entire Peterson family are LIARS. This trait it appears, "runs in the family"!

[Canadian Outrage]

I'm gone - LKL is on for 15 mins now. Darn. BB tomorrow. Night all. Lynn

[Devil_Anse]

He sure did. Scott's account of "cutting his hand" was eerily like OJ's. IMO, in each case, the man knew someone, maybe the police, had already seen him with a fresh cut, and was doing pre-emptive damage control by explaining it. And Scott wasn't even asked to explain it.

The way he volunteered that stuff about cutting his hand and "I always cut my hands" was very suspicious looking.