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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[Marysecretary]

Perhaps if Scotty was YOUR son, you'd feel differently.

[SarahW]

Who's gloating? I only care that folks understand there is no information from any source, including the Addams column, that Amber has agreed to pose for cash.

There is only some unknown person's speculation that "he wouldn't be surprised if she did" and further speculation on what dollar amount the pics would go for.

And there isn't any rumor, except for the one started HERE, that there is any ACTUAL deal proposal in the works, certainly not one she is considering accepting. Even the Adams column didn't go that far.

--Although I'm sure she's gotten all kinds of icky offers.

My main point is that this column plant is probably designed to make people jumpt to conclusions and spread gossip that Amber is a greedy camera whore, who has traded the blood of the murder victims for cash.

It's designed to throw mud on her.

[daylate-dollarshort]

I agree.......

[An American In Dairyland]

>>Perhaps if Scotty was YOUR son, you'd feel differently.<<

No doubt about it, if Scott were my son I would feel differently. I would stand by him and support him as best I could. But I would not lie for him.

[Howlin]

If Scott was my son, I'd have told him to tell the truth, not make excuses for him.

[Marysecretary]

I also heard she was involved with another married man whose wife had a baby. Sad for any woman who doesn't think enough of herself to hold out for the best. Married men are not in that category.

[Howlin]

I know the laws probably are on Scott's side in this, even if he is on trial for her murder; I'm saying it's just total bad form. A PR nightmare.

[Marysecretary]

That's true. So would I. But, what if he IS telling the truth? Nobody here believes that and I'm not convinced of it either, but stranger things have happened.

[Howlin]

My main point is that this column plant is probably designed to make people jumpt to conclusions and spread gossip that Amber is a greedy camera whore, who has traded the blood of the murder victims for cash.

Bump!

[Howlin]

He hasn't told them anything except lies so far; it's going to hard to decide "when" he needs to tell the truth.

[SarahW]

Velveeta's post #5 was mistaken.

The only thing that matters is that folks understand it was mistaken.

I did't like how quickly folks assumed it was true without fact-checking.

It's so easy for folks to twist or exaggerate a report heard on-air. And of course that is what happened here.
Fox reported no such thing as was claimed in #5, and the gossip column bit did not even indicate an actual deal was in the works.

[Devil_Anse]

Unfortunately, the home is indeed Scott's. It was, according to posters who have looked it up, owned in joint tenancy with right of survivorship. I notice, however, that there still hasn't been a death certificate issued, so, awwww, Scott can't sell the place.

Since Scott has not yet been convicted of anything, there seems to be nothing to say he ISN'T the full owner of the house now. Even if/when he is convicted of something, I still can't think of anything that would prevent him from succeeding to the ownership of this home which was owned jointly with right of survivorship. The other owner is deceased.

So I can't think of any legal basis, at the moment, for the Rochas to demand entry into the home.

But Mark Geragos has appeared to play fast and loose with "legal bases" (not to mention the truth) from the time he entered this case. (For example, Geragos is claiming he can tell the prosecutors who they must call in a Grand Jury. Not that I've ever heard of!) So if people are now clamoring for him and his client to do something they don't legally have to do, I think it's hilarious, and it's just what Mark and Scott deserve.

No, I'm not declaring Scott guilty. I base my opinion--that he is coldhearted scum--on what I've seen of his reaction to his wife's and baby's "disappearance" and death.

[Marysecretary]

I wouldn't either. But I can understand how they feel. If he's innocent, well, then they were right.

[Wednesday's Child]

a simple phone call would do it
Jackie said last night to Gretta that Sharon had just recently emailed her for access to the house. Jackie is saying she has no idea why the Rochas can't get in the house....she did say, when presed by Gretta, that it's somehow the MEDIAS fault!
well.....the locks were just changed by the Petersons who spent the whole day there mowing the lawn, and cleaning, AND Jackie went on to say that Sharon had requested some plants of Lacis and Jackie very kindly put them OUTDOORS so the Rochas could come pick them up!!!!!!!!
For whatever reason, the Petersons do NOT want the Rochas to be in that house!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

you got mail.

[Devil_Anse]

I hope you're right. It would just make Geragos look even worse, if it was his people who generated a false story this big. IF it's possible for Geragos to look any worse than he's looked for years.

[Marysecretary]

He may be a liar, but that doesn't mean he's a killer. I'm reasonably sure he did it, but I'm not the judge and jury.

[Marysecretary]

Keep us honest, Sarah! Thanks.

[Howlin]

Actually, we're discussing the facts as known.

It's not all that hard for people who read and know the blatant lies that Scott Peterson has told since Day One to conclude he's guilty. Even if you just go by the TV interviews HE has done and that have been proven to be lies, you'd have to realize he's guilty.

and the defense has had an opportunity to refute the evidence and cross examine the witnesses testimony

You must not be watching. They're not interested in refuting anything; they're interested in diverting the investigation to somebody else.