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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[Velveeta]

Hey, I report you decide! Never mind, I think that motto is taken.

[Howlin]

Well, I wish we could just all join together and trash Scott and Jackie; there's surely enough to go around there.

Amber is what she is; until she does something outrageous -- and we have PROOF of it -- the trashing needs to stop.

[EllaMinnow]

IMHO, Cindy Adams gets it right maybe 33% of the time.

And sometimes F&F has a little too much chat and too little real news.

[Howlin]

Hey, I'm just as guilty; I just typed what Abrams said and now it's turning out that it's not quite what he reported. He was breathless, like Rita, with his "noose around the baby's neck" story, and even his own network has been saying all afternoon "The word 'noose' is not in the report.'"

[EllaMinnow]

I'm ready to start trashing Dr Michael Baden. He's obviously angling for a stint as a paid witness for Scott.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Well, I wish we could just all join together and trash Scott and Jackie; there's surely enough to go around there. Amber is what she is; until she does something outrageous -- and we have PROOF of it -- the trashing needs to stop.

BINGO !!! It helps no one but Geragos and if anyone here is proud of that, I am unable to understand it.

[EllaMinnow]

What a day for you to miss!

[Howlin]

He sure has changed HIS tune, hasn't he?

I am almost positive he said in the very beginning that there was NO way that anchors pulled the extremities off her body, and now he says it could have happened this way.

I feel like we're missing some vital information that will make this all connnect. At least in our minds.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I'm ready to start trashing Dr Michael Baden. He's obviously angling for a stint as a paid witness for Scott

I've had the same feeling. I guess he didn't get his fill with OJ.

[Howlin]

And -- DISCLAIMER -- according to MSNBC, the prosecution is FURIOUS about this leak today, implying to me that it came from the defense, no matter how many times Rita might say, "And, by the way, I did not get this from the defense."

I wish the judge would call Dan Abrams into his chambers today and ask him point blank WHERE he heard this. I would think he has the right to do that.

[BunnySlippers]

How much of what we talk about in this case has actually been verified as true by LE? We heard about DNA on the mop but it was never verified as far as I can tell. Even things as recent as the 3 mobile phones and bank account aren't verified. We know very little about what evidence there is.

[spectre]

Hi red...OK..you made your point about the "gloat" thingie..blush.

BUT, the bone of contention was that the chit, chatter that ED, Brian and Steve engaged in, was pure gossip and speculation (it was)..WRT rumors becoming fact around "30 days" after it's been denied. So, basically, they are responsible for all this in-fighting on FR today (we'll blame them).

Never claimed I agreed with them..nor did the others. Just reported on what was being said.

You should forward the Bush information to FOX..they do deserve a good spanking for this one...

sw

[Howlin]

I just typed what Abrams said and now it's turning out that it's not quite what he reported.

Well, now, I want to REDACT that.

What I meant was that I typed what Abrams said and now it's turning out that what HE reported wasn't quite accurate.

:-)

[justshe]

Velveeta,

I am NOT trying to cause a problem....but I did not hear what you posted. Now....admittedly, I was without coffee yet (west coast time) here---and I could have missed a comment one of them (Edie, Brian, Steve) made.

But I didn't hear them say Amber HAD signed a deal. I heard them only read and comment on Adam's gossip.

Your post: "FOX and Friends now reporting that Amber has signed a deal to pose for a NUDIE centerfold for 1/2 million dollars!!!"

But I think this dead horse is done dead already. Beaten completely into submission. It is PAST even being acceptable for the glue factory. It is lower than the dirt it should be buried in. In fact, the DIRT would reject it!

Did I say I thought this was a 'dead horse'? :-)

[Howlin]

Well, I did see a photograph of the ticket Scott got at the marina that morning. :-)

I know what you mean, but at least most of what we discuss has been reported by semi-reliable sources.

[Howlin]

[EllaMinnow]

And I am agreeing with you. ED, Steve, and Brian weren't reporting news, they were reporting gossip.

And it's all their fault.

[runningbear]

maybe this one...this is what I got doing a search:

abramsreport@msnbc.com