Ruling is expected today on search warrants

A Stanislaus County Superior Court judge is expected to rule today on whether to unseal eight search warrants issued while police investigated Scott Peterson in the death of his pregnant wife, Laci.

Judge Roger M. Beauchesne held a closed hearing Friday after defense attorney Matt Dalton said releasing the documents would compromise evidence that points to the "real killers."

"We have information that could possibly affect the arrest of other suspects who are still out there," Dalton said during a hearing last week.

Beauchesne sealed the documents before Peterson was arrested April 18 and charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner.

Beauchesne had originally ordered the documents to be unsealed when a criminal complaint was filed in the case. But the 5th District Court of Appeal in Fresno overruled that segment of his order after prosecutors sought to keep the documents sealed. The appeals court ruled that the unsealing could not come automatically after an arrest. Rather, a hearing had to be held after a "change in circumstances," the court ruled.

Prosecutors say intense media scrutiny could sway potential jurors and hurt Peterson's chances at a fair trial.

The Bee's lawyer, Charity Kenyon -- who also represents several other newspapers and TV.......................

DAVIS, Calif. -- Scott Peterson's defense team was in Davis, Calif., Monday, looking into the possibility that human remains that were found there last week may have a connection to their case.

NBC news reported that the remains were in a plastic container found inside a trailer park trash bin last week. So far, they have not been identified.

Reports say the remains include at least one female, and perhaps as many as four other individuals.

Authorities say DNA tests will be done to establish whether or not there is any connection to the Laci Peterson murder case.

Meanwhile, if Scott Peterson's attorneys have their way, an unlikely witness will testify at a hearing scheduled for the end of this month, NBC News in San Francisco reported.

Peterson's defense team announced Tuesday that they want the judge who authorized wiretaps on Peterson's phone to take the stand.

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Peterson's Attorneys Want Unlikely Witness To Testify
Judge Ray Ledine Authorized Wiretaps

MODESTO, Calif. -- Scott Peterson is due back in court at the end of the month. And if his attorneys have their way, an unlikely witness will testify. Peterson's attorneys subpoenaed a superior court judge to appear.

Peterson's defense team announced Tuesday that they want the judge who authorized wiretaps on Peterson's phone to take the stand.

NBC11's Jodi Hernandez reported that Peterson's attorneys might face an uphill battle on this issue.

Ray Ledine authorized the wiretapping of Peterson's phone conversations. The judge met with the prosecutor and wiretap investigator every three days to keep tabs on their progress. A court reporter was not present at those meetings and Peterson's attorneys want to question the judge about the wiretap procedures.

They are concerned that conversations between Peterson and his attorney were illegally recorded. Legal experts say it's extremely rare for a judge to take the stand. Judges are protected by law from doing so.

"They can submit to him written questions and you can submit written answers," said legal expert Alexander Wolfe.

Hernandez reported that in a death penalty case the law requires a court reporter to be present at every court proceeding, including conferences. But when the judge met with investigators about the wiretaps.......

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (AP) -- A $5,000 reward was announced Wednesday by the Alameda County sheriff's department for any information that could help identify a teenage girl whose decomposing body was found inside a canvas bag behind a restaurant on May 1.

Investigators have eliminated about 150 missing children from the San Francisco Bay area, said Sgt. Scott Dudek. They suspect the girl may be from out of the state.

"The reward is offered by the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation to assist us with identifying who the little girl was," Dudek said. "We have her DNA, we were able to eliminate other children based on her characteristics. She had beautiful teeth, no fillings, no cavities, single ear piercing, and other distinctive characteristics."

Dudek describe the victim as a 5-foot-1 inch girl who weighed 110 pounds, had brown eyes, brown and wavy hair and of mixed race, Hispanic and black.

He said the cause of death had been established as asphyxiation, as "a rug was found inside her mouth." The girl likely died April 22 or 23, Dudek said.

"It could be a person outside of the area, outside of the state, there is a possibility that perhaps maybe a family member had something to do with it and that is why they have not reported it yet," Dudek added.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Homicide Division of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office at (510) 667-7721/