Scott Peterson trial - opening statements set to begin tomorrow..

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by Epcotgal8
You'd have to beat me to it! I have been following this case and from the evidence I've read they have like the blood stains in the hall that aren't visible to the naked eye but were cleaned and can be seen by all that CSI sort of illumination. Evidence in his boat. He went fishing close to the sight where the victims turned up on Christnmas Eve????? He had motive - a girlfriend and a pregnant wife. A distressed call to her mother not long before she was killed. Running to Mexico with a new beard, money, and his brother's passport. Guilty!

I'd like to you to provide some links to the evidence you're stating here. Mainly the blood stains in the hall, and I certainly wasn't aware that he had fled to Mexico. Is that where they picked him up?

edit: And correct me if I'm wrong here, but don't you think the distress call to the mother came after her murder? I mean, we don't have an exact cause of death, and we really don't know when the murder occured, but don't you think he made the call after the fact.

 

[Snow Dog Mom]

I also believe he is as guilty as the day is long! Putting him to death would be the easy way out. It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by N.Bailey
I'd like to you to provide some links to the evidence you're stating here. Mainly the blood stains in the hall, and I certainly wasn't aware that he had fled to Mexico. Is that where they picked him up?

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All of the evidence I have heard has not mentioned any of these things.. I'm betting this is "evidence" appeared in the National Enquirer, Star Magazine or one of the other rag sheets.. Hardly a reliable source..

 

[N.Bailey]

don't mind this post, I messed up! LOL

 

[Growin'upDisney]

I have to say that I work about 5 moniutes from where the trial is being held and my in-laws live in Modesto where Laci and Scott lived before her murder. We have been bombarded with coverage for nearly 18 months now and I am finally glad to see the final phase begin to start.

Do I think he did it or had something to do with it...my gut feeling says yes, but unfortunately most of the evidence can easily be explained away by a sound defense attorney. Without any direct proof that links him to the crime all the prosecution has is circumstantial evidence. Enough circumstantial eveidence can be enough to convict "beyond a reasonable doubt". As far as the death penatly goes - that's murder in the first degree. In California this requires premeditation AND deliberation or a case of special circumstances. I think this fact is going to be much much harder to prove.

I do know one thing - this case is not going to be succinct by any means. It will be long and drawn out and get tons of national media attention.

 

[Pugdog007]

Originally posted by C.Ann
All of the evidence I have heard has not mentioned any of these things.. I'm betting this is "evidence" appeared in the National Enquirer, Star Magazine or one of the other rag sheets.. Hardly a reliable source..

I certainly do not read any of the garbage you've mentioned here. As far as the blood evidence, Scott's blood was found in his truck (injury he sustained while killing her). I believe the poster said, "running to Mexico" which is correct as he was arrested in San Diego, a mere 20 miles from the Mexican border.

Laci's hair was found in the boat she'd didn't even know he had.

Although blood evidence from the house hasn't been released to the press, there is wide speculation that there is some and it will be released at trial.

About the affair - Laci was young and pregnant. She would not have been ok with this.

I'm happy for him that he has supporters here. You are truly in the minority.

 

[keerymom]

Sure I think a good defense attorney could sit there and find a remotely possible excuse for each of the prosecutions points. However, I think one only need to look at the big picture for about a 1/2 a second to figure out he did it.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by Pugdog007
I certainly do not read any of the garbage you've mentioned here. As far as the blood evidence, Scott's blood was found in his truck (injury he sustained while killing her). I believe the poster said, "running to Mexico" which is correct as he was arrested in San Diego, a mere 20 miles from the Mexican border.

Laci's hair was found in the boat she'd didn't even know he had.

Although blood evidence from the house hasn't been released to the press, there is wide speculation that there is some and it will be released at trial.

About the affair - Laci was young and pregnant. She would not have been ok with this.

I'm happy for him that he has supporters here. You are truly in the minority.

Make no mistake, I am no supporter of Scott Peterson! If the question was, do I think he is guilty, I would have answered with a most definite YES! If asked, Do I hope the state of California provides enough evidence to get a conviction, again, I wouldn't hesitate to say yes to that either. That was NOT the question asked however. The question was, do I feel at this point in time, knowing ONLY what we know now, could I come back with a death penalty conviction. To that, I must say NO! I realize that the state has NOT presented its case yet, and I realize there was only enough evidence presented to get him bound over for trial. I know this is a very small standard and with that knowledge, I am hopeful that the prosecution has MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, more evidence to present that will lead me (and much more important, 12 jury members) to say, Yes, I could convict him.

and Just for the record, I don't think C.Ann was referring to your post when she talked of the trash magazines.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by Pugdog007
I certainly do not read any of the garbage you've mentioned here. As far as the blood evidence, Scott's blood was found in his truck (injury he sustained while killing her). I believe the poster said, "running to Mexico" which is correct as he was arrested in San Diego, a mere 20 miles from the Mexican border.

Laci's hair was found in the boat she'd didn't even know he had.

Although blood evidence from the house hasn't been released to the press, there is wide speculation that there is some and it will be released at trial.

About the affair - Laci was young and pregnant. She would not have been ok with this.

I'm happy for him that he has supporters here. You are truly in the minority.

You might want to look up the address for Lee and Jackie Peterson too, before you just start assuming Scott was fleeing to Mexico. I'm not saying he wasn't, but when his parents live in that area?

The pliers however were in the home, and I'm certain we all carry our family members hairs on our clothing and such without realizing it.

As for the blood evidence, speculations means nothing more than people jumping to assumptions to me.

I doubt Laci would not have been OK with an affair, but, even if say Scott was trying to cover his hyde (assume he is innocent, I know that's a fetch, we're guilty till proven otherwise, right?) I think he'd have said this whether guilty or innoncent at the time.

For me, things like selling his wife's car when she's only suppose to be missing, lead me to believe in his guilt. I'm sure all spouses across the nation would do this! I have a tough time with him changing his golfing plans (and I've never heard that he was scheduled to golf with anyone in particular that day) to an alone boating outing on Xmas Eve! As I've said, I hope he's convicted and I even hope that he's executed, but I do admit, I eat this type of stuff up! I'd go into some sort of forensics (possibly a forensic profiler) if I had to choose all over again.

 

[poohandwendy]

I have also followed the case closely and I wholeheartedly believe he is guilty. That said, I could not convict him of anything without hearing evidence that supports his guilt.

If I were on the jury and I heard evidence that backs up what I have heard in the media so far, I would convict him.

I think people underestimate the value of circumstantial evidence. Alone, each item presented can be ripped apart by a defense atty (that is their job)...BUT, when you pile together all of the actions of the defendant and add in physical evidence that points to guilt (and IMO this case has tons of damaging circumstantial evidence), a jury CAN and many times WILL convict on that evidence alone.

I don't think they have a 'slam dunk' case, if it was, he would be pleading for a lesser offense. It will definitely be a tough case. But I think, when all is said and done, he will be convicted and will face the death penalty.

I pray for his and her family, what a horrible ordeal they have been dealing with.

 

[Pooh93]

I have followed this case and I, too believe he is guilty. I always have thought that if he didn't do it himself, he was involved in having it done. At first, I thought he'd perhaps lured her from the house and did it or had it done somewhere else, so there wouldn't be any blood evidence in the house. If all the evidence points to him doing it and I could reason without a shadow of a doubt that he killed his defenseless wife and son, you bet I could convict him.

I also agree it's not a slam dunk case and it's going to be verrrrry interesting how this plays out. I do think the phone conversations between him and Amber Frey are going to be critical in this case.

I'd have never thought OJ would have walked either, but alas we know stranger things have happened. I always think of the Goldman family around this time of year. Their poor son was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'll never forget the anguish of that family and it reminds me alot of Laci's family.

 

[N.Bailey]

If he strangled her, that would explain the fact that there was no blood.

 

[pw2pp]

Is the trial going to be on Court-TV?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I think he probably did it but he shouldnt get the death penalty thats to easy he should have to suffer in jail for the rest of his life. I also agree with someone who posted that he seems very smug and unremorseful.

I need to get some coffee before I start typing ... its only 640am
sorry

 

[kdibattista]

Not only would I convict him I would be the first in line to pull the switch and fry him!!

Is the trial going to be on Court-TV?

Nope... it will not be televised

 

[Pugdog007]

Originally posted by poohandwendy
if it was, he would be pleading for a lesser offense.

IMO there would never be a plea offering in this case. Too high profile.

 

[Epcotgal8]

Originally posted by C.Ann
-------------------

All of the evidence I have heard has not mentioned any of these things.. I'm betting this is "evidence" appeared in the National Enquirer, Star Magazine or one of the other rag sheets.. Hardly a reliable source..

I couldn't tell you the last time I read even a cover of the Enquirer or any of those rags, so no, I promise that's not my source. I wish I could remember exactly which news show it was but it was either on Dateline or 20/20. First of all the distressed call to Laci's mom that I am referring to was from Laci before the murder (obviously). The details of the conversation will come out in court I'm sure but the impression was that she was very upset for some reason. The blood in the hall that I mentioned was found by something forensics uses (sorry, I wasn't taking notes that illuminates if there is any trace of blood even deep down in the fibers. One POSSIBLE theory that they mentioned (from the blood pattern they found) was that Scott and Laci had an argument and however he killed her was in the hall. Now, if this is false information I am sorry but I promise I didn't make this up gang. Technically Scott wasn't in Mexico but he was not far from the border, had a large amount of cash and his brother's passport. He wouldn't need that to go to San Diego now would he? He had also dyed his hair blond which sounds like a disguise to me. It's one thing if just had sunglasses and a baseball cap on but isn't dying your hair suspicious? I realize they can't convict him just from those things but I still believe he's guilty.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Pugdog007
I certainly do not read any of the garbage you've mentioned here. As far as the blood evidence, Scott's blood was found in his truck (injury he sustained while killing her). I believe the poster said, "running to Mexico" which is correct as he was arrested in San Diego, a mere 20 miles from the Mexican border.

Laci's hair was found in the boat she'd didn't even know he had.

Although blood evidence from the house hasn't been released to the press, there is wide speculation that there is some and it will be released at trial.

About the affair - Laci was young and pregnant. She would not have been ok with this.

I'm happy for him that he has supporters here. You are truly in the minority.

--------------------------------------------

Scott's blood was found in his OWN truck? Wow! My son-in-law has traces of HIS own blood in HIS truck as well.. Guess he must be quilty of murder.. Can you provide a reliable link that states this blood was a direct result of his having "murdered" Laci? Supposition, perhaps.. Fact? I haven't seen anything yet that would attest to that..

Running to Mexico because he was in San Diego? Just this weekend I watched a program on the Travel Channel about San Diego.. Looks like a great place to spend some time - lots to see and do.. However, I don't think they mentioned that everyone who visits San Diego is in the process of "running to Mexico"..

Last I heard there wasn't any positive identification as to the hair that was found in the boat.. If there was, I'd like to see the link to that source..

Now this is a good one - "Although the blood evidence from the house hasn't been released to the press, there is wide SPECULATION that there is some..." You're going to sentence a man to the death penalty on SPECULATION ??? And if this info has not been released to the press, could you please post a link to your reliable source?

I was pregnant when my former DH was having affairs too.. I was not okay with it but he still didn't murder me - even though there was a LARGE life insurance policy for which he was the sole beneficiary..

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I don't think anyone here has said that they SUPPORT Scott Peterson - just that there needs to be some sort of reliable, concrete evidence before you sentence a man to the death penalty..

Although there are some who subscribe to the "shoot first, ask questions later" scenario, I don't happen to be one of them.. I've already stated that I "think" he did it - or had someone else do it -now someone needs to PROVE it..

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Epcotgal8
I couldn't tell you the last time I read even a cover of the Enquirer or any of those rags, so no, I promise that's not my source. I wish I could remember exactly which news show it was but it was either on Dateline or 20/20. First of all the distressed call to Laci's mom that I am referring to was from Laci before the murder (obviously). The details of the conversation will come out in court I'm sure but the impression was that she was very upset for some reason. The blood in the hall that I mentioned was found by something forensics uses (sorry, I wasn't taking notes that illuminates if there is any trace of blood even deep down in the fibers. One POSSIBLE theory that they mentioned (from the blood pattern they found) was that Scott and Laci had an argument and however he killed her was in the hall. Now, if this is false information I am sorry but I promise I didn't make this up gang. Technically Scott wasn't in Mexico but he was not far from the border, had a large amount of cash and his brother's passport. He wouldn't need that to go to San Diego now would he? He had also dyed his hair blond which sounds like a disguise to me. It's one thing if just had sunglasses and a baseball cap on but isn't dying your hair suspicious? I realize they can't convict him just from those things but I still believe he's guilty.

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Sorry - I didn't mean to imply that you sit around reading rag sheets all day - LOL - but it sounds an awful lot like all of the garbage that comes out weekly in the JonBenet Ramsey case.. "Secret sources" - "sources close to the investigation" - "close friends" - etc., who always remain "unnamed" and present no feasible way of tracking down the authenticity of such statements..

Also didn't mean to imply you were "making things up" - I'm still in Debate Board mode here (LOL) and like to see links to info shared so that I can decide for myself if the info is coming from a reliable source (the link in question)..

Quite frankly, I've watched all of the same news type shows that you have (Dateline; 20/20; etc.) - as well as the news type shows on cable - and have not heard any of the information that you have stated here..

Just wanted to clear this up so that you wouldn't think I was "picking on you".. I'm "picking on" the reliability of the info..

 

[Epcotgal8]

No offense taken C. Ann! Hey, some of those news shows are sensationalized (is that a word? LOL. You know what I mean It has been a while since the show was on and so I'm sorry that I can't be more specific to the date and which show it was but I did watch and they showed the hall specifically. I just hope the truth comes out. The Jon Benet case still haunts me. I have a theory on that but that's for another thread!

Originally posted by C.Ann
-------------------------------

Sorry - I didn't mean to imply that you sit around reading rag sheets all day - LOL - but it sounds an awful lot like all of the garbage that comes out weekly in the JonBenet Ramsey case.. "Secret sources" - "sources close to the investigation" - "close friends" - etc., who always remain "unnamed" and present no feasible way of tracking down the authenticity of such statements..

Also didn't mean to imply you were "making things up" - I'm still in Debate Board mode here (LOL) and like to see links to info shared so that I can decide for myself if the info is coming from a reliable source (the link in question)..

Quite frankly, I've watched all of the same news type shows that you have (Dateline; 20/20; etc.) - as well as the news type shows on cable - and have not heard any of the information that you have stated here..

Just wanted to clear this up so that you wouldn't think I was "picking on you".. I'm "picking on" the reliability of the info..