REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — In tearful testimony, Scott Peterson's (search) family and friends pleaded with jurors to spare his life, contending that he
was mistakenly convicted of killing his pregnant wife, Laci.Posted on 12/07/2004 6:15:31 AM PST by crushelits
Witnesses: Jury Wrongly Convicted Peterson
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — In tearful testimony, Scott Peterson's (search) family and friends pleaded with jurors to spare his life, contending that he was mistakenly convicted of killing his pregnant wife, Laci.
Defense witnesses have already testified that Peterson sang to seniors on Sundays, distributed food and clothes in Tijuana and that he was a good friend and loving son.
On the fifth day of the trial's penalty phase, Peterson's relatives questioned the jury's verdict.
"I don't believe he's guilty," said his uncle, John Lathamke to see him die. It would tear our family apart."
But jurors showed no expression, some even looking away or toward the ground as Latham spoke.
Testimony in the seven-month-old trial's penalty phase was set to continue Tuesday and run into the next day before closing arguments. Jurors were expected to begin deliberating Thursday whether to sentence Peterson to life without parole or the death penalty.
Peterson was convicted Nov. 12 of one count of first-degree murder in the death of his pregnant wife, Laci, and one count of second-degree murder for the killing of her fetus.
Prosecutors say he smothered or strangled Laci Peterson (search) in their Modesto home on or around Christmas Eve 2002, then dumped her body into San Francisco Bay. The remains of the victims were discovered about four months later a few miles from where Peterson claims to have been fishing alone the day his wife vanished.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
You don't need any of that in a case like this, nor do you need a body.
To add to that there was the public knowledge of the fishing location within days of her disappearance.
Actually, that was half into January.
So the "framer" heard from this group that Scott was fishing and took a chance....bought a boat, made some anchors and went somewhere to a cooler somewhere to retrieve Laci's body and went to the Marina which was now under heavy surveillance....
The same Marina which Scott said "on a live interview"...."it's a waste of time for what...80 people..to be searching there. She's not there".
There are more than 400 people that have been exonerated over the last 5 years from death row because they were convicted because of circumstantial evidence--what do you say about that? hmmm...
Later the real criminal was found guilty. I guess all of you all will say the Judge, the Prosecution and law enforcement had nothing at all to do with those fellows serving time in jail for something they didnt do?
When they were found guilty---people were saying exactly what yall are saying now--too much circumstantial evidence points to guilt.
So, why then--were they exonerated if circumstantial evidence proves guilt?
And that goes to the heart of the matter. This entire thread is about our protections in our system of justice. Peterson is guilty but not guilty enough to to be put to death.
Someone refresh my memory, who was the guy that was just release in Texas after sitting on death row for 17 years? Had there been a forum like FR when this guy was on trial, you could be having this exact same conversation.
The "fry Peterson" wing of this thread needs to keep this in mind. Or, move to China where they don't concern themselves with the protections we are supposed to have.
And the 3 people that saw him at THAT marina? How would you have explained that?
Every single lawyer I've seen on TV says there are no grounds for appeal in this case.
Exactly.
If it is found out that Amber Frey was negotiating her book deal before or during the trial, that is grounds for an appeal.
Notice that I never said Scott is innocent. What I said was, the case presented by the prosecution is full of holes.
Two different things...I'm sure that many guilty murderers have been acquitted due to lack of edvidence leading to conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.
You have major issues with women, including the inability to be honest and faithful.
Why am I not surprised you're here defending Scott Peterson. Kindred souls.
"I don't know how smart Scott is, but he is a college grad, and it would not take a lot of smarts to say that he had gone fishing somewhere else...like in the opposite direction from where the bodies were found."
Well, his mother must have had some doubts. Two key statements made by her to him:
"No one could have been that dumb--not even you, Scott."
and,
"Deny, deny, deny."
I'm suggesting every murder has a REASON; who had one other than Scott?
What about the old woman that saw Laci the day she went missing I believe.(May have been day after) Why wasnt that admitted?
Has the defense introduced ANY ONE of his friends or family who say how he expressed how excited he was to be an expectant father?
You have to know EXACTLY where he was fishing for the bodies to surface where they did.
Names; let's have them. And not from YOU; we'll be needing a credible source, if you don't mind.
No, it is not.
I suspect that the primary grounds for appeal will be incompetent council. The judicial mistake was to not move the trial far enough away from the murder site. Geragos tried to get it moved to LA.
If I were a betting man, I would go with the momentum and claim council was incompetent and the jury was tainted as a result of the media coverage. Geragos set this up early on when he had problems picking a jury. The record is rife with evidence of this.
I would not expect any appeal to automatically be successful, as they rarely are. But, it does happen.
It will be interesting to see what they do appeal on.
I think you're right. I wonder how that plays out in appeal?
You mean the one who said she yelled into the den to her husband WHO WAS WATCHING A FOOTBALL game that Laci was walking by?
There was NO football on that day.
And if she had been credible, why didn't Geragos put her on the stand?
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