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Tina Maria Michelle Pope Reiswig
Witness for the People: Guilt Phase June 3, 2004
Direct Examination by Rick Distaso DISTASO: Miss Reiswig, where are you employed? REISWIG: At Sweet Serenity Day Spa DISTASO: Is Sweet Serenity Day Spa, what kind of business is that? REISWIG: It's a full service day spa, which includes hair stylist, manicurist, esthetician, massage therapist. Lot of our clients come in for either a full day service, which includes lunch, or just individual services. DISTASO: And just so he we're not confused. The Sweet Serenity Day Spa is different than the Salon Salon Day Spa in Modesto; is that right? Different business? REISWIG: Yes, it is. DISTASO: Okay. Were you working at Sweet Serenity Day Spa in Modesto on December 23, 2002? REISWIG: Yes. DISTASO: And what time did you get to work that day? REISWIG: Fairly early in the morning, because it was a very busy day. I knew that whole week was very busy for the holidays. DISTASO: Was that because the holidays were coming? REISWIG: Yes, right. DISTASO: Did you know a woman by the name of Laci Peterson? REISWIG: Beforehand, no. DISTASO: Okay. Had you seen Laci Peterson as a customer or someone who frequented your day spa at Sweet Serenity? REISWIG: That is correct. DISTASO: Let me show you a picture of People's Number 6. JUDGE: Mr. Distaso, how many did you mark out of my presence? DISTASO: I told you, judge, I marked a bunch this morning so we can get rolling. I won't do that again. JUDGE: Because I like the jury to know where they came from too. This is People's Number 6? DISTASO: This is People's Number 6. DISTASO: Do you recognize the woman in that picture, People's Number 6? REISWIG: Yes, I do. DISTASO: Who do you recognize that person to be? REISWIG: Laci. DISTASO: Okay. Now, did you see Laci Peterson on December 23rd at the Sweet Serenity Day Spa? REISWIG: Yes, I did. DISTASO: Do you remember what time it was that she came into the store? REISWIG: It was approximately early afternoon. I can't put a fix on the time exactly. DISTASO: Okay. REISWIG: But I know it was early in the afternoon. DISTASO: All right. And just tell me what happened when she came in. Just start from the beginning. You were working; is that right? REISWIG: Yes, I was working with a client. My face was directed to the front door, so whenever a client would come in I would see them. And I greeted her. DISTASO: Okay. What is your job at the day spa? REISWIG: Manicurist. DISTASO: So you were working when Laci came in, right? REISWIG: That's correct. DISTASO: What happened next? REISWIG: I said hello, and told her that Michelle would be with her in just a few minutes. DISTASO: Okay. Who is Michelle? REISWIG: Michelle is the owner of the day spa, and the esthetician. DISTASO: What happened next? Just take me through what happened as best you can recall. REISWIG: Well, after I greeted her, I told her Michelle would be with her in just a few minutes. And I couldn't, I don't even know if she acknowledged me. But it was like she wasn't, all the other times that Laci has come in, I never really knew of her GERAGOS: Objection. Non-responsive. JUDGE: Sustained. Just answer the question. DISTASO: That's okay. Did Laci then go and have a treatment with Michelle? REISWIG: Yes. DISTASO: How long did that take? REISWIG: About 15 to 20 minutes. DISTASO: And then did Laci then come out of wherever she was in the spa? REISWIG: Yes. DISTASO: Did you see her again? REISWIG: When she came out? DISTASO: Uh-huh. REISWIG: Yes. DISTASO: Did she say anything to you? REISWIG: I told her how cute she looked. And she just wasn't herself. And she just responded she was tired. DISTASO: Okay. And did you have any other conversation with her? REISWIG: No, I did not. DISTASO: Do you remember what she was wearing? REISWIG: Black Capri pants, with a long-sleeve white shirt. DISTASO: Do you remember anything else? REISWIG: Black Mary Jane shoes. DISTASO: Do you remember if she was wearing any type of watch? REISWIG: I believe like a silver-gold watch. DISTASO: Okay. Did you give a statement to the Modesto Police Department about this particular incident? REISWIG: Yes, I did. DISTASO: At the time you gave the statement, was the incident fresh in your mind fresher than it is now a year and half later? REISWIG: Yes. DISTASO: If you would take a look at that statement, do you think that might refresh your memory as to what Laci was wearing in regards to the watch? REISWIG: Yes. DISTASO: Let me show you a police report and show you something. Did you give, go ahead, tell me when you are done reading. Did you give a clothing description to the police back when you were first interviewed? REISWIG: Yes, I did. DISTASO: And just reading that, does reading that description refresh your memory as to what Laci was wearing? REISWIG: Yes. DISTASO: Can you tell me again, just completely as best you remember it, what Laci was wearing on the 23rd. REISWIG: She was wearing black Capri pants, black Mary Janes that weren't high-heeled, and a long-sleeved white shirt, that was not wrinkled, but crisp. And silver-gold wristwatch. DISTASO: Okay. And when you say Capri pants, just so everybody knows what you are talking about, what does that mean? REISWIG: About down to the shin. They are cropped pants. They are above the ankle, but lower than the knee. DISTASO: And when you say Mary Jane shoes, I don't know what exactly that means. Can you explain what type of shoes you are talking about? REISWIG: They are closed front and back shoes with the strap across the front. DISTASO: And what color were they? REISWIG: Black. DISTASO: No further questions, your Honor.
Cross Examination by Pat Harris HARRIS: Good morning, Miss Reiswig. REISWIG: Good morning. HARRIS: You interviewed how many times with the Modesto Police Department? REISWIG: Twice. HARRIS: Twice. First time was when, do you recall? REISWIG: Back in March. HARRIS: Okay. And the second time would have been when? REISWIG: A few weeks ago. HARRIS: During your first interview, it was with Detective Grogan; is that correct? REISWIG: That's correct. HARRIS: And you recall speaking to Detective Grogan for several minutes, and talking about the clothing and what all you had seen that day, correct? REISWIG: That's correct. HARRIS: Okay. And do you recall telling Detective Grogan when Laci came in she seemed a little quiet? REISWIG: Yes. HARRIS: You testified earlier that Laci came in, and she said that she was tired. Told you that she was tired? REISWIG: That's correct. HARRIS: During the interview with Detective Grogan, did you ever tell Detective Grogan that Miss Peterson said that? REISWIG: Yes. HARRIS: You did tell Detective Grogan that? Would you like to take a second and just review- REISWIG: Yes. I'm sorry. JUDGE: Can you just identify for the record what she is reviewing? HARRIS: She reviewed the report that Detective Grogan wrote. JUDGE: What date? HARRIS: On March 3. JUDGE: 2003? HARRIS: 2003. GERAGOS: For the record, does it have a Bates number stamped on it? If it does- HARRIS: Bates stamp 0867. HARRIS: Okay. When she entered the room, when she entered the salon- REISWIG: Uh-huh. HARRIS: Your testimony was that she told you that, you told her she looked cute, and she was tired; is that correct? REISWIG: No. It was when she was leaving. HARRIS: It was actually when she was leaving? REISWIG: She is up in front after Michelle was done with her. HARRIS: Was not when she came in? REISWIG: No. HARRIS: In fact, when she came in, she didn't speak to you, did she? REISWIG: No. I greeted her. She didn't respond, or I didn't hear her responding. But she didn't say anything directly to me. HARRIS: Okay. It's your testimony that she, in fact, was wearing, this was March, excuse me, December 23rd; is that correct? REISWIG: That's correct. HARRIS: And she had on a pair of black Capri pants? REISWIG: Yes. HARRIS: And it's your testimony that she had on a long-sleeved white shirt, is that correct? REISWIG: Yes. HARRIS: And you told the police, I believe, that the shirt, in fact, was, to your belief, that it did not have buttons? REISWIG: That's correct. HARRIS: You believe it did not have collars? REISWIG: That's right. HARRIS: And, in fact, you told the police you thought it was a pullover white shirt? REISWIG: I can't remember about the pullover. I'm sorry. HARRIS: During the later interview with the Modesto Police Department, did they show you some clothes? Did they show you pictures? REISWIG: Yes, they did. HARRIS: At that time did you identify what you believe was a white pullover shirt that looked close to what she was wearing that day? REISWIG: I'm sorry, I can't remember. HARRIS: And it was on that day that you also identified she was wearing black Capri pants as well, correct? REISWIG: That's correct. HARRIS: And you said the Capri plea pants are pants that come about right down to here; is that about right? REISWIG: Yes. JUDGE: For the record, about 4 inches below her knee. HARRIS: About four inches above, correct. HARRIS: Do you recall that Laci Peterson had a tattoo? Did you see that? REISWIG: Yes. HARRIS: Where was the tattoo? REISWIG: Pardon me? HARRIS: Where was- REISWIG: On the ankle. HARRIS: And do you recall what kind of tattoo it was? REISWIG: A sunflower. HARRIS: Now, beyond the salon, had you had any contact with Laci Peterson? REISWIG: Nope. HARRIS: And previously previous to in indicate had you had any other conversations with Laci Peterson? REISWIG: Nope. HARRIS: This was the only time you spoke to her? REISWIG: Yes. HARRIS: That's all I have.
Redirect by Rick Distaso DISTASO: Miss Reiswig, counsel was asking you if you had told the detectives about Laci saying she was tired. And did you find that reference there in the police report? REISWIG: After she was done with Michelle? DISTASO: Yes. REISWIG: Yes. DISTASO: So it is documented in the report? REISWIG: Yes, it is. DISTASO: And the day that you were spoken to by the police the first time was in March of 2003? REISWIG: That's correct. DISTASO: Then the second time you said was a couple weeks ago? REISWIG: A few weeks ago. DISTASO: And was that for the purpose of reviewing your statements in preparation for your testimony here? REISWIG: That is correct. DISTASO: Okay. How many times do you know that Laci had been to the salon? Do you know that information? REISWIG: Maybe three times that I have seen her. DISTASO: Prior to the 23rd? REISWIG: Right. DISTASO: Would that include the 23rd, or three times then the 23rd? REISWIG: Including the 23rd. DISTASO: Okay. All right, thank you. I don't have anything further.
Re-Cross by Pat Harris HARRIS: Does the Serenity Day Spa have a video surveillance system? REISWIG: No, we do not. HARRIS: That's all I have. Thank you. |