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| SAN QUENTIN PRISON |
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| LACI & CONNER MAY THEY REST IN PEACE |
| JURY RECOMMENDED A DEATH SENTENCE DECEMBER 13, 2004 |
| Scott's mother, JACKIE PETERSON, arrives in the morning for the verdict |
| 7:51 a.m.
-Jurors arrive in two vans at the back door of the courthouse. Many of them appear serious and hurried. If you go by appearance, today will be verdict day. Juror No. 12 had hair curled and was wearing a skirt. Juror No. 11 was in a suit, and Juror No. 1, who typically dresses down, seems to have had his shoes shined and pants creased. Strawberry Shortcake is wearing four-inch, two-tone pink heels and a perfectly matching poncho top. —Harriet Ryan |
| 8:00 a.m. The well-dressed jury officially begins the day's deliberations. A rumor floating around holds that the jury reached a verdict last week but decided to sleep on it. That might make sense if the panel wasn't sequestered in a hotel all weekend away from family, friends and shopping malls in the middle of the holiday season.—Bryan Lavietes |
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| 9:20 a.m. Prosecutors Rick Distaso, Dave Harris and Birgit Fladager arrive in court with their investigators, Craig Grogan and Kevin Bertalotto. The lawyers go straight into the judge's chambers. No sign of the defense. The prosecutors seem relaxed and in good spirits as they go behind closed doors.—Harriet Ryan |
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| 9:29 a.m. Defense attorneys Pat Harris and Mark Geragos stroll into the courtroom and head straight to chambers.—Harriet Ryan |
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| 9:59 a.m.Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton arrives at the courthouse. |
| 10:05 a.m. A chair was brought into Judge Delucchi's chambers before 9:15 this morning. Could that mean jurors are being called before the judge one at a time for questioning? —Harriet Ryan |
| 10:29 a.m. Lawyers exit chambers. Judge Delucchi announces that the jury has requested certain items of evidence, which were sent into the jury room "for their perusal." He then says, "The jury has resumed their deliberations, so let's see what happens." The lawyers leave court. —Harriet Ryan |
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| 10:38 a.m. Pool coordinator Peter Shaplen announces the majority of exhibits requested are under seal and not accessible by the media. Among the requested evidence that is not sealed is a Christmas photo of a pregnant Laci and some photos of the area where the bodies washed ashore. Shaplen also released revised deliberation times for today: The jury deliberated from 8:00 to 10:05 a.m. before taking a 20 minute break. —Bryan Lavietes |
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| 11:30 a.m. Jurors go to lunch. Reporters are kicked out of the courtroom so the jury can eat until "about 1:30." —Harriet Ryan |
| 11:37 a.m. Court TV learns that a verdict has been reached and will be announced at 1:30 p.m. PT. 11:48 a.m. A line has already formed to get into courtroom. |
| JUDGE DELUCCHI RETURNS FROM LUNCH |
| 12:58 p.m. "Keep the aisle clear!" The bailiffs are yelling, so we must be close to the arrival of the families. 1:24 p.m. The doors to the courtroom open. —Harriet Ryan |
| 1:28 p.m. Modesto Police chief Roy Wasden arrives, followed by the highly anticipated arrival of Lee and Jackie Peterson. The defendant's parents walk down the stifling, media-thronged hallway with daughter-in-law Janey. They look stunned. —Harriet Ryan |
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| 1:44 p.m. Sharon Rocha is sitting, as she was for the first verdict, between Ron Grantski and her son, Brent. Amy Rocha is next to Brent and at her left shoulder is lead detective Craig Grogan. Across the aisle are Lee and Jackie Peterson and their daughter-in-law Janey . There are a lot of empty seats in the defense section. Pat Harris and Mark Geragos are leaning over — in Geragos' case, kneeling and whispering to them. —Harriet Ryan |
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| 1:45 p.m. Scott Peterson, wearing a black suit, enters and smiles at his parents. After he is seated, the jury files into the courtroom. No jurors look at Scott Peterson on the way into the courtroom. Juror "Strawberry Shortcake" turns sideways in her chair, facing Sharon Rocha. —Harriet Ryan |
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| 1:48 p.m.: Before a packed courtroom, the verdict is read: Jury recommends death. The jury is polled. |
| SCOTT REACTS TO GUILTY VERDICT NOV 12, 2004 |
| 1:52 p.m. The reaction of Sharon Rocha, crying and gasping slightly, is much different from the first verdict, when she was near- hysterical. As Judge Delucchi thanks the jury, he seems to be choking up himself. Scott Peterson remains totally stoic. |
| 1:54 p.m. Defense lawyer Mark Geragos has his left hand around Scott's shoulder and they are talking. In the jury box, Juror No. 9 is crying hard, and Alternate No. 5 is also weeping. —Harriet Ryan |
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| Newspapers report the Verdict |
| SHARON REACTS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY RON GRANTSKI |
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| SHARON, BRENT AND ROSE LACI'S FAMILY |
| RON SPEAKS |
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