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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[An American In Dairyland]

Good morning, Ally. How are you doing?

[uvular]

Did I hear correctly the other day when Jackie phoned into Greta's show that they visit Scott twice a week for 30 minutes a time; that it is a 16-hour round trip each time, but 'it's worth it'? Oh, boo hoo, Jackie, at least you have someone to visit (so far).

Now, 16 hours in a car is not a comfortable thing to do in the best of health; legs get all sore, stiff and puffy. Wouldn't think that would be something her doctor would approve of, let alone cleaning up Laci's house. She does appear to use this illness to her benefit.

[Devil_Anse]

Yes, why wouldn't the doc suggest she fly? Ooops--flying might involve altitude problems for her! Gee, this is hard.

They will just have to move Scott down to San Diego. Wouldn't you know sonny boy would (MAYBE--this is pure speculation) murder his wife b/c he was mad that the wife made him live in Modesto, thus assuring that he would DEFINITELY be staying in Modesto for at least the next two years?

It's always grimly ironic when some person kills their other half so they can "be free" and they end up being guaranteed to have NO FREEDOM. Or when they kill in order to be with some other person--thus assuring that they will be locked away where they have no chance of even seeing the other person.

[joybelle]

The only thing that stands out as a possible, and I repeat possible, clue to his character is the fact that he was raised as an only child and probably spoiled. That doesn't mean that only children need to turn out bad, but they sometimes do not learn how to share with others. Western
civilization population is declining, but that is another story.

[Jackie-O]

I figured that from the vague reference to "tape" that it could be any kind of tape...maybe even just picked up while being churned in the water...

[joybelle]

Something has been said about Laci's mother e-mailing the Petersons.

[An American In Dairyland]

>>Something has been said about Laci's mother e-mailing the Petersons.<<

Sharon's attorney told Greta last night that he suggested Sharon use email because then there is a record of exactly what was said. He said that would help to keep misunderstandings at a minimum or something similar to that line of thought.

[joybelle]

I believe the autopsy report stated it was some kind of nylon cord, not tape.

[joybelle]

Hasn't something been said about them having money problems? He evidently missed his parents when away at school, and here he was in debt, far away, blamed Laci, new baby, trapped wanted out, etc. Unfortunately many young people want right away what it took their parents years to accumulate. Speculation!

[Jackie-O]

Thanks! I was off line and away from TV almost all day yesterday...still have withdrawls... ;0)

[Jackie-O]

Ladies, you have mail!

[Devil_Anse]

Yes, but now with the likes of Wheat up there, they're having to ban chainsaws, too!

Just kidding Wheat. Just kidding! Wheat!
(rrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRR-UMMMMMMMMMMMM RRRRRRRR-UMMMMMMCHAKACHAKACHAKA...) WHEAT! GET AWAY FROM ME WITH THAT THING!

[Devil_Anse]

Thanks, now you have mail!!

[Devil_Anse]

It's funny, we haven't heard anything confirmed about their having money problems, but some of us have surmised that if the husband is out there spending $25,000 on a country club membership, it's almost like, how could there NOT be money troubles?

If there weren't, the money troubles were probably just around the corner. Poor Laci. Couldn't even enjoy her longed-for pregnancy, if she had to worry about that, too.

[An American In Dairyland]

Purgatory has the synopsis of the new NE and Globe articles up. Have you seen these?

[joybelle]

Did you, or anyone, hear last night that Connor was more like an eight and a half month fetus than seven and a half?
She was supposed to be due around February 12th?