Ruling is expected today on search warrants

The Modesto Bee ^ | June 12, 2003 | John Cote'

[runningbear]

Ruling is expected today on search warrants

Ruling is expected today on search warrants

By JOHN COTÉ
BEE STAFF WRITER

Published: June 12, 2003, 06:26:28 AM PDT

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.......................

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Peterson's Attorneys Examine Human Remains

Peterson's Attorneys Examine Human Remains

DNA Tests To Determine Identity

POSTED: 8:30 a.m. EDT June 11, 2003
UPDATED: 8:59 a.m. EDT June 11, 2003

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

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

Jodi Hernandez

POSTED: 9:39 p.m. PDT June 10, 2003
UPDATED: 11:37 p.m. PDT June 10, 2003

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.......

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On a side note a PSA:

Reward Offered in Girl's Killing

Reward Offered in Girl's Killing

Posted: June 11, 2003 at 9:07 p.m.

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."

An employee of a Carrow's restaurant found the body and notified authorities.

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/

[Neenah]

....and we are series !

[Howlin]

I got the impression that the judge made that statement with regard to the fact that the reason Geragos gave to keep the search warrants sealed was because he has an "ongoing investigation" supposedly going on.

The judge said he didn't see any proof of that at all -- and if it was going on, that would have been the time for Geragos to produce some proof of it.

This is Geragos' red herring, not the judges.

[Howlin]

You made me do it

[clouda]

Thanks for the ping RB.


Tonight at 10:00 EST Court TV will be doing a special on the Peterson case.

[Canadian Outrage]

Totally disrespectful and totally going to blow up in their faces if they keep up on this vein. The goon squad are shooting blanks all the way. I mean, other "defense" Lawyers are practically laughing at him and recommending against his present tactics. Oh well, if the Peterson clan want to pay for this, have at it!!

[hobbes1]

ROR!

[hobbes1]

While I get the impression he has something .....further in mind, that's a pretty lame reason for sealing the warrants...


And, if he was going to use that, why not hire some cheap PI
to start tracking stuff dwon to make a showing for the Judge?

[clouda]

Scott Peterson made numerous trips to the Berkeley Marina while a massive search was underway throughout Northern California -- including the waters of the San Francisco Bay -- for any sign of his pregnant wife, Laci, sources told KTVU on Thursday.

As I said before this is very interesting and telling. Scott was keeping tabs on how close the police might be to where he dumped the bodies.

If he had nothing to hide, why bother going out there. He would know Laci and Conner were not there, and would focus his efforts elsewhere.

[hobbes1]

Labine allegedly issued the warrant allowing Scott Peterson's phones to be tapped from Jan.10 to April 18 -- a time when investigators maintained publicly that he was not a suspect in the case.

Conversely, If he was NOT A SUSPECT, why tap his phones?

[RGSpincich]

Conversely, If he was NOT A SUSPECT, why tap his phones?

Because if Laci was kidnapped he would be the one most likely to be called with ransom demands.

[Howlin]

He's under a ruling from their Court of Appeals....evidently Geragos got that early on.

He has now ruled they can be released, but the C of A will have the final say. This judge does not have techcnial jurisdiction of this case.

[hobbes1]

Are you meaning to suggest that all of those conversation that took place with his LAWYER, were confused with Ransom Demands?

[Howlin]

Whoops......I misread your post. I thought you were talking about the judge.

You would have thought Geragos would have give up SOMETHING to the judge to prove that he's not lying every single time he opens his mouth, wouldn't you?

The talking heads will have a field day with that quote tonight.

[RGSpincich]

In addition, he told Amber Frey that he did know who did it. By monitoring his calls, he could direct police to the "real" killer. Bwhahaha

[hobbes1]

so, I guess then that you are comfortable with the Police knowing best, and playing by the rules as it suits them ?

[RGSpincich]

Are you meaning to suggest that all of those conversation that took place with his LAWYER, were confused with Ransom Demands?

Are you confused? They applied for the phone tap prior to the legal intercepts you mention. The 3900 other calls could have produced some interesting results.

[hobbes1]

That's correct. However if your assertion about WHY they tapped the phones is correct, then Every conversation NOT a ransom demand should end exactly upon establishment of te party on the other end of the phone.



Unless they were fishing....You know, you people that reflexively support the Prosecution in cases like this, are no different than the Leftists that support Big GOvernment reflexively.


Geragos is doing HIS job, and one of the consequences of what he does, is that ctizens are ensured that the GOVERNMENT PROVES their allegations.


You know Like they didn't vs. O.J.

and He spent a year in the can....

[hobbes1]

Whereas, had they taken their time, Maybe they could have convicted him, if indeed he was guilty...But They rushed into court without doing their work....

[RGSpincich]

You asked for a reason if he wasn't a suspect and I gave you two reasons. Seems that he did direct police to the real killer.

[hobbes1]

Well, OK. Lets adress the "Ransom Demand" argument, simply, in defernce to you, If that was to hold any water, the Tap would not have been surreptitious, now would it?


As to the other, Because we "think' something may be going on, is not a valid reason to tap someones phone...that's called a fishing expedition....something Conservatives generally disagree with...