| CNN LARRY KING LIVE Panel Discusses Laci Peterson Case August 12, 2003 -FULL STORY LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight: The remains of Laci Peterson and her unborn son are examined by Scott Peterson's defense. They hired two of America's most renowned forensic experts to do it, Drs. Henry Lee and Cyril Wecht. What did they find? And what will this mean for the murder trial? We'll ask Ted Rowlands of KTVU, on top of the Laci Peterson case from day one; Court TV's Nancy Grace, the former prosecutor; defense attorney Chris Pixley; clinical psychologist Dr. Robi Ludwig, a frequent Court TV commentator; and forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz. TED ROWLANDS, KTVU-TV: Well, Dr. Lee and Dr. Wecht were in Martinez, California, where the remains have been since they have been found in Contra Costa County. They were there yesterday, and they were given an eight-hour window by the court to exam the remains, take photographs and take tissue samples. They used about three of those eight hours, and then they left. Afterwards, they didn't say anything. Geragos did answer a few basic questions but cited the gag order, didn't want to go into much, and basically just spouted off the credentials of his two experts. But having those two there spoke volumes to how serious the defense is taking this portion of it. You think back before the gag order, they were looking at the remains, specifically of the baby, as a potential break for them because they believe that there's evidence there that the baby was handled possibly outside the mother. And this was their opportunity to take a look at the remains and do their own testing. KING: In a June appearance on this show, I asked Dr. Lee about some details being reported then on Laci and Conner's autopsies. Watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP - JUNE 9, 2003) KING: Catherine Crier of Court TV saw the autopsy photos, and she reported that Laci's remains are in devastating condition, major internal organs, major limbs gone. She reported that Baby Conner's remains appear very much intact. What does this tell you forensically. DR. HENRY LEE, FORENSIC SCIENTIST: Well, that tells us the fetus was somehow protected, either in body of Laci Peterson, or the baby was separated or (UNINTELLIGIBLE) protected certain fashion. (END VIDEO CLIP) KING: Ted, why did it take some time before this approval was granted? ROWLANDS: Well, there was some bickering as to the details of how this was going to take place, and it just simply took time. But outside, after the exam, Geragos did mention that he believed that it happened in a timely manner. There was some problems today, however, and it seems like some bickering may have taken place at the state crime lab in Ripon. According to most folks -- a couple of folks that were at the lab this morning, Geragos and his team, Lee and Wecht, showed up, presuming that they were going to examine some other evidence. However, nobody from the district attorney's office showed up for an 8:00 o'clock appointment, so their visit was limited and they left. And according to some folks that were there, they were a bit upset by the conduct. They blamed the district attorney's office for playing ball. So there's definitely some animosity going on here. But as far as why it took a long time for the first exam, Geragos sort of backed away from that and said that he was happy with the timing. SPITZ: ...the defense and the prosecution -- did not have equal time and equal opportunity. One saw the bodies right after they were taken out of the ocean after four months in the water. The other had to wait another four months, when decomposition and refrigeration and dehydration further damaged the body. So you have two different approaches here, which is, in my view, a detriment for the defense because they don't have the same -- actually, you might say they don't have the same body. It is -- in four months such deterioration it is likely that the body may be thought of as a different element. KING: Good point, Nancy? GRACE: Well, you know, Scott Peterson was arrested back in April. Let's see. April, May, June, July, August. That's five months they've had to get their own examiner in there. The state did not oppose this. The state went along, stipulated to this independent examination. And I certainly don't think you can lay that blame at the state's door. If any blame is to be laid at all, it is at the defense's door for this delay. PIXLEY: Well, absolutely. Nancy's correct. I think Cyril and I have actually gotten into fights about the evidence in this case. But the fact was, that was before Cyril or Henry Lee had had an opportunity to examine the body. I also think that Dr. Spitz is absolutely on point. The amount of time that's gone by between when the body was recovered and the examination by the defense team is going to be significant. We saw on the O.J. Simpson case that Dr. Lee, of course, did attack the state's investigative techniques. Look for him potentially to do that here, as well. But it's a problem for the defense. I would also point out, though, Larry, Nancy suggests that if anyone is at fault -- and I think it's a fair suggestion on her part, but that if anyone is at fault, it's the defense team for not getting their own examiners in there more quickly. Understand that under California law, you don't have an absolute right to conduct your own autopsy examination. So this was something that they were either going to have to negotiate with the prosecution or they were going to have to go to the court and ask, and the judge, in his own discretion, could have denied them that opportunity. 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