| -The male juror, a computer software salesman whose parents were heroin addicts, (he was raised by his maternal grandmother) said he periodically visited a sister in Modesto as she battled drug abuse while thousands of volunteers searched for Laci in early 2003. The visits, including jet-skiing trips to Turlock Lake, did not cause him to form an opinion on the case. He said that he would make a fair juror because he has a sophisticated view of law enforcement. "I've seen both sides of what the law can do to a family, or an individual," he said. When he visited his sister he said "There were posters everywhere and people were talking about the case," said the man, whose name -- like all prospective jurors in the trial -- remains confidential. "It was hard to miss. But that wasn't the reason I was going to Modesto. I was going to support my sister." The man, who admitted to having had some substance-abuse issues of his own in the past, now volunteers with a group counseling inmates in the County jail on how to overcome addiction. He is a volunteer with The Service League, an independent motivational group that visits prisons and jails, including the one housing Peterson. The two have not met, the man said. ******************* -The nurse who qualified is a nurse employed by San Mateo County. Although she told the court that she could be fair, the woman acknowledged that, in the past, she has told co-workers that she thought Peterson was guilty. Geragos, standing in front of her and looking directly at her, asked her to explain her preconceived notions. "I'm worried about people who want to get on this jury who have an agenda," he said. "All I can do is look you in the eye and ask a question." She said her previous feelings about the case were based on information obtained through the media, and said she would need to hear the evidence before truly making up her mind. Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, told the nurse his fear is not being able to "ferret out" people with a hidden bias against the defendant. "What can you tell me to calm my suspicions?" Geragos asked. The woman told him she has no interest in being on the jury, but that she felt a civic duty to show up, and if asked to serve, she would. The woman answered, "I have no agenda. I'm trying to do my duty as a citizen." ******************* -The TV employee, who analyzes Nielsen ratings for a technology television network, said she had been trying to get pregnant but decided to put the effort on hold. Geragos questioned her about it briefly in relation to an answer on the jury questionnaire, but neither elaborated. Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, her hands fidgeting with a piece of paper, the woman told the court that she already has stopped discussing the case with people and that she can be fair and impartial. Final jury selection is scheduled for May 13. The judge hopes to qualify 65 to 80 potential jurors by then. Nine others were rejected Monday, including two who appeared prejudiced during questioning, six whose written answers on a questionnaire suggested bias and one excused for a family-related hardship. HOME INDEX TRIAL NEWS LACI SCOTT AMBER EVIDENCE-NEWS ALIBI-WITNESS LIST |
 |
| LACI & CONNER Forever in our Hearts |
 |
|
| JURY SELECTION CONTINUES
March 30, 2004 Three more people qualified as jurors in Scott Peterson's double-murder trial. Passing a second screening phase Monday: a man who does volunteer social work with inmates, a young female nurse and a woman who works with television ratings for an entertainment network. ********************* |