| Scott Peterson is one step away from knowing who will decide his fate The second phase of jury selection in his double-murder trial ended Thursday, with 76 people advancing. Attorneys are scheduled to cull 12 jurors and six alternates from that group Thursday to decide whether Peterson murdered his wife, Laci and unborn son, Conner. If the jury convicts Peterson on all counts, the same group will determine if he should be executed or sentenced to life in prison without parole. Opening statements in the trial are set for June 1. "We're going to go with 76," Judge Alfred Delucchi announced at the close of Thursday's session. "Hopefully, we'll have enough." The decision to cease the individual questioning of jurors -- the middle phase of the selection process -- came during a closed-door session between the judge and attorneys at the end of an unsteady day in court. Thursday began with four previously qualified jurors being excused during a separate closed-door session. It was not clear why the four were dismissed, but Delucchi has said he will not compel prospective jurors to serve for several reasons, including if they have medical problems or their employers would not pay them during the trial, expected to last five months. Four new people qualified Thursday, including a woman who tracked outstanding arrest warrant information for the San Francisco Police Department and another who had a close family member die of a heart attack in prison. "We're right back where we were yesterday," Delucchi said before meeting with the attorneys to discuss whether to continue individual questioning. The more-than-two-month jury selection process has been buffeted by a shortage of qualified canidates, forcing two delays as Delucchi summoned about 550 people to supplement the original pool of 1,000 prospective jurors. The judge needs a minimum of 70 people to appear in court for the final selection round, which he has dubbed "the big spin." Some cushion is prudent because invariably a few jurors fail to show or issues arise, Peterson's attorney Mark Geragos has said. The final selection round, originally scheduled for May 13, was changed to May 20 before being postponed again until Thursday (May 27). Court will be in recess until then. Delucchi has said he will give attorneys on each side 20 peremptory challenges, which they can use to dismiss prospective jurors without giving a reason. Each side will be given six additional challenges when selecting the alternates. If the attorneys use all 52 of their combined challenges 70 people are needed to end up with 12 jurors and six alternates for trial. HOME INDEX LACI SCOTT TRIAL NEWS JURORS ALIBI-WITNESS LIST EVIDENCE-NEWS MAGAZINES |
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| LACI & CONNER May Justice Prevail |
| LACI & CONNER May Justice Prevail |
| MAY 21, 2004 |
| FROM Lil Cali Girl |
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