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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[Devil_Anse]

Where is Allred, if this is only a scandalous, vicious lie? She needs to get out there and do something.

[Marysecretary]

I just think it's incredibly sad that two mothers have to fight this way. I don't know who is telling the truth here; none of us can assume anything in this case. I just hope they both come to an agreement about this.

[Howlin]

Your post proves Jackie is a liar; she did say she had gotten an email from Sharon and she STILL went to that house and didn't let them in. Even changed the locks so the keys the Rochas have don't work anymore!

[Devil_Anse]

Who knows if any of the stuff we read or hear on TV is true? Are we next going to hear that Laci and Connor aren't dead?

I hope this story about Amber isn't true. It would be such a let-down, after she has helped the police and all.

[SarahW]

have you figured out you don't need to be "saddened" by Amber's deal? There is no info that she's even been asked, let alone that she's agreed to to it.

There is just some lame speculation in a gossip column (which has been fed stuff by the Geragos people before) that some guy "wouldn't be surprised" if Amber posed nude and he wouldn't be surprised if such pics would command about half a mil.

[Sandylapper]

What can I say? Makes me sorry too, that she won't be a credible witness. I don't necessarily believe that the latest $500k deal is the only time she's made money off those pics. That, of course, is based on some earlier rumors on cable TV. Allred tried to dispell them, but she never said publicly that Amber had never, ever sold one pic to anyone. I even heard it discussed on FR that "well, she needed the money". This train of thought and suspicion has been around for several days.

[daylate-dollarshort]

"LE just cannot go in and take what they want...."

Yes they can. They can take anything they think may be evidence. Anything they might want to test to see if there is evidence contained in it or on it. Do you think that their affidavit for the warrand listed 95 bags of specific items? What they had to have applied for and somehow received was a blanket warrant. Happens all the time, though technically it is an abuse of process.

"And further, the PD has to return the warrant to the courts stating what they took or seized."

True, and under any other circumstance that return must be made public. In this case the court has chosen to seal the return, at least for now.

Which makes my point. Before everyone calls Scot's mother a liar (too late for that now) don't you think we should know what is contained in those 95 bags taken on the second warrant? Not to mention what was taken in the first warrant.

[SarahW]

There is no story that she's agreed to a deal. Fox reported on the bit in the gossip coumn. But the gossip column is, well, gossip, and it doesn't even go so far as to say there is any actual offer, let alone that Amber was considering or had accepted it.

[Wednesday's Child]

I don't actually know who is telling the truth here, but I would bet it's the Rochas. Only because how Sharon and Ron were so upset about it on Grettas show last night. They said they've tried many times, faxed lawyers etc., all to no avail. So they went public with it.
Jackie sidestepped almost every time Gretta asked her why couldn't they have access to the house.
I just can't imagine them going over to clean and mow the lawn and not let the Rochas know in case they wanted to help them or just come over. Afterall, they all insist they are still friendly. It just makes no sense to me at all.

[Howlin]

Well, I can't understand why he'd lie if he had nothing to hide.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

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.

Yep and yep. I have seen more enthusiasm for making Amber the biggest creep than anything else.

Again I say, Mark Geragos and all the attorneys with like despicable character, know the psychology of people very well.

Throw in the sex aspect of it and the tabloid gluttons can feast all day; every day.

It would be interesting to do a comparison on who has received more negative publicity in recent weeks; Amber or Scott?

One could stumble on these threads and nearly miss the fact that this is a murder trial. It often appears like classroom notes passed back and forth between teenagers about who kissed who's boyfriend.

Amber Frey should not be THE story, but she sure is. This could be a study of the success defense attorneys have in tainting the potential jury pool. Look at the number who don't just fall into the trap; they run and jump and seem to enjoy the romp a little too much, IMO.

[SarahW]

You are acting like she has been offered and accepted money for nude pics. There isn't even a rumor to that effect, except for the one started here.

She did have pics taken of her before, in 1999, that showed her scantily clad, nude or semi-nude. They were taken in a proffessional studio.

That studio, which still has the pics and proofs, may want to sell them badly. But that's not the same as Amber selling them.

They seem to be trying to make a case that she "abandoned" the pics, by not coming back for the photos or the proofs (so they aren't "hers" anymore)...
however, she probaby did not sign a release for the studio to sell them.

They might well be trying to get her to release them or to make a case that they have a right to sell them as long as she is compensated.

The studio

[Devil_Anse]

That's for sure! I'm waiting for Allred to get out there and deny this so-called rumor.

BTW, as far as expecting consistency from "feminists", you can look for it all year, but you won't find it. On the one hand, they go on and on about how women shouldn't just be sex objects; on the other hand, they encourage women to go out and cat around. They are, as a group, mostly just destructive and harmful to the women they purport to help.

[melodie]

ALERT

MSNBC Dan Abrams is on has some of the autopsy report. the baby had 1.5 loops of tape around his NECK!!

[Devil_Anse]

Got my fingers crossed! It doesn't fit with the way we've heard that Amber has been trying to do the right thing since she found out what Scott was.

[melodie]

Also the baby has a cignificant cut on his body. (i am not sure where yet, though)

[Devil_Anse]

Would "fornicators" also apply? I think so.

[An American In Dairyland]

Hi Sandy, did you ever hear which pictures Amber *MIGHT* (sheesh) have sold and to who?

[melodie]

ANYONE WATCHING MSNBC RIGHT NOW? I just got some of the story.