| Prelim Delayed To Oct. 20 Laci's Family, Attorneys Not Happy With Judge's Decision Sept. 2, 2003 A Stanislaus County judge Tuesday delayed Scott Peterson's preliminary hearing until Oct. 20 after the defense argued that it needed more time to prepare its case. Scott Peterson's mother, Jackie Peterson, says, "It's terrible. I'm watching him rot in jail." "I'm watching him die" "from the inside out."Despite what his mother says, today in court Scott Peterson seemed relaxed and at ease, even as his lawyer requested a month-and-a-half delay in his preliminary hearing. Kirk McAllister, a member of the defense team, says, "We're not going to be ready to proceed to the preliminary hearing now scheduled." The defense says it needs more time to review thousands of pieces of evidence, including 1500 items Scott's lawyer says they haven't received yet. Prosecutor Rick Distaso says, "I don't feel I have any basis to object to that." Prosecutors did not challenge the request. Chief Deputy district Attorney John Goold says, "You know, cases like this are complex cases. Cases like this involve the death penalty and they're serious cases. It's not unusual for the defense to request continuances of a preliminary hearing." The defense also requested a hearing on a handful of issues with potential problems. Loyola law professor Stan Goldman says it gives us some insight into what kinds of witnesses the prosecution will be calling next month. Goldman says, "Experts with respect to dog sniffing, to DNA potentially. Issues of the tracking device used to follow Scott Peterson."Also, whether a witness who was hypnotized will be allowed to testify at the preliminary hearing. Judge Al Girolami granted a defense request for the delay from Sept. 9 because of the 'volume of discovery' in the case and also defense attorney Mark Geragos had a scheduling conflict with a case he is defending in Los Angeles. Girolami told the defense that 'it was highly unlikely' that the prelim -- which has now been delayed twice -- will be rescheduled again. Peterson, 30, has pleaded innocent to two murder charges in the deaths of his wife, Laci, and the couple's unborn child. Laci Peterson, 27, was eight months pregnant when she disappeared Christmas Eve -- her body and that of her son washed ashore along San Francisco Bay in April. Scott Peterson is being held without bail in the Stanislaus County Jail and faces the death penalty if found guilty of the charges. With today's postponement of the preliminary hearing, Scott Peterson's murder trial could begin as soon as January. Political experts say it looks a lot more like spring. HOME INDEX COURT DATES LACI SCOTT EVIDENCE-NEWS WIRETAPS ALIBI-WITNESS LIST AUTOPSY INDEX |
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