| December 3, 2004
- Thursday More memories of a carefree Scott Peterson learning to ride a bike and romping in homemade forts spilled Thursday from defense witnesses, and a few shed tears along with the man who killed his pregnant wife. But some legal analysts said witnesses from the Modesto man's privileged past might have laid it on too thick. "I am offended by this presentation," said former San Mateo County prosecutor Chuck Smith, pointing to stories of the defendant vacationing in Monte Carlo and Hawaii, and golfing at Pebble Beach. "We put to death people in this country who grew up with terrible childhoods — abused, beaten, had nothing — we put them to death all the time," Smith said. "We are listening now to a litany of evidence of how he came from a loving family, with loving parents, loving siblings and loving half-siblings (and) every privilege our society can afford." Sharon Rocha, mother of murder victim Laci Peterson, left the courtroom twice Thursday morning as witnesses described her son-in-law in glowing terms. She didn't return for the afternoon session. Scott Peterson's half-brother took the stand in the penalty phase of his capital trial Thursday and urged jurors not to sentence him to death for the murders of his pregnant wife, Laci and unborn son, Conner. Attorneys complemented the testimony with photographs from his youth and early adult life, showing: John Peterson, about 8, giving his laughing 3-year-old brother a "horsey ride" on hands and knees. "He was a great kid brother," John Peterson testified. "He hardly ever told on me." John said he taught his brother to ride a bicycle and make forts. As club president, he appointed Scott Peterson his lieutenant and kept him in line by threatening to tear up his tin-foil badge and club membership, or demote him to private. "Me and my state trooper outfit. I love that thing." — John Peterson, eliciting chuckles in the courtroom as he described a childhood Halloween photo of him and his younger brother. Other pictures showed the two at Disneyland and at John's wedding, where Scott Peterson was best man. "I was stealing some money out of his piggy bank. … All he had to say is, 'John, what are you doing?' I think that was the last time I ever did that." If his brother were executed, John Peterson said, "I'd be devastated. I can't even imagine it. I'd be wrecked. He's my little brother. I love him." John recalled how his brother rejoiced in the birth of his niece, driving hundreds of miles to his home to give the infant a stuffed Winnie the Pooh and his father a Cuban cigar. "He put a lot of thought into gifts, into everything he did," he said. Alison Peterson, John's wife, said the pair seemed devoted to each other. "They were always holding hands or hugging, very happy together," she said "It's harder to execute a person than a monster." — trial observer and former San Francisco prosecutor James Hammer, on John Peterson's testimony humanizing his brother. John Peterson convinced his younger brother in their youth that a giant squirrel had ranged into their back yard. "The Peterson side will never win the emotional tug of war." defense attorney and former San Mateo County prosecutor Chuck Smith, criticizing the defense move to put on a series of character witnesses after Sharon Rocha's confrontation with Peterson from the witness stand. In the jury box, the six women and six men appeared attentive, but unemotional, as they listened to the defense witnesses. A few chuckled at John Peterson's memories of a childhood clubhouse, but few took notes and some stared at their laps. "Quite frankly, in the emotional tug-of-war that is going on, I don't think what we've heard over the past two days comes anywhere close to the impact of what was heard from the Rocha family," , said Chuck Smith. Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, sat in the front row with her son, Brent, for much of the testimony. She displayed no emotion as the witnesses pleaded with jurors to spare her former son-in-law's life and left before testimony had concluded for the day. HOME INDEX LACI CONNER TRIAL ALIBI-WITNESS LIST VERDICT SCOTT |
| LACI & CONNER "I am so glad that Scott was found guilty, I know that this has to be so hard for the family but I believe that Laci and Conner are getting Justice" Christy ~ Chatt Tenn~ ~ Guestbook |
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| It's too bad Laci can't be holding her son, right now, who would be 22 months old. Cindie C |
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| John & Alison Peterson holding their 18 month old daughter, Katy |
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