| Victim's family didn't know Scott Peterson owned a boat October 31, 2003 Laci Peterson's mother, sister and father-in-law took the witness stand in the third day of Scott Peterson's preliminary hearing, testifying that none of them had known the man owned a boat. In court this morning, relatives of both sides caught up in the tragedy talked about their last conversations with the couple, recalling the moments before their lives changed forever. Scott Peterson's father, Lee Peterson, took the stand, saying, "I proudly say Scott's my son." Scott was heard from between noon and 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, said his father Lee Peterson. Lee Peterson testified that he reached his son on his cell phone and talked to him for a couple of minutes about his plans for Christmas. Asked by prosecutor Rick DiStaso if Scott Peterson said he was going fishing, he said no. Lee Peterson said he didn't know his son owned a boat, but added it wasn't unusual for Scott not to tell him about major purchases, including a motorcycle and a pickup truck. Authorities believe 27-year-old Laci Peterson -- reported missing by her husband on Dec. 24 -- was killed inside the couple's Modesto house. Investigators: he then dumped her body in San Francisco Bay near Brooks Island not far from where Peterson said he was fishing. Laci's body, and that of her unborn son, were found in April along the Richmond shoreline. Scott Peterson, 31, was arrested a few days later, and charged with murder. Laci talked on Dec. 23 to her mother and sister about plans for Christmas Eve. Scott talked to his father a day later about what he had planned for the holiday. Amy Rocha testified that she cut Scott's hair the night of Dec. 23. He was with Laci at the Modesto salon where Amy worked. Scott agreed to pick up a gift basket on Christmas Eve, from a store near the Del Rio Country Club, where she said he told her he would be golfing the next day. The couple returned home to their quiet Modesto neighborhood that night. Scott later told police he was on a Christmas Eve fishing trip to the San Francisco Bay. Laci's mother Sharon Rocha recalled that she spoke to her daughter about 8 p.m. Dec. 23. Sharon was talking to a friend on another line when Laci called, she said. Laci was tired, Sharon said, adding that before they hung up they made plans for the pregnant 27-year-old and Scott to visit on Christmas Eve. It was the last time she heard from her daughter. But about 3:45 on Christmas Eve, Amy said she learned the basket had not been picked up. She called Scott's cell phone and her sister's house, but no one answered either line. Hours later, Sharon Rocha testified, Scott called to say Laci was missing. "I was getting really scared," Sharon said. "When he said the word 'missing'.I really started to worry." Prosecutors are trying to convince a Stanislaus County judge that sufficient evidence exists to bring Peterson, a former fertilizer salesman, to trial. He could face a death sentence or life in prison without parole if convicted. SHARON'S TESTIMONY LEE PETERSON'S TESTIMONY MODESTO BEE STORY MY NOTES: If Lee Spoke to Scott between noon & 2:00 pm, wouldn't Scott be fishing at that time? I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have stated that to his dad. PRELIMINARY HEARING COURT DATES-STORIES TRIAL ALIBI-WITNESS LIST HOME INDEX LACI SCOTT AMBER WIRETAPS |
| PRELIMINARY HEARING - DAY 3 Family Testimony |
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| LACI & CONNER Forever In Our Hearts |
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