Pre-Trial & Jury Selection:  Feb - May, 2004

2 Feb 2004 Trial Delayed, Cameras Banned

When asked by Delucchi, Scott agreed to the one-week delay in the trial, caused by Geragos' involvement in a Pasadena murder trial. California law required the trial to start today, unless Scott waived that right or Delucchi found good cause to delay it. Monday's hearing will focus on procedural and scheduling issues, including when to hear motions on evidence and when to distribute juror questionnaires to gauge potential bias.  Delucchi will not allow cameras in the courtroom, saying "It could have a chilling effect on the testimony of witnesses."

 

An electronic billboard positioned outside the Redwood city courthouse tallied the "guilty" and "innocent" votes called in to the sponsoring radio station. Delucchi ordered the billboard relocated.

 

4 Feb 2004 Death of Vivian Mitchell

Vivian Mitchell, expected to be a Defense witness, died. Neither the Defense nor the Prosecution would say whether Mitchell was questioned under oath so her testimony would be preserved, as allowed by law when attorneys anticipate losing a key witness that is not in good health.

 

9 Feb 2004 Defense Motions Filed

Motion for Separate Juries

Defense filed its Motion to request separate juries to hear the guilt and penalty phases. The Motion gives three reasons why good cause exists to empanel separate juries:  1) the enormous amount of pretrial publicity adverse to Scott, 2) the unusually high number of people who have prejudged Scott guilty, and 3) the process of death qualification creates a jury that leans in favor of the prosecution and conviction. The Motion suggests that if Scott is convicted, he will challenge the "constitutional validity of death-qualifying the guilt phase jury." Motion

 

Motion to Sequester the Jury Motion

 

Motion to Exclude Media Statements

Defense filed its Motion to exclude all of Scott's statements to the media, on the grounds "that the evidence is irrelevant and that the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will necessitate undue consumption of time, confuse the issues, mislead the jury, and create a substantial danger of undue prejudice to" Scott. The evidence is irrelevant because the media statements, per the prosecution's own characterization, "were limited to statements concerning the search for Laci (irrelevant to the charges of capital murder) and Mr. Peterson's admission of an adulterous relationship with Amber Frey (nondisputed issue)."  Motion

 

Reply to Opposition to Exclude Hypnosis

Defense filed its Reply to Opposition to Motion to Exclude Testimony of Hypnotized witness Kristen Dempewolf.  The Reply notes that the two police reports did not properly document her pre-hypnotic memory. LE never asked Dempewolf to read and attest to the accuracy of the two police reports or sign a written statement in which she related her full pre-hypnosis recollection of the events. Pennington's interview of Dempewolf disclosed that prior to the hypnosis, she could not recall the date of the incidents, but during the hypnotic interview he questioned her in a manner that required remembering the relevant date. Detective Stough "gave Dr. Pennington a brief on the burglary and on the reports of the suspicious van on or about the 24th of December 2002 in front of 516 Covena." After the briefing, Det. Banks took Pennington to the scene so he could view the area, raising concerns that Pennington could have unwittingly or intentionally given Dempewolf cues that would have permanently altered her recollection. Additional objections come from the videotape of the pre-hypnosis interview starts after the interview is in progress and that Pennington was not independent of law enforcement.  Motion

 

11 Feb 2004 Judge Delucchi continues the Protective Order

Geragos asked Delucchi to add to the Protective Order a safe harbor provision, which "allows either side to respond to anything out there that is false, or is perceived to be false, so that you don't have these rumors that kind of jump from speculation to mainstream and automatically become fact by day three" (364:10-15).  David Harris, for the Prosecution, remarked that a safe harbor provision would end up requiring them to spend all their time answering rumors.  Delucchi tentatively agreed and said he would reserve a ruling on the safe harbor provision.

 

11 Feb 2004 Opposition to Separate & Sequestered Juries

DA filed its motion to oppose separate juries. Among other arguments, the motion noted:

The Legislature has clearly articulated its preference for a single jury to decide both guilt and penalty . . . and, provided the chosen procedure satisfies basic principles of fairness, we are aware of no rule requiring the Legislature to select the process psychologically designed to render jurors most favorably disposed toward a defendant. (page 3)  Motion

 

DA also filed its motion to oppose sequestering the jury. The motion notes that sequestering is not required by law, and that doing so would place hardship on the jurors. By not sequestering, "the jurors are allowed to separate, the defendant suffers no harm and both sides are able to have a jury that concentrates on the evidence and not on when they will get to return home" (page 2). Motion

 

11 Feb 2004 Ted Rowland's Motion to Quash Subpoena 

According to the Motion to quash the subpoena, the Subpoena did not state the purpose of Rowlands' testimony, but "in a meet and confer conversation, the District Attorney stated it is seeking to compel Mr. Rowlands' testimony to testify about conversations he had with the defendant Peterson, regarding Mr. Peterson's alleged affair with Amber Frey. Despite repeated requests by Mr. Rowlands' counsel, however, the District Attorney has declined to further specify the scope of the testimony sought or when such conversation may have been broadcast" (p 7). The motion claims Rowlands is exempt as a journalist "from the compelled disclosure of any 'unpublished information' obtained during the course of gathering and disseminating information to the public" (p 7).  Motion

Rowlands' attorney filed a Support of Motion, which includes a letter to Distaso expanding on the purpose of Rowlands' testimony:  "It is your position that Mr. Rowlands should be compelled to testify about conversations he had with the defendant, Scott Peterson, regarding Mr. Peterson's alleged affair with Amber Frye (sic) and his denial of that affair" (Ex. C, Declaration of Grace K. Won).   Motion

 

11 Feb 2004 PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS:  GPS Evidence

Witness:  Peter Loomis, Trimble Navigation   Testimony

 

 

11 Feb 2004 PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS: Mysterious Letter 

During a five minutes recess, the clerk handed the Judge a letter received 2-11-04 at 10:00 a.m. and marked: "Urgent, possible evidence Re Laci Peterson murder case."  The letter was opened in the Judge's chambers, in the presence of the Prosecution, Defense, and Scott.  All present agreed it had no evidentiary value. The Judge was also given a box, which was sent to be scanned.  The Judge later revealed that the box contained a petition for Writ of Mandate for Prohibition or Other Appropriate Relief, contesting the fact that the Court has precluded cameras from the courtroom, filed by the television networks. Transcript

 

13 Feb 2004 Reply to Opposition for Separate Juries

Defense filed its Defendant's Reply to Opposition to Motion for Separate Guilt and Penalty Phase Juries.  "What Mr. Peterson asks for here is not a jury 'most favorably disposed toward the defendant' but a jury that is not most favorably disposed towards the prosecution."  Motion

 

13 Feb 2004 USA Movie: The Perfect Husband

Both the Peterson and the Rocha family criticized the movie, but obviously for opposite reasons: Petersons because it portrayed Scott as guilty, and the Rochas because it portrayed him as wrongfully accused. Lee Peterson: "It's just bull, no basis in fact. It's just someone making a pile of money off a news story." Ron Grantski:  "It's all about Scott. It's not written from the victim's perspective."

 

17 Feb 2004 GPS Testimony In, Hypnosis Testimony Out

Witness:  Hugh Roddis, President Orion Electronics Limited  Testimony

Delucchi heard arguments on GPS and then ruled to admit the evidence.  Arguments & Ruling on GPS

 

18 Feb 2004 Delucchi ordered DA to turn over evidence

Geragos complained that he has just received thousands of pages of discovery on test results which could clear Scott. He referred specifically to the test results of the hair on the tape found on Laci's remains, which exclude Scott, as well as identities of several potential witnesses, some who said they were responsible for Laci's disappearance. He said receiving discovery at this late stage makes it impossible for his defense team to digest everything.  Delucchi ordered the Prosecution to turn over all discovery immediately, and if they did not do so to Geragos' satisfaction, the evidence could not be presented at the trial.  Delucchi:  "I was under the impression that this case was ready for trial . . . You're going to have to get these guys on the ball and get that stuff to Mr. Geragos."

 

18 Feb 2004 New discovery from DA, new witness added

Geragos complained to the Judge about receiving on the 17th two new batches of discovery, including 809 pieces of exculpatory Brady material and an updated witness list.

18 Feb 2004 Wiretap Testimony

Witness:  Steven Jacobson, Stanislaus County DA Office  Testimony

18 Feb 2004 Judge Delucchi listened to privileged calls

Judge Delucchi, Jacobson, Scott, and the Defense attorneys went into the jury assembly room to listen to the privileged calls that were monitored. 

 

18 Feb 2004 Police questioned Atwater woman

The 30-year old unidentified woman told the Modesto Bee that Modesto police Detective Ray Coyle asked her where she was on Dec. 31, 2002. She said Coyle told her she was one of 300 he had to check out.  She produced pay stubs to show she was working in Texas at that time. Coyle asked her to take a polygraph, she consented, but none was arranged.

 

19 Feb 2004 Closed-Door Discussions on Wiretaps continue

The Defense met privately with Delucchi for about 45 minutes, before prosecutors were invited to join.  Steve Jacobson, who managed the wiretaps, spent a 4-hour closed-door session with Delucchi and defense attorneys, with prosecution attorneys occasionally joining. 

 

23 Feb 2004 Ladine's Motion to Quash Subpoena

Judge Ladine filed a motion to quash the Defense subpoena, which says:

Judge Ladine is disqualified from testifying as to events and his thought processes related to this matter, as the Legislature has mandated that judges are statutorily incompetent to testify as witnesses, a prohibition which is not subject to waiver. In addition, Judge Ladine cannot be called to testify in the absence of compelling reasons and an inability to obtain identical testimony and evidence from other sources which do not intrude upon the offices of high government officials, and as a matter of public policy, failure to quash the subpoena will subject judges throughout the state to unreasonable and oppressive demands for testimony to the detriment of the conduct of judicial business, and allow parties to circumvent the standards for recusal of a judicial officer. (page 2) 

Geragos subpoenaed Ladine to "attend and participate as a witness . . . when motions in limine are argued related to evidence obtained from wiretaps authorized by a Court Order by Judge Ladine" (page 3).  Motion

 

23 Feb 2004 Opposition to suppress Scott's media statements

DA filed its Opposition to the Defendant's Motion Re: Statements to the media. The Opposition justifies the media statements as evidence:

Here, some parts of the People's case is circumstantial. Therefore, each piece of evidence is important in order for the People to present their case. In his various statements to media personnel, the defendant gives statements that conflict with those he told the police, initially lies about his relationship with Amber Frey, lies about his relationship with his wife, lies about the information he told Amber Frey, and makes numerous admissions that evidence his guilt. (page 3)  Motion

The media statements to be used are: 

The document provides insight into some of the Prosecution's case:

24 Feb 2004 Geragos accused Distaso of headlining & corrupting the jury pool

The morning session began with Geragos accusing the DA of filing its Opposition to Suppress Scott's Media Statements the day before solely for the purpose of getting headlines and to pollute the jury pool. 

That filing was replete with what I consider to be out-and-out falsehoods. It was either done in bad faith, or whoever wrote it doesn't know their case and does not know -- and was not at the preliminary hearing and did not read the discovery in this case. It was designed, I think, so that he could get headlines in the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Mateo --  (1277:26-1278:6)

 

Even after Distaso's assertion that the document was filed in good faith, Geragos continued with his accusation:

I'm saying he did it in bad faith, and I will prove during the course of this trial that he did it in bad faith. And when we do it, he can either stand up and admit it or I'll file for the appropriate sanctions at that point. (1280:10-14)

24 Feb 2004 Distaso withdrew Ted Rowlands subpoena

Distaso told the Judge that he has withdrawn the subpoena of Ted Rowlands.

 

24 Feb 2004 Dog Tracking Evidence Testimony

Witness:  Cindy Valentin, Merlin's handler  Testimony

 

Witness:  Eloise Anderson, Trimble's handler  Testimony

25 Feb 2004 All Discovery turned over; Jury Selection slated to begin

All People's discovery has been turned over to Defense, and DOJ has completed all its scientific investigation and turned over all discovery to Defense. Judge ordered ongoing discovery.  Jury selection will begin March 4. Each day 100 potential witnesses will be brought in at 9:30 and another 100 at 1:30. Trial expected to last 5 months.

 

25 Feb 2004 Dog Tracking Evidence Testimony continued

Witness:  Eloise Anderson, Trimble's handler  Testimony

When my dog is on a trail, she does what I call lining out. She's at the end of her line, she has a steady pull on the line, her head is level. Her whole body, her whole top line is level, and she's driving straightforward into the harness. (1494:8-12)

Witness:  Christopher Boyer, Captain of the Search and Rescue Team  Testimony

26 Feb 2004 Judge Delucchi ruled to seat only one, non-sequestered jury

Geragos' argument for 2 juries: 

I'm just trying to level the playing field here. I'm not even asking for a level playing field. I just want to get on the teeter-totter. And all I'm asking for is give us a fair trial. Give this -- this gentleman who is sitting next to me the ability to fight with only one hand tied behind our back.  (Geragos, 1659:9-14)

Judge Delucchi's argument for seating a single jury:

Geragos' argument for sequestering the jury:

Within 72 hours the jurors's names will be on the Internet. . . . not only will their names be on the Internet . . . they'll have a complete listing -- some very clever person on the Internet will have a complete listing of those particular jurors's occupations, their marital status, their judgments, their tax status, everything else will be available and will be there.  (Geragos, 1667:16-26) 

I guarantee you, some radio station with some disk jockey with some bullhorn standing outside when they leave hassling them or expressing their belief in my client's guilt.  (Geragos, 1661:1-4)

And there will be people who will make attempts to contact them, and there is going to be crazies who are going to do that, and there's going to be other fringe members of media who will do that. There will be people who will be paying them for their stories or trying to attempt to pay them for their stories during the course of this trial.  (Geragos, 1668:26-1669:1-6)

Delucchi's agreed in substance with Geragos' argument, but declined to sequester the jury for these reasons:

Witness:  Christopher Boyer, Captain of the Search and Rescue Team (Day 2)  Testimony

Live scent and Dead scent

Tracking with contaminated scent

Boyer's responsibilities as Training Supervisor for Contra Costa County

December 26, 2002 Search Effort at the house and warehouse

December 27, 2002 Search Effort at the house, Park, and warehouse

December 28, 2002 Search Effort at the Berkeley Marina

January 4, 2003 Search Effort at other bodies of water

Searches not requested

Testimony of Officer Rick Applegate, Modesto Police Department   Testimony

January 4, 2003

1 Mar 2004 Motions

Minutes

In-Camera hearing that was sealed.  Discussion of the Juror Questionnaire. 

 

2 Mar 2004 Delucchi's rulings on wire-tap and dog tracking evidence

Minutes

Judge Delucchi ruled to allow wire-tap evidence  Arguments & Ruling

 

Geragos' argued that LE did not have sufficient necessity to conduct wiretaps

Distaso argued sufficient necessity did exist:

Delucchi based his decision on:

Judge Delucchi ruled to allow only a portion of the dog-tracking evidence:  Trimble's trailing at the Berkeley Marina on December 28.

Arguments & Ruling

Delucchi's ruling to not allow the dog-tracking that was not corroborated by other evidence handicaps the Defense, preventing it from using it to support the absence of evidence.

 

4 Mar 2004 First Trial Day, Questionnaire, Eliminating Jurors with Harships

Minutes

Description of the Process for each Jury Panel, one panel in the morning and one in the afternoon.

 

THE PERSONS ON THE ATTACHED TRIAL SUMMARY LIST WHO WERE SUMMONED TO APPEAR AS JURORS IN THIS CASE APPEARED AND ANSWERED TO THE CALL OF THEIR NAMES, AND, THE PERJURY ADMONITION TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS TOUCHING UPON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS JURORS IN THIS CASE WAS ADMINISTERED.

 

THE CLERK GIVES THE PROSPECTIVE JURORS A BRIEF JUROR ORIENTATION, TAKES ROLL CALL, AND SWEARS IN THE PANEL.
 

THE COURT INTRODUCED THE PARTIES, DEFENDANT, AND COURT STAFF.
 

THE INFORMATION WAS READ BY THE COURT.
 

THE COURT GAVE THE PROSPECTIVE JURORS AN OVERVIEW OF THE TRIAL, EXPLAINED THE PROCESS OF THE GUILT AND PENALTY PHASE OF THIS CAPITAL CASE, THE TRIAL LENGTH, DAILY TRIAL SCHEDULE, WHAT CONSTITUTES A HARDSHIP, HOVEY VOIR DIRE, AND QUESTIONNAIRE.

 

THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS PASSED OUT TO THE PROSPECTIVE JURORS.

 

THOSE WITHOUT A HARDSHIP ARE ADMONISHED AND ARE ORDERED TO RETURN ON THE DATE AND TIME ASSIGNED.

 

THE PROSPECTIVE JURORS REQUESTING A HARDSHIP REMAIN IN THE COURTROOM AND THOSE THAT NEED TO PROVIDE A VERIFICATION OF HARDSHIP ARE ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT MARCH 8, AT 11:00 A.M.
 

THE COURT, COURT REPORTER, COUNSEL, AND THE DEFENDANT GO INTO THE JURY DELIBERATION ROOM TO CONDUCT HARDSHIP SCREENING.

 

Jurors excused for hardship are listed in the minutes. 

 

8 Mar 2004 Questionnaire, Hardships

Minutes

 

9 Mar 2004 Questionnaire, Hardships

Minutes

 

EXHIBIT 4 - QUESTIONNAIRE
EXHIBIT 5 - IN CAMERA EXHIBIT FROM 3-8-04
EXHIBIT 6 - PROOF OF SERVICE - PETITION FOR REVIEW
 

10 Mar 2004 Questionnaire, Hardships

Minutes

 

11 Mar 2004 Questionnaire, Hardships

Minutes

 

22 Mar 2004 Hovey Voir Doir begins

Minutes

 

Starting with 1000 summoned for jury duty, excuse for hardship and the questionnaire pruned the list down to 317.  Then began the Hovey voir dire process to eliminate any of the Prospective Jurors who have a conscientious or religious objection to capital punishment.  Delucchi questions each Prospective Juror about capital punishment, then lets the Defense and Prosecution ask questions.

 

The trial will start with 12 panelists, plus six alternates. Delucchi needs a minimum of 70 qualifiers from this round (80 is the goal) because both sides get 26 peremptory challenges, or chances to dismiss Prospective Jurors without providing reasons. 

 

Judge Delucchi will allow the jury to hear the media interviews Scott did after Laci's disappearance.  In his court filing, Geragos had argued that their prejudicial effect would outweigh their probative value, but Delucchi disagreed, saying "They're not being offered to the truth but rather as circumstantial evidence of the defendant's state of mind."  

 

Mark Geragos:  "I'm not supplying any witnesses names for a penalty phase because there is not going to be a penalty phase."  Judge Delucchi warned Geragos: "You're doing so at your own risk," and that, should Scott be convicted, Geragos would not be allowed to call witnesses during the penalty phase.

 

NOTE:  All Prospective Juror descriptions are borrowed from the San Mateo County Times

Prospective Juror #1
The first juror qualified is an environmental investigator for San Jose. Balding and bespectacled, with a pen sticking out of his shirt pocket, the man -- known only as juror number 4663 -- said he could put aside any preconceived notions and give Peterson a fair trial.

"I'll look at all the factors and weigh them," he told defense attorney Mark Geragos. Geragos also asked the man if he had ever heard anyone express that Peterson was innocent. "No," the man said. "That's me. My position is that he has to be proven guilty, and I'll take a look at (the evidence)."

 

23 Mar 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

The media will not have access to the juror questionnaires.  "If this information was disclosed...it would have a chilling effect on jurors answering the voir dire questions honestly," Delucchi said.

 

Prospective Juror #2
The first juror qualified Tuesday was a former nurse who said she would be able to handle viewing grisly autopsy photographs of the bodies of Laci Peterson and the couple's fetus.

Prosecutor Rick Distaso also asked the woman if she thought circumstantial evidence was enough to convict someone of murder. The prosecution most likely will attempt to convict Peterson based almost exclusively on circumstantial evidence.

The woman said based on what she has seen on TV, she did not think people could be convicted solely on circumstantial evidence, but that if she was instructed to do so in this trial, she could.

Prospective Juror #3
The second woman who qualified Tuesday is a mother who works at San Francisco International Airport. She said she has avoided most of the coverage of the case on television and newspapers because she has not been interested in it.

When asked by Geragos to describe her feelings about extramarital affairs, the woman said she would not be happy if her own husband had an affair, but that knowledge of Peterson's affair with Amber Frey would not induce her to think he is guilty of murder.

Prospective Juror #4
Another who made the cut is a man with graying hair and glasses who said he was opposed to capital punishment on his survey, but changed his answer under questioning from the judge.

Prospective Juror #5
The fourth new prospect sat in the jury box with her purse clasped in her lap. A former JC Penney employee with four children, the woman said she has chosen not to watch any coverage of the case and can be fair.

Prospective Juror #6
The last one to make the cut Tuesday was a woman with short black hair who said she was not strongly for or against the death penalty. "You have to decide by what the person did," she said.

The woman, an assistant manager for a financial company who giggled at times during questioning, said she is an independent person who is unswayed by others.

"I don't care what other people think. I go by my own thoughts," she said.

 

24 Mar 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

Prospective Juror #7
A burly man with a gray mustache and dark brown hair, the former officer told the court Wednesday morning that he had been arrested twice, and that he understands what it means to be wrongly accused of a crime.

After leaving his job as a police officer in 1974, the man said he was arrested for assaulting a police officer after a confrontation during a labor-union demonstration. The prospective juror said he was approached by an officer carrying a baton, and that he grabbed the baton away, and was later charged with assault. The charges were later dropped, he said.

Prospective Juror #8
Wearing a bright red shirt and matching lipstick, the other qualified juror supervises nine people in an optician's office at a local medical facility.

Since this case involves the murder of an unborn child, Prospective Jurors have been asked if they have ever lost a child of their own. This woman told prosecutor David Harris that she had had a miscarriage previously, but that the experience would not affect her judgment. "I could set that aside," she said.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos also was interested in her comments regarding whether or not Scott Peterson should take the stand. He wanted to know if she would hold his silence against him, if he chooses not to testify.

"If he feels he needs to speak his piece, then he should. If he doesn't, that's OK," she said.

 

25 Mar 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

Prospective Juror #9
The computer programmer, a large man who owns his own business, told prosecutor Rick Distaso that he lost his 1-year-old daughter in 2000 to congenital heart defects. Distaso asked if this experience would color the man's opinion of the case. He replied it would not.

Distaso also spent time questioning the man about his political affiliations after learning he had recently joined the American Civil Liberties Union. Despite his political leanings, the man, a Democrat, said he had no bias against prosecutors and that he can be fair.

The programmer fits perfectly the Prospective Juror profile that is sought by the defense. Jury-selection experts have said that defense attorney Mark Geragos will favor men who are analytical -- typically people who are engineers or computer programmers. Experts say prosecutors will look for women, preferably mothers, and people who tend to be ruled more by emotion than logic.

Prospective Juror #10
The second Prospective Juror qualified Thursday is a woman who works for an elementary school who described herself as "very active" in her religion. While she also told Distaso she believed adultery to be a sin, the woman said she would not make the leap that just because Peterson had an extra-marital affair he was a murderer.

"Everyone has the right to live their lives the way they want to. Not judging others is also a tenet of my religion," she said.

The woman told the court she has discussed the case with others, including her husband, but that she has reserved judgment. "People tell me he's guilty, and that annoys me a little bit. Nobody knows, because they haven't heard all the evidence," she said.

 

29 Mar 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

Prospective Juror #11
The computer salesman, who spent two years in the U.S. Army, told the court Monday that he would make a fair Prospective Juror because he has a sophisticated view of law enforcement. "I've seen both sides of what the law can do to a family, or an individual," he said.

The man also told the court that his parents were heroin addicts, and that he was raised by his maternal grandmother. While he admitted to having had some substance-abuse issues of his own in the past, he now volunteers with a group counseling inmates in the County jail on how to overcome addiction.

Prospective Juror #12
A woman who analyzes Nielsen data for Tech TV also was qualified Monday. Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, her hands fidgeting with a piece of paper, the woman told the court that she already has stopped discussing the case with people and that she can be fair and impartial.

Prospective Juror #13
The third woman who qualified is a nurse employed by San Mateo County. Although she told the court that she could be fair, the woman acknowledged that, in the past, she has told co-workers that she thought Peterson was guilty.

Geragos, standing in front of her and looking directly at her, asked her to explain her preconceived notions. "I'm worried about people who want to get on this jury who have an agenda," he said. "All I can do is look you in the eye and ask a question."

The woman told him she has no interest in being on the jury, but that she felt a civic duty to show up, and if asked to serve, she would. She also said her previous feelings about the case were based on information obtained through the media, and said she would need to hear the evidence before truly making up her mind.

 

30 Mar 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

Jude Delucchi:  "My optimism just went down the toilet," after 6 days of 2nd round pruning to find an unbiased jury from the 1000 summoned, and discovering that Juror 29308 may be deliberately trying to get onto the jury so she can become the foreman and orchestrate a guilty verdict.  The witness who tipped off Geragos' office will be questioned on May 10, and the woman on May 11. 

 

Prospective Juror #14
The doctor-attorney works as an in-house lawyer for a medical company that makes medication for heart patients. Prosecutor Distaso questioned the man at length about his ability to weigh DNA and other scientific evidence, concerned that he might discredit expert witnesses because of his own scientific expertise.

The defense questioned him briefly, asking for details about his legal career.

<Note:  This Prospective Juror first served as an alternate, the replaced Juror 5, Justin Falconer.  He served as the 1st foreman for the guilt deliberations, then asked to be removed from the Jury after the other jurors selected another foreman.>

Prospective Juror #15
A La Honda woman who works for the Log Cabin Ranch, a school for male juvenile offenders, and who has a bird-breeding business also made the cut. The woman told the court that she has not formed any opinions about the case because she rarely watches the news or reads the newspaper.

She said she spends most of her time with her birds, painting, or playing her guitar. She also told the court she has six cats.

 

31 Mar 2004 Sharon Rocha and Ron Grantski in Washington D.C. for signing of Unborn Victims of Violence Act

 

From Larry King Live, March 31, 2004

KING: We're back. Tomorrow in Washington at a signing ceremony will sign in the Unborn Victims of Violence Act dubbed the Laci and Connor's law. The United States Senate approved it, the House approved it. It makes it a federal offense to harm an unborn child in a crime committed against a pregnant women.  Joining us in Washington, they've been fighting for this a long time.  Sharon Rocha and Ron Grantski, the mother and step-father respectively of the late Laci Peterson and the late Connor Peterson. Will you be in the office, Sharon, will you be there for the signing?
SHARON ROCHA, LACI PETERSON'S MOTHER: Yes, that's why we're here in Washington. We're looking forward to that.
KING: Ron, this law says -- wasn't it always a crime to harm -- if you harmed a pregnant woman and harmed the child, wasn't it always a crime for both?
RON GRANTSKI, LACE PETERSON'S STEP-FATHER: No, it wasn't. Some states it's been for a while. Every state from what I understand, Sharon, is more proficient in that, but they have reduced penalties depending on which state you're in.
ROCHA: Actually, Larry, this is a federal law and not state law, so it covers the unborn child, as well. Now it will cover in every single state. Many states, 28, 29 states already have this law, and California has had it since 1970. Now, the difference between the two are -- like in California, it is both murders can be tried and can be tried as a double homicide. But with the federal law, well, it's the same thing now. With a double homicide.

KING: Are the penalties greater, Ron?
GRANTSKI: Oh, yes. Sure. It can be a death, a double homicide.

5 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

#16:  JUROR #5966 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#17:  JUROR #6012 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS, AND MARK GERAGOS. THIS JUROR EXITS THE COURTROOM. CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE BY THE PEOPLE. THE JUROR IS PRESENT IN THE COURTROOM. THE COURT FINDS THE PROSPECTIVE JUROR IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

6 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

#18:  JUROR #29312 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT,RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#19:  JUROR #4698 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#20:  JUROR #6996 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#21:  JUROR #6845 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#22:  JUROR #24382 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS. MR. DISTASO REQUESTS THE JUROR EXITS THE COURTROOM. MR. DISTASO HAS A CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE. JUROR #24382 IS PRESENT IN THE COURTROOM, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

7 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

#23:  JUROR #6967 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#24:  JUROR #6967 HAS A PENDING CRIMINAL FELONY MATTER (PRETRIAL CONFERENCE MAY 17, 2004 IN REDWOOD CITY). THE COURT REQUESTED THIS PROSPECTIVE JUROR PROVIDE A MINUTE ORDER IF THE PRETRIAL COURT DATE CAN BE RESET TO AN EARLIER DATE OR CONTACT THE COURT REGARDING ANY FINANCIAL HARDSHIP PRIOR TO MAY 13.

#25:  JUROR #4089 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS, AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#26:  JUROR #4498 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

8 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

#27:  JUROR #6125 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#28:  JUROR #4555 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#29:  JUROR #3981 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#30:  JUROR #7088 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

12 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

MR. GERAGOS STATED ON THE RECORD THE ISSUE REGARDING VARIOUS SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM RECORDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED. THE COURT STATED ONCE CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS NAMES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COURT "BODY ATTACHMENTS" WILL BE ISSUED TO THE COMPANIES NOT COMPLYING WITH THE SUBPOENAED REQUESTS.

 

#31:  JUROR #7044 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#32:  JUROR #7107 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS, AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#33:  JUROR #6756 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS, AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

13 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

In-Chambers conference, sealed.

 

#34:  JUROR #18026 IS PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO, AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#35:  JUROR #6237 IS PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT,RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M

#36:  JUROR #834 IS PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS. OUTSIDE THE PRESENCE OF THE PROSPECTIVE JUROR THE COURT HEARD OBJECTIONS BY MR. GERAGOS TO JUROR #834. THE COURT OVERRULED HIS OBJECTIONS, AND DEEMED JUROR #834 DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED. THE PROSPECTIVE JUROR WAS READMONISHED, AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13,2004 AT 9:30 A.M

 

#37:  JUROR #17909 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT,RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

Prosepctive Juror #38:  JUROR #16676 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIIFIED, READMONISHEDAND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

 

14 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

#39:  JUROR #16689 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#40:  JUROR #16689 STATED A VACATION HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MAY 13-17. SHE WILL TRY TO RESCHEDULE THE VACATION AND CONTACT THE CLERK IF SHE IS ABLE TO DO SO.
 

15 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

COURT EXHIBIT 9 - DECLARATION (REDACTED VERSION) IS IDENTIFIED AND ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE. THE ORIGINGAL COPY IS SEALED.
 

THE COURT ADDRESSED THE TWO "STEALTH" JURORS EXCUSED. THE COURT WILL REQUIRE THE DEFENSE TO GIVE THE PROSECUTION THE ACCUSORS NAME(S) TO CHECK OUT AND POSSIBLY BRING THEM INTO COURT TO TESTIFY UNDER OATH AS TO THE ALLEGATIONS TO A PROSPECTIVE "STEALTH" JUROR.

 

Because of the two stealth jurors removed, the count towards the required 70 (goal 80) begins again at 39.

 

#39:  JUROR #18106 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO, AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#40:  JUROR #17901 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#41:  JUROR #16799 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#42:  JUROR #18025 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

THE COURT STATED TO DATE THERE ARE 42 DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED JURORS. 

 

17 Apr 2004 Homer Maldanodo saw Laci 3 times in late 2002, including the morning of December 24

ModBee reported that Maldanodo came forward with new information that he had planned to only reveal at trial -- that he is certain he saw Laci Peterson with McKenzie the morning of December 24 because he had seen her before.  Maldonado lives a few blocks from the Peterson's Covena home.

 

18 Apr 1004 Lee Peterson publicly defends his Son

In an interview with the Modesto Bee, Lee Peterson said he had adequate resources to fund the double-murder defense.  The Bee described Lee as "defiant and hardened against police and prosecutors." 

 

19 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

In-Chambers conference.

 

#43:  JUROR # 7045 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#44:  JUROR # 17903 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#45:  JUROR # 6782 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

20 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues, Peterson family members in court

Minutes

Rocha and Peterson family members had not been attending court during the jury selection, but today Jackie Peterson was there with one of Scott's sisters-in-law.  Scott smiled and greeted his mother when the bailiff brought him into court.

 

#46:  JUROR # 8493 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#47:  JUROR # 8306 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#48:  JUROR # 8230 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

Unreported Conference held in Chambers, Defendant not present.

 

21 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

Unreported Conference in Chambers, Defendant not present.  Reported Conference in Chambers, Defendant present.

 

#49:  JUROR # 29875 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

Unreported conference in Chambers, Defendant not present. 

 

THE COURT STATED THAT A TOTAL OF 49 JURORS HAVE BEEN DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED. 

 

22 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

Reported Conference in Chambers, Defendant present.

 

#50:  JUROR # 29466 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

THE COURT ORDERED ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE COURT EXHIBIT 10-LETTER (ENVELOPE ENTITLED "ANY JUDGE"). COURT EXHIBIT 10 ORDERED TO BE PLACED UNDER SEAL AND IS NOT TO BE OPENED UNLESS ORDERED BY THE COURT.

 

26 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

COURT EXHIBIT 11-OUT OF STATE LETTER NAMING PERSONS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF LACI PETERSON WAS ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE. COURT EXHIBIT 11 IS ORDERED SEALED BY THE COURT AND IS TO BE OPENED ONLY BY ORDER OF THE COURT.

 

#51:  JUROR # 8659 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT AND DAVID HARRIS. 10:04 A.M. FURTHER HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS CONDUCTED IN CHAMBERS WITH COURT, COUNSEL AND DEFENDANT. IN CHAMBERS HOVEY VOIR DIRE OF PROSPECTIVE JUROR # 8659 CONCLUDED. CONTINUED HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS CONDUCTED IN THE COURT ROOM BY DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#52:  JUROR # 29773 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINAED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONSIHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

27 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

MR. GERAGOS STATED THAT HE WISHED THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT PROSPECTIVE JUROR # 29774, WHO APPEARED IN COURT ON 4/26/04, WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE MEDIA AFTER SHE LEFT THE COURT ROOM AND MADE STATEMENTS THAT CONTRIDICTED HER ANSWERS ON HER QUESTIONNAIRE. MR. GERAGOS STATED THAT HE WOULD OBTAIN A COPY OF THE INTERVIEW.

 

#53:  JUROR # 8747 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#54:  JUROR # 8613 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

27 Apr 2004 Baby boy born to Amber Frey

The ModBee reported:  "A dark-haired, 7-pound boy was born late Tuesday to Amber Frey and David Markovich of Fresno. I can't tell you enough how happy they are,' Ron Frey said of his daughter and her boyfriend."

 

28 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

#55:  JUROR # 4661 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHD AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#56:  JUROR # 8488 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 13, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

THE COURT STATED THAT A TOTAL OF 56 PROSPECTIVE JURORS HAVE BEEN DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED.

 

29 Apr 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

THE COURT STATED ON THE RECORD THE SCHEDULE OF THE TRIAL MAY 10, 2004 NEW PANEL OF 100 PROSPECTIVE JURORS TO APPEAR. MAY 11, 2004 MOTIONS TO BE HEARD. MAY 11, 2004 AND MAY 12, 2004 SCHEDULING OF JURORS. MAY 20, 2004 JURORS ORDERED TO RETURN TO BE DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED. MAY 24, 2004 OPENING STATEMENTS.

 

THE COURT STATED THAT THE COUNT FOR PROSPECTIVE JURORS WHO HAVE BEEN DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED REMAINS AT 56.

 

3 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

THE COURT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYER OF PROSPECTIVE JUROR # 6237 BY AGREEMENT OF COUNSEL THE COURT EXCUSED THIS PROSPECTIVE JUROR FOR HARDSHIP.  #6237 was qualified on April 13.  This reduces the count to 55 Prospective Jurors.

 

DEFENSE MOTION FOR CHANGE OF VENUE SUBMITTED AND FILED. MOTION TO BE HEARD ON MAY 11, 2004 AT 9:00

 

STATUS OF PROSPECTIVE JUROR # 6967 IS TO BE DETERMINED AT A LATER DATE.  #6967 qualified on April 7. 

 

THE PEOPLE SUBMITTED TO THE COURT SEALED ENVELOPE FROM ECHOSTAR CORPORATION.

 

#56:  JUROR # 9700 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#57:  JUROR # 9533 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, COUNSEL AND DEFENDANT PRESENT IN CHAMBERS. 2:05 P.M. CONTINUED HOVEY VOIR DIRE WAS CONDUCTED IN THE COURT ROOM BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GEREGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

THE COURT STATED THAT A TOTAL OF 57 PROSPECTIVE JURORS HAVE BEEN DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED.
 

4 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

THE PEOPLE STATED FOR THE RECORD THAT THE SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM DOCUMENTS RECEIVED FROM ECHOSTAR CORPORATION WAS OPENED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE CLERK AND COPIES WERE MADE FOR BOTH PARTIES BY THE CLERK ON 5/3/04. THE ORIGINAL IS KEPT BY THE CLERK.

 

UNREPORTED CHAMBERS CONFERENCE WAS HELD WITH THE COURT, COUNSEL, PEGGY THOMPSON AND TIM BENTON REGARDING SCHEDULING AND JURY ISSUES.  THE COURT STATED THAT COUNSEL WILL STIPULATE THAT TIM BENTON WILL CREATE A PROGRAM TO RANDOMIZE THE JURY LIST.
 

#58:  JUROR # 23914 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#59:  JUROR # 24090 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

THE COURT STATED THAT A TOTAL OF 59 PROSPECTIVE JURORS HAVE BEEN DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED.
 

5 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

#60:  JUROR #23903 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#61:  JUROR #23874 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#62:  JUROR #24031 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#63:  JUROR #10052 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 3:30 P.M.
 

6 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

#64:  JUROR #9997 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#65:  JUROR #24023 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#66:  JUROR #8510 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS. JUROR #8510 IS EXCUSED FROM THE COURTROOM. OUTSIDE THE PRESENCE OF THE JUROR MR. GERAGOS STATES HIS OBJECTION TO THIS PROSPECTIVE JUROR ON THE RECORD. JUROR #8510 RETURNED TO THE COURTROOM. THE COURT FINDS THE JUROR IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, IS READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

TO DATE THERE ARE 66 DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED PROSPECTIVE JURORS.
 

10 May 2004 Questionnaires, Hardship exclusions

Minutes

 

Two new panels brought in and explained the process, given the questionnaire.  103 more were brought in during the afternoon.   

 

11 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

Geragos argued his Motion for Change of Venue, with David Harris arguing against it for the People.  Delucchi denied the motion, saying San Mateo county is as likely as Los Angeles to give Scott a fair trial. 

"It is speculation to suppose the results of jury selection would be significantly different anywhere else," Superior Court Judge Alfred Delucchi said, adding that he had "bent over backward" to pick a fair jury.

Geragos withdrew his motion for additional challenges.

 

#67:  JUROR #5852 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#68:  JUROR #302 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#69:  JUROR #6502 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS, AND MARK GERAGOS IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

TO DATE 69 JURORS HAVE BEEN DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED.
 

12 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

UNREPORTED CONFERENCE HELD IN CHAMBERS WITH THE COURT AND COUNSEL REGARDING SCHEDULING. DEFENDANT NOT PRESENT.

 

#70:  JUROR #1614 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#71: JUROR #1406 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 20, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

THE COURT STATED AFTER REVIEWING THE QUESTIONNAIRES FOR MAY 13, THERE WILL BE ONLY 1 OR 2 QUALIFYING AND TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM THERE ARE JURORS WITH LIFE PROBLEMS AND 5-7 "IFFY" JURORS THAT ARE QUALIFIED.  MORE JURY PANELS WILL BE NEEDED. THE FOLLOWING IS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT WEEK.


MAY 17 - 9:30 A.M. - 100 JURORS AND 1:30 P.M. - 100 JURORS. MAY 18 - 9:30 A.M. - 100 JURORS. THE JURORS WILL BE SEATED IN THE COURTROOM BEFORE 9:30 A.M. SO COURT CAN START PROMPTLY AT 9:30 A.M.  HOVEY VOIR DIRE TO BEGIN ON MAY 18 AT 1:30 P.M. AND ALL DAY MAY 19, 20, AND 24. MARY HENRY WILL MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS.  THE NEW JURY SELECTION DATE WILL BE MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M. THE JURY TRIAL TO BEGIN ON JUNE 1, 2004 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM FROM HOME DEPOT RECEIVED BY THE PEOPLE WAS OPENED IN COURT. A COPY WILL BE MADE FOR THE DEFENSE.
 

13 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

THE COURT IS INFORMED THAT THE FOLLOWING PROSPECTIVE JURORS WISHED TO CLAIM A HARDSHIP: 390 [?], 6782 [qualified 19 Apr] AND 16799 [qualified 15 Apr].  EACH JUROR GOES INTO CHAMBERS ONE AT A TIME AND WHEN FINISHED INFORM THE CLERK THEY ARE EXCUSED FOR HARDSHIP.  This brings the count down to 68 death qualified prospective jurors.

 

#69:  JUROR #6917 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#70:  JUROR #6869 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

THE SDT (MARTHA STEWART TAPES-NEW YORK) ADDRESSED TO AND RECEIVED AND OPENED BY THE CLERK WAS TURNED OVER TO DAVID HARRIS TO PREPARE A COPY OF THE VIDEOS FOR MR. GERAGOS.
 

17 May 2004 New Panels, Questionnaires & Hardships

Minutes

 

18 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

CONFERENCE HELD IN CHAMBERS WITH THE COURT, COUNSEL, DEFENDANT, COURT REPORTER AND JUROR #11891.  CONFERENCE CONCLUDED PROSPECTIVE JUROR #11891 IS EXCUSED FOR HARDSHIP.  COURT EXHIBIT 14 - TWO LETTERS/ENVELOPES (SEALED). THIS EXHIBIT WAS DISCUSSED AND MARKED AS A COURT EXHIBIT DURING THE CONFERENCE HELD IN CHAMBERS.

 

#71:  JUROR #20840 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

19 May 2004 Hovey Voir Dire continues

Minutes

 

While questioning a juror, Geragos revealed that he will accuse two police officers of lying through cross-examination.

 

#72:  JUROR #4054 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#73:  JUROR #11850 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS. JUROR #11850 EXITS THE COURTROOM. CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE BY MR. GERAGOS IS ARGUED BY MR. DISTASO. THE COURT INDICATED THAT THIS JUROR QUALIFIES. JUROR #11850 RETURNS TO THE COURTROOM. THE COURT IS SATISFIED THIS JUROR IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, IS READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#74:  JUROR #9752 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE, IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

#75:  JUROR #11768 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#76:  JUROR #11175 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, RICK DISTASO AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.
 

TO DATE THERE ARE 76 DEATH QUALIFIED JURORS.

 

20 May 2004 Jury selection concluded

Minutes

 

CONFERENCE HELD IN CHAMBERS WITH THE COURT, COUNSEL, DEFENDANT, AND COURT REPORTER. PROSPECTIVE JURORS 23903 [qualified May 5] AND 5852 [qualified May 11] ARE EXCUSED FOR CAUSE. PURSUANT TO A PHONE CALL FROM PROSPECTIVE JUROR #6012 [qualified Apr 5] THIS JUROR IS EXCUSED BY STIPULATION OF COUNSEL.  This brings the count back down to 73 Prospective Jurors.

 

#77:  JUROR #5859 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

REPORTED IN CHAMBERS CONFERENCE WAS HELD BETWEEN THE COURT, COUNSEL AND PROSPECTIVE JUROR # 5966 [qualified Apr 5] WITH THE DEFENDANT PRESENT. PROSPECTIVE JUROR # 5966 IS ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#78:  JUROR # 2084 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

#79:  JUROR #873 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

 

#80:  JUROR # 11340 PRESENT FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE IS EXAMINED BY THE COURT, DAVID HARRIS AND MARK GERAGOS, IS DEATH PENALTY QUALIFIED, READMONISHED AND ORDERED TO RETURN ON MAY 27, 2004 AT 9:30 A.M.

THE PROSPECTIVE JURORS SCHEDULED FOR HOVEY VOIR DIRE ON MAY 24 AND 25, WILL BE CONTACTED BY THE CLERK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXCUSED.

 

24 May 2004 Geragos charges Prosecution with "outrageous misconduct" and seeks sanctions

In a motion filed Monday, May 24, Geragos charged the prosecution (which includes the Modesto Police Department as well as the DA's office) of intentionally violating the established rules for hypnosis so Diane Jackson would be eliminated as a witness. 

Diane Jackson reported seeing three dark-skinned men in a tan or brown van in front of the Medina home about 11:40 a.m. on the morning of December 24th.  She reported this to the police, and was interviewed by Detective Stough.  She was also interviewed by McAllister's Private Investigator Gary Ermoian.  The day after her statement to Ermoian, she was hypnotized by the Modesto Police, who failed to use a California-licensed hypnotist to perform the hypnosis. 

Geragos claims, in the motion, that Jackson is "a percipient witness whose testimony supports [Scott's] factual innocence of the charged crimes" (2:11).  Furthermore, "Ms. Jackson's testimony is of a nature such that [Scott] cannot obtain comparable evidence by other reasonably available means" (2:5-7).

Geragos says that effectually eliminating Jackson as a defense witness is the equivalent of destroying evidence.  He does not call for dismissal in the Motion, but does include this quotation from one of his cited sources:

Dismissal is, on occasion, used by courts to discourage flagrant and shocking misconduct by overzealous governmental officials in subsequent cases. (5:10-12)

Geragos asks for relief from the Court as follows:

  1. Permitting the defense to call Jackson as a witness OR

  2. Permitting the defense to offer into evidence all pre-hypnosis accounts by Jackson of the relevant events AND

  3. Granting any other relief the Court deems necessary and appropriate.

It is very disturbing to think that any law enforcement officer would intentionally invalidate a potential defense witness.  

In the same motion, Geragos reveals that still another witness who claimed to have seen Laci on the 24th was ignored by LE.

Just last week the prosecution turned over reports disclosing an interview with a witness who saw Laci Peterson being pulled into a van by at least two men. This eyewitness, who has been a sworn peace officer, has apparently been known to the prosecution since December of 2002 yet he was only interviewed within the last week. The witness confirmed his sighting of a woman he identified as Laci and her two abductors. However, the Modesto Police Department chose to ignore this former peace officer's report -- presumably because "it was not going in the right direction." . . . Even more disturbing is the fact that the prosecution contended that this evidence need not be produced to the defense since the materials constituted "impeachment."  (9:21-10:6)

Not surprisingly, the People's response to Geragos' motion denies any "bad faith" on the part of the prosecution.  It also gives a different story about the new witness. 

The defense states that the prosecution "just last week turned over reports disclosing an interview with a witness who saw Laci Peterson being pulled into a van by at least two men."  The defense does so in order to mislead the court, and anyone else who reads their motion, to suggest that this is completely new information that wasn't previously provided to them.

 

The defense neglects to tell the court that the alleged sighting took place on December 28, 2002 (four days after Laci Peterson disappeared) and that the witness had previously spoken to Modesto Police Detective Denis Holmes on that same date.  Further, the witness's description of the woman's clothing did not match the clothing Laci Peterson was wearing when she was ultimately found.  Finally, the witness's name, address, telephone number and a description of his statement were previously provided to the defense on May 14, 2003 in the initial discovery (Bates No. 14791, see attached discovery log signed by Bill Pavelic).

25 May 2004 Sharon Rocha files papers in civil suit against Scott

Sharon Rocha continued in her efforts to use the civil court system to prevent Scott from profiting from Laci's death. 

 

27 May 2004 The Jury Panel selected

Minutes

In a random process, 12 potential jurors were seated and the Prosecution and Defense took their turns using their peremptory challenges until 12 remained without challenge, 7 men and 5 women.  The same process was completed for the alternates.  Juror #9, a man, then presented a letter of non-reimbursement from his employer, and was excused for cause.  Alternate #1, a woman, became Juror #9 and another Alternate #1, a man, was chosen.  This change set the Jury panel as evenly split -- 6 men and 6 women.  These brief descriptions were provided by the Palo Alto Daily News:

Juror 1
A 40-something white man who works as a head coach at a local school. He has coached 500 youths, including the son of a sheriff. He said everyone deserves a fair deal in the trial. He said he would expect people accused of a crime to defend themselves, but after the judge explained the burden of proof was on the prosecution, he would work to put that out of his mind, saying, "I have to constantly remind myself."

Juror 2
A white man in his 50s who consulted his parish priest before deciding he could vote for the death penalty under some circumstances. He works mostly outdoors, but did not reveal his job. He's a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, but said that meant only that he was born in California. He said that although he had previously opined that Peterson was guilty, he could put that aside.

Juror 3
A 30-something female Hispanic county social worker with two sisters who also work for government agencies. She is studying at night to get her master's degree. Asked if she could be fair, she said, "I tend to really want to do what's in the best interest of the people I serve."

Juror 4
A former Colma police officer, a middle-aged man who now works as a project manager. The man said he was once arrested for assault and battery of a police officer during a union demonstration.

Juror 5
A husky white man in his late 20s or 30s with a crew cut. He's on disability from his job as an airport screener for a private firm and formerly worked as a store security agent. He apparently raises a child as a single parent. He said he has followed the case very little and smiled and shook his head when defense lawyer Mark Geragos asked if Peterson's affair would make him think he's guilty of murder. 

Juror 6
A young, white Half Moon Bay firefighter-paramedic who agrees with his captain that there is not enough information to say whether Scott Peterson is guilty. He doesn't watch much television, spending as much as five hours a day on his bicycle when he's not on duty. He knows many police officers through his job, but said that won't make him favor the prosecution. "I know a lot of people with badges I'm ashamed to be associated with," he said. 

Juror 7
A retired PG&E employee, an Asian woman in her 50s or 60s. She seemed very responsive to Geragos and said she could believe Peterson was falsely accused. "I don't see a motive for something that heinous," she said, but acknowledged prosecutors could be "keeping the case close to the vest."

Juror 8
A Teamster in his late 40s or 50s who works the graveyard shift and didn't follow the case. He was once accused of violating a restraining order during his divorce. He somewhat agrees police are too quick to arrest in high-profile cases. And he says he believes strongly in the concept of innocent until proven guilty.

Juror 9
A white woman in her late 30s or 40s whose fiance was convicted of murdering a stranger in the early 1980s and was later killed in prison. She apparently married him after his trial. She said that would not affect her views on the Peterson case. She works in packaging for a biotech company and has been married to her second husband since 1990.

Juror 10
A white 40ish woman who suffered a series of personal tragedies so severe she was questioned about it in the judge's chambers. She spends much of her time with her husband and children. She said that because so much has happened to her, she has learned to tell the truth and honestly feels she can be fair. Asked about stealth jurors, she drew a laugh when she said, "I think they should get a life."

Juror 11
A black woman in her 40s who works as a chief accountant. She had a close relative who was a deputy sheriff, but said it would not affect her. She expressed caution about accepting all kinds of evidence, repeatedly saying, "it depends on the circumstances."

Juror 12
A white 30-something adoption worker who belongs to the Executive Women's Golf Association. She once worked on child abuse cases and found some police officers difficult to work with because "they would rather go to a 10-car pileup" but said that won't influence her attitude toward the prosecution.

Alternate 1
A white man in his late 40s or 50s who is both an attorney and a doctor. He works with a medical company that makes medications for heart patients. He advises them on legal issues, but has never practiced criminal law.

Alternate 2
A white woman in her 30s with nine tattoos and four sons. She is willing to quit her bank job to serve on the jury, and told her partner he would have to support her. Her brother was in and out of prison for drugs, leading her mother to become a drug counselor at a methadone clinic.

Alternate 3
A retired white man in his 50s or 60s whose future son-in-law owns The Shack, the San Luis Obispo restaurant once owned by Scott and Laci Peterson. The man is an avid boater, but said he is not very familiar with the Berkeley Marina, where prosecutors say Scott took Laci's body to dump it. He said he had not followed the case, and believed there was no direct evidence against Scott.

Alternate 4
A white woman in her 40s whose husband believes Peterson is guilty. She said she had told him that everyone deserves his day in court. She watched some of the USA Network movie on the Peterson case, but said she got bored. When asked what she thought of stealth jurors, she expressed anger, saying, "This is somebody's life. It's not a game."

Alternate 5
A white woman in her 60s who, until her recent retirement, worked in a human resources department. Her duties included mediating job disputes and she says she's accustomed to listening to both sides. She had a grandchild taken from her by his other set of grandparents and did not see him for almost five years, but the situation was eventually resolved. She doesn't know a lot about the case because she watches PBS.

Alternate 6
A white British-born professional in his 50s who works for a city department that was involved in planning for the Peterson trial. He deals occasionally with both police and media, but said it wouldn't affect him. He said he doesn't read crime news and could put aside what little he had heard about the case to judge Peterson fairly.

Judge Delucchi ruled:  THAT THE DEFENSE INTERVIEW OF MISS JACKSON CAN BE PRESENTED AS EVIDENCE AND MR. GERAGOS CAN REFER TO IT IN HIS OPENING STATEMENT. THIS IS BRADY EVIDENCE AND IT WOULD BE AN ERROR FOR THE COURT NOT TO PERMIT THIS EVIDENCE IN AT THIS TIME. THE ISSUE OF MISS DEMPEWOLF WILL NOT BE REVISITED.

 

Geragos said the Defense will not raise the issue of Satanist Cults and will refer to the location of the Albany Bulb but not to the artwork on it.  Since the matter regarding the mystery woman (Amanda H.) is still under investigation, if Geragos decides to call her as a witness, sufficient notice will be given to the Prosecution so they can prepare any objections they may have.

 

Geragos told reporters outside the courtroom that he will be calling the PI Ermoian as a witness, and he will testify to the contents of Jackson's report.  Dean Johnson, former DA, told reporters that he isn't certain how the process will work.  He said Geragos may call Jackson, and then the DA can impeach Jackson on any part of her testimony that does not agree with the report given to Ermoian.

 

Court adjourned to reconvene on June 1, with the Judge to swear in the Jury and give instructions, followed by Opening Statements.

 

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