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| Jurors in Scott Peterson's murder case shown graphic autopsy photos Thursday, July 22, 2004 Jurors in the Scott Peterson murder trial winced when prosecutors showed them graphic photos of Laci Peterson's badly decomposed body during testimony from a criminalist who helped collect evidence from the remains, after a dog walker stumbled upon the missing mother-to-be last year, Her mother and father left the room just before the pictures were shown, and Scott averted his eyes, staring straight ahead, after Judge Alfred Delucchi warned that Harris planned to show graphic images. John Nelson, who works in the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department crime lab, said he was present for the autopsy April 14, 2003, the day Laci's headless body washed ashore along San Francisco Bay. Jackie and Lee Peterson, Scott's parents, looked away from the screen that showed hardly recognizable images of a leg. Charged with collecting certain evidence during the autopsy, Nelson said he was present when pathologist Brian Peterson examined Laci's remains on April 14, 2003. Nelson said he photographed the evidence Among the items obtained from the body for analysis were four hairs, a piece of red plastic adhered to her body in the chest area, some plant material and a 15-inch-long piece of duct tape, Nelson said. Prosecutors displayed a photo showing the tape stuck to her waistline and draped across the upper thigh, which appeared to be marred with a large gash. The criminalist told jurors the body was missing its head. Nelson also acknowledged that a human pubic hair and several non-human hair fragments were found on the duct tape that was attached to the body. Nelson did not test the hairs and did not say to whom they belonged. He logged the evidence and shipped it to the state crime lab for further examination. State crime lab specialists are expected to testify at some point in the trial as to the origin of the hairs. Nelson also catalogued some of the evidence found near the body - a plastic tarp, strips of duct tape and a piece of rusty metal. Prosecutors did not ask him about forensic results from tests of those items. On cross-examination by the defense, Nelson confirmed that a clear plastic sheet, more than six feet long and printed with the name "Target," was found the same day the body was found, April 14, 2003, and in the same general area. The sheet, in photographs, appeared to be bundled loosely on one end with gray duct tape. Nelson also confirmed that two rusted pieces of metal and another tangle of tape were found with the plastic, though it was not revealed how close the items were to Laci Peterson's body. RELATED STORY HOME INDEX LACI SCOTT TRIAL ALIBI-WITNESS LIST EVIDENCE-NEWS AUTOPSY WIRETAPS MAGAZINES |
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| LACI & CONNER PRAY FOR JUSTICE |
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