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 know, you should really get the facts of a case before you berate other people; they actually HAVE the facts.
Yes, he did.
He left Modesto and drove 90 miles. He got there at 1 P.M., unloaded his boat, went out to Brooks Island, fished, came back, got his boat out of the water onto his trailer and was back on the road BEFORE 2:30 P.M.
Ahem: she was NOT sawed apart.
Perhaps you're not the best person to be asking for judgment on Scott Peterson.
No way to tell that. The coroner said it barely looked like a body, it was so decomposed.....
From what I can tell, that's never the case, even when someone has been found "not guilty". It's never correct to say "innocent" -- the proper term for someone not convicted is "not guilty".
In the case of someone who is convicted, you would have to say "guilty". Scott is guilty.
There was no sign of "hack" marks; her head and some of her cervical vertebrae was missing....down to 4, I think.
Most experts believe that the water force from the bay caused the arms and legs to pull away from her torso after a while, mostly likely after the big storm in April.
I didn't call them crimes...you changed my statement to suit yourself. Go away!!
TMI, Howlin'....... How about predators? I'd think sharks could be a factor. Even the little bitty meat eaters off shore had plenty of time to erase any evidence of man made cuts....
OMG, didn't you notice I didn't go into that........eeekkkkkkk!
(Where is her head???)
"The baby -- that was hard."
You could do it if you dumped them out the backend of the boat
I have already wasted too much time on you.
1. Deliberately lying for sexual gain-felony-20 years.
2. Disillusionment-child-felony-life
3. Not caring for elderly relatives-felony-death penalty
4. Disregard for employees-misdemeanor-Stiff fine
5. Refusal to work and living off society-felony-20 years hard labor
6. Stuffing your head in a bottle-misdemeanor-5 years + probation
7. Disrespecting the President-felony-20 years
8. Calling any member of the armed forces a derogatory name-felony-death penalty
9. Disrespecting the handicapped-felony-life
10. Neglect of personal responsibilities-felony-10 years
Just heartbreaking....
What hit me the other day was the psychiatric term folie a deux (madness shared by 2) but thanks to onyx, I learned a new one -- folie a famille
Folie à Famille: A Family Therapist's Perspective
LYNN WIKLER, Ph.D.
Over the last century there have been reports in the psychiatric journals of an unusual disorder, folie ä famille, yet the syndrome has been neglected by family theorists. In this paper the literature on delusions shared by families is examined from the perspective of a family therapist. The role the disorder plays in defining the continuum of functional/dysfunctional shared familial beliefs is described, and a case example demonstrating that folie ä famille may be underreported is presented.
On May 5, 2003, prosecution investigator Kevin Bertalotto wrote this report: "On 5-5-2003 at approximately 0730 hours, I opened an email sent to me by Deputy District Attorney Rick Distaso, which requested that Kirk McAllister be contacted and asked if he had any information, which might clear Scott Peterson of the charges he is accused of. On 5-5 at approximately 0825 hours, in the Stanislaus County Court Building in the hallway near Department 8, I saw Kirk McAllister standing in the hallway. I know Kirk McAllister as a local criminal defense attorney and have had dealings with him in the past on criminal cases that I was working. I approached Kirk and said good morning and shook hands with him and he reciprocated. I asked Kirk if he wanted to share any information to clear Scott Peterson to the District Attorney's Office. Kirk responded, "Go f--- yourself." I responded by saying, "Don't shoot the messenger, we've always got along good." Kirk said, "Yeah I know," and reached out and touched my upper arm and then said, "Well take this message to whoever, go f--- yourselves
Have you seen this stuff Howlin linked?
WHAT THE JURY DIDN'T HEAR
During Scott Peterson's 21-week trial, jurors heard from 184 witnesses and reviewed hundreds of exhibits. They saw a lot, but they didn't see everything. Some evidence was deemed irrelevant or prejudicial; lawyers determined other items didn't fit with their trial strategy. Here's a list of some of the evidence jurors didn't hear, based on Court TV sources and exclusive documents obtained by Court TV's Catherine Crier.
Peterson had 12 Viagra tablets in his car when he was arrested.
The judge allowed police officers to list the other contents of the overstuffed Mercedes, including survival gear and nearly $15,000 in cash, but not the erectile dysfunction cure.
Contents of the car
Peterson refused to take a lie-detector test.
Even when polygraph tests are administered, the results are generally inadmissible in court.
Peterson bought four phony college diplomas totaling $267 from an Internet site Dec. 16, 2002 — less than a week before his wife went missing.
When questioned about the framed fakes by lead investigator Craig Grogan, Peterson said they were not part of an effort to reinvent himself, but a gag gift from his wife, who liked to tease him about how long it took him to finish his degree. Detectives noted the diplomas were charged to his credit card and shipped to him.
Tracking dogs found Laci Peterson's scent in areas that suggested she left her home by car, not foot, and had been in her husband's boat.
Judge Alfred A. Delucchi barred this particular evidence as "iffy."
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