| Autopsy Leak 'Devastates' Laci's Family Friday May 30, 2003 The family of Laci Peterson on Friday denounced as "incredibly insensitive'' the disclosure of sealed autopsy results indicating her unborn son had plastic tape wrapped around his neck and a significant cut across the shoulders. A source close to the case who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed information in the autopsy to The Associated Press on Thursday. The information was first reported by cable news channel MSNBC, which said it had received a portion of the autopsy report completed by the Contra Costa County coroner's office. Prosecutors responded later in the day by saying the leaked information was misleading and asked that the results be unsealed. "The information being leaked has clearly been skewed in favor of the defense,'' wrote Deputy Stanislaus County District Attorney David Harris. "By releasing the autopsy reports the court will allow the media to see what the actual facts are and then accurate information may be reported to mitigate recent adverse publicity.'' Through their spokeswoman, Kim Petersen, Peterson's relatives said they learned the autopsy details from television, without warning. "No family should ever have to learn the autopsy results of somebody they love on national TV, and that's exactly what happened,'' Petersen said Friday on NBC's "Today'' show. She said Sharon Rocha, Peterson's mother, was "devastated.'' "She asked me to go out and convey the pain that was inflicted on their family. ... She just implores the media to be sensitive and remember that this isn't a story, this is their life,'' Petersen said. The autopsy results had been sealed by court order after Stanislaus County prosecutors said releasing them would jeopardize Scott Peterson's right to a fair trial. Only the prosecution and defense were given copies of the reports, and prosecutors said they had not shared results with police or Laci Peterson's family. In a statement, District Attorney James Brazelton said "evidence in this case should be presented in court through the testimony of witnesses and not selectively leaked to the news media by unknown persons whom the press will not identify.'' HOME INDEX INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS AUTOPSY INDEX MAGAZINE INDEX TRANSCRIPTS SCOTT INDEX AMBER INDEX NEWS-EVIDENCE ATTORNEYS |
| LACI & CONNER PRAYERS OF STRENGTH FOR THEIR FAMILY |
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