| Judge Delucchi delays opening statements May 13, 2004 Scott Peterson's murder trial opening statements has been delayed eight days. Judge Delucchi also ordered 300 more potential jurors brought to court after jury selection suffered a setback Wednesday. Five people who had qualified to sit as jurors now have potential conflicts -- such as starting a new job -- and are "iffy" for a five-month trial, Judge Alfred Delucchi said after the noon recess. Scott's attorney, Mark Geragos, said by his count seven previously qualified jurors are "on the bubble." Delucchi appeared to agree with Geragos' assessment when he later tallied the number of people who have qualified for the final round of selection. "We have 71, which is way short of what we really need," Delucchi said. "Since we have seven that are sort of in orbit, that's nowhere near enough." The judge ordered 300 more prospective jurors brought to court next week, on top of 1,250 already summoned. He also pushed back the final round of jury selection to May 27 and rescheduled opening statements for June 1. It marked the second time the judge has had to postpone opening statements as the court struggles to find people qualified to serve on a lengthy and highly publicized capital-murder trial. Court short of candidates for 'big spin' With questions lurking over seven prospective jurors, it appears the court needs about 77 to proceed to the final round, which the judge has dubbed "the big spin." At least 70 people are needed in court that day to have 12 jurors and six alternates remaining if attorneys use all the peremptory challenges Delucchi has indicated they will have. Attorneys can use those challenges to excuse prospective jurors without giving a reason. Two people -- a nurse who said she rarely has time to watch TV news and a semi-retired Red Cross volunteer -- qualified Wednesday for the final round. One excused juror, a former building inspector and self-described "child of the '60s," said Peterson's lengthy trial was "an outrageous waste of taxpayers' money." 'It can't be that complicated' "The fact that a case like this can take five months is outrageous," the man said. "It can't be that complicated." The man then said he might feel differently after viewing evidence and hearing testimony. He was disqualified after saying he expected the defense to present evidence, thus at least partially undercutting Peterson's presumption of innocence and shifting the burden of proof from the prosecution. HOME INDEX LACI SCOTT TRIAL NEWS EVIDENCE-NEWS WIRETAPS |
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