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Peterson attorney wants $15,000 backPeterson attorney wants $15,000 back By JOHN COTÉ and GARTH STAPLEY BEE STAFF WRITERS Last Updated: November 19, 2003, 08:20:52 AM PST Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Al Girolami plans to hear arguments on releasing two pieces of evidence Dec. 3, when Scott Peterson is to be arraigned on the double-murder charges upheld Tuesday at his preliminary hearing. Defense attorney Mark Geragos asked prosecutors to release the $15,000 cash Peterson had with him when he was arrested and Peterson's Ford pickup, which police seized in December. "It's an expensive task for the family to fund this,"...

Few bites from fishermen on Peterson sturgeon alibiFew bites from fishermen on Peterson sturgeon alibi Searchers left Berkeley Marina in January, looking for the body of Laci Peterson. Her husband said he was fishing there on Dec. 24. THE BEE By GARTH STAPLEY BEE STAFF WRITER Last Updated: November 30, 2003, 11:03:43 AM PST Details from Scott Peterson's preliminary hearing about his Christmas Eve fishing trip left some already skeptical fishermen with more doubt. "None of his story made any sense," said Carl Costley of Oakdale, who has fished 35 years for huge, tough-skinned sturgeon. "It just doesn't hold water."...

Prosecution claims Peterson's pickup was used to dump body Posted on Wed, Dec. 03, 2003 Prosecution claims Peterson's pickup was used to dump body By Brian Anderson CONTRA COSTA TIMES With hands bloodied, Scott Peterson hauled the body of his wife, Laci, from their Modesto house to his pickup truck in an hours-long effort to dispose of her in San Francisco Bay, prosecutors said in court papers filed Tuesday. Stanislaus County prosecutors said they believe Peterson drove his Ford F-150 to a warehouse he used for work, hooked up his fishing boat and steered his truck west. He had cut...

Friend: Peterson was franticFriend: Peterson was frantic By GARTH STAPLEY BEE STAFF WRITER Last Updated: December 5, 2003, 07:25:21 AM PST Scott Peterson sounded frantic when he called a friend after Peterson's pregnant wife disappeared Christmas Eve, Modesto businessman Gregory Reed said Thursday. Reed's name surfaced in the intrigue-packed preliminary hearing for Scott Peterson. The hearing ended Nov. 18 with a judge ordering the 31-year-old former fertilizer salesman to stand trial on charges of slaying Laci Peterson and their unborn son, Conner. Other former acquaintances of the defendant, also mentioned at the proceeding, refused to comment. Reed and his wife,...

False rumor led to a lawFalse rumor led to a lawLife insurance notification bill was prompted by talk in Laci Peterson case. By Eric Stern -- Bee Capitol Bureau Published 2:15 a.m. PST Monday, January 5, 2004 Though well-intentioned, Assemblyman Dave Cogdill relied on false rumors about the Laci Peterson case to push changes in insurance laws at his wife's urging. It started in January 2003, when Cogdill, a Republican from Modesto, and his wife, Stephanie, heard a news update about Peterson. The pregnant Modesto resident had disappeared a few weeks earlier, around Christmas Eve. The story was making the...

BURGLAR MAY TESTIFY vs LACI HUBBYBURGLAR MAY TESTIFY vs. LACI HUBBY By HOWARD BREUER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 6, 2004 -- MODESTO, Calif. - A convicted burglar who targeted neighbors of Scott and Laci Peterson around the time Laci disappeared may testify at Scott's murder trial to try to refute testimony from a potentially key defense witness. Prosecutors filed documents yesterday seeking to allow Steven Wayne Todd, 37, to testify in the sensational case. Last February, Todd was sentenced to more than eight years for burglaries in December 2002. Prosecutors may try to use Todd to undermine the defense's assertions that detectives...

Judge to Hear Arguments on Moving Peterson Trial Thursday, January 08, 2004 MODESTO, Calif. — The judge in the Laci Peterson (search) murder case hears arguments Thursday on the defense request to move Scott Peterson's (search) trial out of Modesto. Laci Peterson's husband is charged with murdering her and their unborn son just over a year ago. Peterson's lawyer, Mark Geragos (search), says Modesto citizens are prejudiced against his client, making it difficult for him to get a fair trial. Geragos has referred to Laci Peterson as a "posthumous celebrity," and says her husband has been demonized. Prosecutors say widespread...

Distaso attacks defense motionDistaso attacks defense motion By JOHN COTÉ BEE STAFF WRITER Last Updated: January 8, 2004, 08:14:12 AM PST Prosecutors Wednesday countered a defense effort to dismiss double-murder charges against Scott Peterson. They argued that there was only one reasonable explanation for the bodies of his wife and unborn son washing ashore along San Francisco Bay: "The evidence leads only to the conclusion that Laci was killed at the hands of another (the defendant)," Deputy District Attorney Rick Distaso wrote in documents filed in Stanislaus County Superior Court. The defense contends prosecutors failed to show at a November...

Judical Council Reveals Peterson Venue Choices Judical Council Reveals Peterson Venue Choices POSTED: 2:51 PM PST January 13, 2004 UPDATED: 3:46 PM PST January 13, 2004 SAN FRANCISCO -- The Judicial Council of California announced Tuesday that the Scott Peterson capital murder trial can be moved to Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo or Orange counties. Video: Judge Al Girolami Explains The Reasons To Move Trial The ruling came down after those courts informed the Judicial Council that they were able to accommodate the change of venue without undue burden. The three Northern California counties were the preference of Stanislaus County...

Judge Denies Peterson Dismissal Petition Starting back with this story. (all, those who didn't see this, watch the video clip of the court room action)Judge Denies Peterson Dismissal Petition POSTED: 11:06 AM PST January 14, 2004 UPDATED: 12:19 PM PST January 14, 2004 MODESTO -- As expected, a judge Wednesday denied a petition by Scott Peterson that sought to have the capital murder charges against him dismissed, but not before an emotional prosecutor Rick Distaso pointed at the Modesto fertilizer salesman and proclaimed that "this man murdered Laci Peterson." Courtroom Video: Attorneys Spar During Wednesday's Hearing Judge Maria Silveira, sitting...

Prosecutors favor Santa Clara County location for murder trialPosted on Mon, Jan. 19, 2004 Prosecutors favor Santa Clara County location for murder trial By Brian Anderson CONTRA COSTA TIMES Scott Peterson's prosecutors have urged a Stanislaus County judge to move the upcoming trial to the Bay Area's Santa Clara County, but also have asked that Sacramento County be considered. In court documents released over the weekend, prosecutor David Harris said Santa Clara County in the South Bay has a large enough jury pool, is close to Modesto and has had less media coverage of the disappearance and slaying of Laci...

Retired judge chosen to preside over Scott Peterson murder trialRetired judge chosen to preside over Scott Peterson murder trial KIM CURTIS, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, January 21, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (01-21) 12:17 PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The judge presiding over Scott Peterson's murder trial will be Richard Arnason, a retired Contra Costa County judge chosen Wednesday by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George. Scott Peterson's murder trial is being moved to the San Francisco Bay area because of hostility toward Peterson in his dead wife's hometown. Judge Al Girolami ruled earlier this month that the trial had to be...

The people v. Scott PetersonThe people v. Scott Peterson By Michelle Durand, Daily Journal Staff In a perfect world, Laci and Scott Peterson would be together today, anticipating the first birthday of their son Connor in one week. Instead, Laci and Connor are dead and Scott Peterson is facing a possible death sentence if convicted of killing his family. The case has all the makings of a thrilling page-turner: an attractive substitute teacher, happily expecting her first child when she mysteriously disappears on Christmas Eve; the doting husband who is having an extramarital affair in the weeks before his wife...

Peterson attorneys take new local poll Article Last Updated: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 3:49:28 AM PST Peterson attorneys take new local poll Legal team may ask for another change of venue in murder case By Jason Dearen, STAFF WRITER REDWOOD CITY -- The Scott Peterson legal defense team is polling San Mateo County residents regarding the double-murder case to help decide whether to request another change of venue. Over the past few days, residents have received calls from pollsters led by Paul Strand, dean of arts and letters at San Diego State University, who conducted a similar study for...

Two men face murder trials for deaths of pregnant wives Article Last Updated: Friday, February 06, 2004 - 3:36:15 AM PST Two men face murder trials for deaths of pregnant wives One gets headlines around the world; the other is largely ignored By Amelia Hansen, STAFF WRITER REDWOOD CITY -- Deep inside the Maguire Correctional Facility, a man accused of killing his pregnant wife and unborn child sits waiting for his day in court. His name is not Scott Peterson. But like Peterson, he is in his 30s, has dark hair, and will stand trial for multiple counts of murder....

GPS data at issue in Peterson caseScott Peterson is charged with killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son. GPS data at issue in Peterson case Judge to hear defense request to sequester jury Tuesday, February 17, 2004 Posted: 0544 GMT ( 1:44 PM HKT) REDWOOD CITY, California (CNN) -- Prosecutors and defense attorneys in Scott Peterson's murder trial are due in court again Tuesday to argue whether information gathered from tracking Peterson's vehicles by satellite after his wife disappeared should be admitted as evidence. Peterson, 31, is charged with killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son....

Haggling Over Evidence in Peterson Trial Haggling Over Evidence in Peterson Trial Monday March 1, 2004 10:46 AM By BRIAN SKOLOFF Associated Press Writer REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) - Just days before jury selection is set to begin, attorneys in Scott Peterson's double-murder trial continue to haggle over the admissibility of evidence. Judge Alfred A. Delucchi has already made several key rulings in the case, including a decision to allow prosecutors to use evidence police gathered with electronic devices used to track Peterson after his wife disappeared. But still at issue is the admissibility of monitored phone calls, which was...

DREAD 'TAKING TOLL' ON AMBER MISS STRESS: Amber Frey has been busy preparing for the birth of her baby while dreading the inevitable call to ex-lover Scott Peterson's trial, her dad says. - ZUMA Press DREAD 'TAKING TOLL' ON AMBER By HOWARD BREUER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 15, 2004 -- LOS ANGELES - Scott Peterson's former mistress Amber Frey is carrying two burdens these days: the baby boy that's due within a few weeks and her obligation to take the witness stand in her ex-lover's double-murder trial, her father says. Frey, 29, and her live-in boyfriend, Dr. David Markovich, a chiropractor, are...

SCOTT'S STICKY TAPES SCOTT'S STICKY TAPES By HOWARD BREUER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTT PETERSON "A host of lies." March 23, 2004 -- REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Jurors will be allowed to see TV interviews in which double-murder suspect Scott Peterson discusses his affair with Amber Frey and other aspects of the Laci Peterson case, a judge ruled yesterday. Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, had tried to exclude the interviews with Diane Sawyer and other reporters, arguing that they were "spliced and diced." But Judge Alfred Delucchi said the interviews could be offered to "show consciousness of guilt and evidence of the defendant's state...

Peninsula's tragic endings Five men to stand trial for allegedly killing their wives. Peninsula's tragic endings Five men to stand trial for allegedly killing their wives. By Jamie Casini Staff Writer jcasini@examiner.com Published on Monday, April 5, 2004 REDWOOD CITY -- Sharen Theresa Sulpizio-May. Adella Samaneigo. Laci Denise Peterson. Raye Lynn Rapoza. Donna Morrow. These five women share a tragic commonality -- all were allegedly murdered at the hands of their husbands. And all five men are currently awaiting trial in San Mateo County court. Five cases of this nature are an anomaly for the county, said Deputy District Attorney...