| Joke begins Frey's cross-examination
Amber says friend told her Peterson sought 'soul mate' Combined Story from CBS and CNN August 24, 2004 As Scott Peterson's former girlfriend, Amber Frey, took the witness stand Monday for her much anticipated cross-examination, there was a hush in the courtroom. Judge Alfred Delucchi looked to defense lawyer Mark Geragos to begin questioning Frey. There was silence. Geragos, was in a joking mood as he began the long-awaited cross-examination. "No questions, your honor," Geragos said. The courtroom was abuzz with whispers. The judge looked bewildered, his mouth agape. Prosecutors seemed stunned. "Just kidding," Geragos said with a grin, prompting muffled chuckles among a few jurors and members of the audience. The levity was lost after Geragos began questioning Frey about her introduction to Peterson through her friend, Shawn Sibley. Frey testified that Sibley said Peterson was looking for a "soul mate." The attorney launched into his questions for just 10 minutes before the trial broke for lunch. This is Frey's third week in the courtroom but the first time the prosecution's star witness has had to face hostile questioning by Geragos, who can be ruthless with witnesses. Frey, a 29-year-old massage therapist and single mother of two, told the court that Peterson told her a string of lies as their relationship progressed, including denying he was married. Geragos asked Frey about the first time she spoke with Peterson and began asking Frey about the phone calls with Peterson that Frey taped at the request of detectives investigating what turned out to be the murders Peterson is now charged with: that of his wife, Laci, and their unborn child. He also questioned her about their first date in November 2002, including the amount of alcohol that was consumed. "If this were a prize fight and it was in the fifth round, it would be five for Amber and zero for Geragos," Frey's attorney, Gloria Allred said on CBS News' Early Show. "He never touched her. He never even came close to making it interesting. He didn't have facts to impeach her credibility and that was his problem. He would have been better off if he said, 'no questions,' and he meant it." During cross-examination Monday, defense attorney Mark Geragos prodded Frey about the taped calls, implying she did not fully cooperate with police. According to police reports, authorities were suspicious that Frey may not have been taping all of her calls with Peterson or may have neglected to turn over some tapes, Geragos noted. Frey said the Modesto police department never talked to her about the issue. Frey maintained she cooperated fully. "I recorded all conversations," she said. "Did you ever not turn over tapes?" Geragos asked. "I turned over every tape that I recorded," Frey replied. "Did you ever make or receive calls from Scott Peterson that you didn't immediately tell detectives about?" Geragos prodded. "No," Frey said. "At any point did you hide any information... from the Modesto Police Department?" Geragos again asked. "No," Frey said, answering questions in an even-toned voice directly to Geragos, never looking at Peterson or the jury. It appeared Geragos was preparing to try to prove that Frey spoke to Peterson without alerting authorities. She acknowledged she was unaware that police had also wiretapped Peterson's telephones. Geragos also tried to downplay the prosecution theory that Peterson was obsessed with Frey, and that the affair was his motive for murder, portraying the relationship as one-night stands where Peterson could simply get sex. Geragos noted that on Dec. 26, 2002, Frey called Peterson 14 times. She said she wanted to thank him for a Christmas gift. Geragos later portrayed Frey as a calculating seductress who would try anything to trap Peterson into admitting he was involved in Laci's disappearance. Frey testified she told police she had sex with Peterson at least three times. "At that point you tell them you could basically use the ruse that you were pregnant and they could use that ... and see if that would elicit some information?" Geragos asked. "That was the concept," Frey said. "At that point, I was willing or open to anything... in assisting the police if that would help in any way." Peterson never admitted involvement in the crime in the wiretaps that were played for jurors. "The idea was to try to get him to admit something, to admit some involvement, that he had something to do with Laci's disappearance?" Geragos asked. "I questioned him many times in different ways, yes," Frey replied. Frey ended her relationship with Peterson in a February 19, 2003, call in which she told him: "I think it would be best if you and I didn't talk any more until there's a resolution." AMBER CROSS-EXAM DAY TWO HOME INDEX LACI SCOTT AMBER TRIAL ALIBI-WITNESS LIST WIRETAPS AMBER PRIOR TESTIMONY AUTOPSY MAGAZINES |
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| LACI & CONNER "As a husband and father, I cannot even begin to imagine how someone could hurt such a beautiful person and soon to be mother." JOSEPH G. ~ TEXAS ~ GUESTBOOK |
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