Free Republic

Jurors face difficult decision over Scott Peterson's fate SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — If the experience of those involved in past death penalty cases is any guide, the jurors in Scott Peterson's murder trial will have to grapple with raw and deep religious, moral and legal issues as they decide whether he lives or dies. Arguments in the penalty phase are scheduled to begin Tuesday, but experts say many of the jurors may already have made up their minds about what punishment the 32-year-old former fertilizer salesman deserves. In 2001, a California jury faced a case that holds some similarities to...

Peterson May Join 'The Qs' Infamous Death Row SAN QUENTIN -- If Scott Peterson is condemned to die he would become the latest addition to a San Quentin Death Row that already houses serial killer Richard Ramirez, known as the Night Stalker, Richard Allen Davis, the killer of Polly Klaas, David Carpenter, the Trailside Killer, and recently arrived Cary Stayner. Ironically, Peterson could also catch an occasional glimpse across the San Francisco Bay waters of the spot where he launched his boat on Christmas Eve 2002, not far from where the bodies of his pregnant wife and unborn child eventually...

As Peterson's lawyer prepares for penalty phase, he also faces ethics attack As he tries to save Scott Peterson from death row, Mark Geragos may have another worry: disciplinary action from the California bar. On Friday, the same day a Redwood City jury convicted Peterson of capital murder, a Florida civil lawyer mailed a formal complaint against Geragos to the state bar alleging the high-profile Los Angeles attorney violated ethical rules with the display of a fishing boat near the courthouse during deliberations. The lawyer, John Thompson, is not connected to the Peterson case and learned of the boat only...

Source: Peterson jury foreman wanted to be taken off panel REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Court TV) — The foreman dismissed from the jury deliberating murder charges against Scott Peterson Wednesday asked to be removed from the panel, a source close to the case told Court TV anchor Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom. "This juror wanted off the case," Guilfoyle Newsom reported Thursday. The panelist, identified as Gregory Jackson, 46, quit the jury after his fellow jurors said they wanted another panelist to lead them, the source told Guilfoyle Newsom. "He was removed as the foreperson and then decided he wanted off the case,"...

Chopper drops itsradardevice on flight route

Judge removes juror from Scott Peterson's murder trial Scott Peterson could face the death penalty if convicted of killing his wife and unborn son REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Jurors who have been weighing capital murder charges against Scott Peterson for five days were ordered Tuesday afternoon to start from scratch after a panelist was removed from the jury and replaced with an alternate. Judge Alfred Delucchi did not give a specific reason for the removal of the woman, Juror 7, but indicated in his instructions to the remaining jurors that the dismissed juror may have violated court rules by trying...

Jurors turn focus to Scott Peterson's fishing boat REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Jurors in Scott Peterson's capital murder trial want to see the boat the fertilizer salesman allegedly used to dump his wife's body in the San Francisco Bay, according to two sources close to the case. The panel wrote a note to Judge Alfred Delucchi Friday requesting an inspection of the 14-foot aluminum Gamefisher Peterson took out on the bay Dec. 24, 2002, the day he reported his wife, Laci, missing. The sources confirmed to Court TV that the boat will be brought to the courthouse and jurors will...

In closing, prosecutor says parenthood pushed Scott Peterson to kill REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Scott Peterson killed his pregnant wife because fatherhood threatened his "fantasyland" double life as a "rich, successful, freewheeling bachelor," a prosecutor told jurors during closing arguments Monday in his capital murder trial. Prosecutor Rick Distaso said the fertilizer salesman strangled or smothered his 27-year-old spouse, Laci, in their home on Dec. 23 or Dec. 24, 2002, so he could be free of the lifetime of responsibilities the child would bring. "He didn't want adult married life. He didn't want Conner Peterson," Distaso said, referring to the...

Redwood City, CA, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Jurors could hear some new ground plowed Monday when they listen to closing arguments in the Scott Peterson murder trial.

Working Families e-Activist Network PDear Working Families e-Activist: Republican operatives behind President George W. Bush have launched a massive, coordinated vote suppression effort in key battleground states across America--and we need your help to stop it now. Sign the petition now to demand that Bush and his operatives STOP this outrageous effort to suppress the vote. * In Oregon, a leaked Republican "observation manual" calls for volunteers with video cameras to show up at ballot drop-off centers Election Night. "If they start videotaping when some people are still voting, some voters might consider that intimidating," state Elections Director John Lindback...

Jurors may be told to consider lesser charges against Scott Peterson REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Jurors weighing first-degree murder charges against Scott Peterson will likely have the option of finding the fertilizer salesman guilty of second-degree murder, greatly increasing the chances of conviction in the eyes of legal experts. Judge Alfred Delucchi has scheduled a conference with lawyers for Friday to finalize the charges presented to the panel, but lawyers who have followed the case say rulings by the state's Supreme Court leave the veteran capital trial judge little choice but to add the lower count to the verdict form....

Nearly five months ago Scott Peterson's lawyer stood up in a packed courtroom and swore he would prove that

Scott Peterson's Defense Could Rest TuesdayScott Peterson's defense team could rest its case Tuesday. On Monday, his lawyer called on Peterson's mother to try to explain why he had nearly $15,000 in cash on him when he was arrested. She says she gave him back $10,000 that she accidentally withdrew from his account. His lawyer also questioned police about whether someone else could have been responsible for the death of Scott's wife, Laci, and her baby. Prosecutors say he killed her and dumped her body into the San Francisco Bay nearly two years ago. The defense maintains ........

Peterson defense enters fifth day of questioningREDWOOD CITY, Calif. Scott Peterson spent his 32nd birthday in jail over the weekend as his double murder trial nears an end. Peterson's attorneys were to begin their fifth day of calling witnesses on Monday, a day after his birthday. Last week, attorneys for the former fertilizer salesman suffered a blow when prosecutors attacked testimony from an expert who estimated when Laci Peterson's fetus died. The age of the fetus is crucial to the case. Prosecutors claim it was expelled dead from Laci's corpse, while defense lawyers maintain it was born after she ........

Expert: Laci Peterson's unborn son lived at least five days after her disappearance REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A defense medical expert testified Thursday that Scott Peterson's unborn son lived at least five days after the Christmas Eve disappearance of his pregnant wife, Laci. But the witness's conclusion — a finding that held the potential to exonerate the fertilizer salesman — was severely undercut when he admitted his assessment relied on personal notions of "realistic" behavior by women at baby showers. The obstetrician, Dr. Charles March, told jurors at Peterson's capital trial that he decided Dec. 29, 2002, was the earliest...

Dog handler: Laci Peterson's scent at marina inconclusive REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Just because a search dog picked up Laci Peterson's scent at the marina where her husband, Scott, launched his fishing boat does not mean she was there, a dog handler testified Wednesday at the fertilizer salesman's capital trial. Ron Seitz, a veteran handler who works for law enforcement agencies but was called as a witness by the defense, said that, if the mother-to-be routinely rode in her husband's pickup truck, her scent could have been transferred from the vehicle's interior to the grounds of Berkeley Marina when her...

Will Scott Peterson Take the Stand?Scott Peterson has taken part in mock cross-examinations by a former California prosecutor in an apparent attempt to determine if he should testify in his on defense in his double-murder trial for the deaths of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson. Michael Cardoza, a former Alameda County prosecutor, told The Modesto Bee that he twice conducted mock cross-examinations of Peterson last week in the San Mateo County jail in sessions that lasted for hours. Lead attorney Mark Geragos observed the sessions, but did not ask for a recommendation on whether Peterson should testify, Cardoza said. "I’m...

Peterson Undergoes Mock Cross-Examination With Trial Analyst Cardoza REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Scott Peterson is being prepared by his defense team to possibly take the witness stand in his own defense, according to a Bay Area attorney who said today he spent several hours questioning Scott Peterson over the last week at the behest of Peterson's defense team. Former Alameda County prosecutor Michael Cardoza has been providing legal analysis of the Scott Peterson double murder trial for a number of news organizations since early this year. He was approached last week by defense attorney Mark Geragos and asked to simulate...

Defense begins presenting case Monday in Scott Peterson trial SAN FRANCISCO Scott Peterson's murder trial is scheduled to resume today in Redwood City, California. The defense may call experts to say the fetus Laci Peterson was carrying when she disappeared on Christmas Eve, 2002 was born full term. Her due date was February tenth, 2003. Scott Peterson was under police surveillance at that time. Legal experts agree that if Peterson's team can convince jurors the fetus was carried to full term, Scott Peterson could be acquitted. Prosecutors allege Peterson killed his pregnant wife, then dumped her body into San Francisco...

Republican Victory Tour Arrives in Modesto Dear Friend: I will be visiting Modesto on Tuesday as part of the "2004 California Victory Tour" to rally support for President George Bush and our Republican candidates. Please join me and California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim to show your support, sign up to volunteer, or pick up a bumper sticker or yard sign. We need your help and your vote on election day. Sincerely, Congressman Darrell Issa Join Congressman Issa in supporting our President and other local Republican Candidates. WHERE: 118 West Orangeburg Ave. Modesto WHEN: Tuesday, October 19th, 2004 3pm to...