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]

Sheesh, I thought we all took care of the "attack thing" the other day. It is really NOT necessary. It adds nothing of value to discussion whether the opinions are in agreement or not. I thought we were all grown ups here. What say ya uvular?? I don't get why some peoples fangs have to come out over nothing!!

[Canadian Outrage]

Boy Howlin, IF that is true, that another Lie (brick) in the wall being built against Peterson. The guy is truly evil and pathetic.

[Neenah]

Did anyone get repulsed when that Jayne W. on Greta, called the baby..."..when the THING came out of her... ".

That was the saddest comment I ever heard anyone say.

[Howlin]

Please honor my request.

It would help matters if YOU would stop posting stuff like this behind people's backs.

To: An American In Dairyland

That's b/c lately some people have been dominating the forum, and one poster in particular has seemed to want nothing but to slur others and try to start flame wars.

937 posted on 05/29/2003 11:07 PM EDT by Devil_Anse

[Canadian Outrage]

Coming from Janie "the witch" Weintraub I can believe it!! She is a raving NARAL Hag for sure.

[uvular]

Gee, I don't know. Was the golf club he joined for the $25G down by his folks? If so, I'm gonna add that to my tick list of why this guy is at the very least a grade A sob.

I guess I'd always assumed the club was closer to his home in Modesto.

[justshe]

Maa... he's talking to me again.

1,034 posted on 05/24/2003 5:45 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (FReepers are the GReatest!!)

[Howlin]

That's what the woman reporter on Greta's show said tonight.......he told Laci's sister that he had an early tee time at that country club he joined in December.

Wasn't that club pretty far from their house?

And she also said that he had even volunteered to run some errands for Laci's sister after he was finished with his golf game.

[Howlin]

From joyce's post above:

Laci complained about him spending $25,000 for his golf membership in the Del Rio Country Club on Dec.1, 2002.

Who knows where that is?

[Devil_Anse]

LOL! I can't tell you how many times I've had to hit the mute button when Geragos talked over other people, as he sat on so many panels, night after night, commenting on every case under the sun.

[Howlin]

Del Rio
Country Club
801 Stewart Road
Modesto, CA 95356

[Diver Dave]

Del Rio Country Club on Dec.1, 2002.
Who knows where that is?

I do!

[RGSpincich]

Scott told Laci's sister that he had an early tee time down in San Deigo

I think he had a tee time at HIS country club in Modesto.

[Canadian Outrage]

Good!! Amy Rocha, I believe will make a powerful witness. They just can't shut Geragos up fast enough for me. I feel SOOOO bad for the Rocha's. One thing occured to me tho - IF Snott gave Amber Laci's jewelry that will be a biggie. Also, if ALL of Laci's "Personal" things are gone, I don't think that is going to look good either. If Geragos is gagged I do believe the poor guy will blow up or self-destruct in some manner!!

[Howlin]

I should have pinged you!

We were talking about the report tonight that Scott had said he had an early tee time there the 24th.

[Devil_Anse]

Sounds sort of like your running dialogues with southflank, doesn't it?

[Diver Dave]

Who knows where that is?

It's north of the Modesto City Limits. High Budget homes in the surrounding neighborhood.

[An American In Dairyland]

<>I hope you will stick around, AAID.<>

Aww...thanks guys. I probably will. I'm just tired right now.

I wasn't complaining just about my treatment. I saw worse done to a couple of other people. It's a shame.

[Canadian Outrage]

I couldn't count my mutes either!!

[Howlin]

Remember this: even before the bodies were found, the MPD had warrants ready to arrest Scott and did, in fact, arrest him before the autopsy was done.

So they HAD to have enough evidence to make them think he was the one and to arrest him.

I think there is a TON of stuff we don't know about.

But I agree with you: they are some of the tackiest people I've EVER seen. Talk about totally bad form.