| Detectives suffer Jackie's wrath December 12, 2003 Scott Peterson's mother angrily lashed out at the police investigators pursuing double-murder charges against her son during a chance encounter in the courthouse hall Friday. "Shame on you," Jackie Peterson snapped at Modesto Police Detective Craig Grogan as she squeezed by him. Spotting another detective, Mike Zahr, nearby, she added bitterly, "Shame on you, too." The detectives looked briefly taken aback at the biting words from Peterson, a distinguished looking woman who favors tweeds and depends on supplementary oxygen, which she carries in a discrete shoulder canister. They did not respond as she brushed by them into the courtroom where a hearing for her son was about to begin. Peterson's parents are the most ardent supporters of his innocence in the murder of his 27-year-old wife, Laci, and the unborn son the couple planned to name Conner. Before a gag order limited their comments, Jackie Peterson and her husband Lee accused the police of rushing to judgment and ignoring evidence that did not point toward their son. Modesto Police Detective Al Brocchini, the lead investigator, brushed off Jackie Peterson's rage."I'm used to it. I get it all the time," he said. The fireworks in the hall far outshone the largely procedural developments inside Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Al Girolami's courtroom. Peterson's capital murder trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 26, but will likely be delayed months if the judge grants the defense request to move the trial to another part of the state because of massive local publicity. The defense is set to file a formal request for that change of venue Monday. On Friday, Girolami approved a plan for prosecutors to survey 400 citizens who were summoned as jurors in the past year. Although none of those surveyed are eligible to serve as jurors in the murder trial, their views on the Peterson case could help the judge determine whether the community is too biased for Peterson to receive a fair trial in Modesto. Peterson's defense lawyer, Mark Geragos, objected to the juror survey, saying the prosecution should simply open the phone book and call citizens at random. Polling past jurors could poison their views against all defendants if they are ever again called to jury service. he argued. But Girolami said the prosecution's plan provided the "more accurate sample." The judge said he had no power to order similar surveys in Los Angeles and Sacramento as prosecutors had requested. Deputy District Attorney Dave Harris said prosecutors would seek help from the district attorneys in those jurisdictions to conduct the surveys. He also asked the judge for two additional weeks to conduct the Modesto survey, citing the upcoming holidays. Girolami refused, saying he wanted to keep the case on pace. Girolami also declined a prosecution request to help negotiate the sale of Peterson's truck to the district attorney's office. The judge previously ordered prosecutors to return the Ford pickup, seized shortly after Laci Peterson's disappearance, to Peterson's family Dec. 18, saying it was no longer needed as evidence. Deputy District Attorney Rick Distaso, however, asked the judge for an extension, saying his office was willing to buy the truck for a "fair market value" from the Petersons in order to use it as a trial exhibit. The truck has a Blue Book value of about $22,000. "I'm not going to be involved in the sale," said Girolami. He said the sides could continue haggling over a price, but the truck had to be returned to Peterson's relatives. "I think the prosecution had that vehicle long enough." Peterson, dressed in a khaki suit and blue shirt, appeared relaxed and even jovial during the hearing. He smiled broadly when Geragos jokingly said Distaso was "trying to be a used truck salesman" and chuckled over notes passed by his attorneys. Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, who rarely misses a hearing in the case, was not on hand Friday. According to a family spokeswoman, she was ill with the flu. Rocha cancelled a scheduled press conference to mark the anniversary of her daughter's Christmas Eve disappearance, but in a statement she urged the public to support a blood drive in her daughter's honor. "Many people have inquired about an event to honor Laci and Conner over the holidays. We have been blessed by the prayers, cards, e-mails, hugs and support from so many people that it is a privilege to have this opportunity to give something back to those who have so generously given to us," Rocha said. The drive to benefit the Delta Blood Bank will be held in Modesto Dec. 21, 22 and 23. HOME INDEX LACI SCOTT PETERSON INDEX PRELIMINARY HEARING EVIDENCE-NEWS MAGAZINES DEFENSE TEAM INCONSISTANT STATEMENTS |
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| LACI & CONNER "May you rest assured that Scott will get what he deserves!!" Roberta - West VA - Guestbook Entry |
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