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CNN Live Today

Remembering Laci Peterson

Aired May 05, 2003 - 10:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson is due back in court next hour, as his defense attorney maneuvers in the murder case against him.
Meanwhile, family and friends of his late wife, Laci Peterson, gathered for a public memorial service yesterday on what would have been her 28th birthday.

Our Rusty Dornin is standing by now in Modesto, California. Let's check in with her right now to get the very latest.

Hello -- Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, apparently Scott Peterson, probably while the memorial service was going on, did meet with a member of Mark Geragos' team for seven hours yesterday afternoon. When we see him in court today, no more red jump suit, no more shackles and handcuffs.

We were in the lobby of our hotel last night when Scott's father brought in a couple of suits that Scott will be wearing through the remainder of the legal proceedings.

Today, there will be two hearings, one on whether to unseal the search warrant, another on whether the judge assigned to this case will be able to remain. Also, there may be some motions that Geragos filed over the weekend that may be introduced.

But again, yesterday, Laci Peterson's family invited anyone who wanted to come to come and say good-bye to Laci Peterson. More than 3,000 people showed up at the First Baptist Church to share the pain of this tragedy, and also to celebrate the life of Laci Peterson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN (voice-over): It should have been a birthday party for a woman turning 28, holding a nearly 3-month-old baby in her arms. Instead, a community gathered to say good-bye to Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner.

They began lining up nearly three hours before the service, a farewell to a woman whose smiling face was seen on posters on every street corner and in nearly every storefront in Modesto, California.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We rejoice for her life. God, I can just imagine that it brought you great delight to bless us with her.

DORNIN: From her brother, Brent, something Laci told him three years ago at their grandmother's funeral.

BRENT ROCHA, LACI PETERSON'S BROTHER: "When I die, I don't want people to be sad. I don't want people to be missing me. I want people to be happy." So, I'm up here to convey that message.

DORNIN: So many messages about a woman described as vivacious, outgoing and the life of the party, of a woman who not only loved to smile, but made others do the same.

LORI ELLSWORTH, LACI PETERSON'S FRIEND: I'll never forget your reenactment of the Zest commercial in the backyard with a towel in one hand, a bar of soap in the other, belting out, "You are not fully clean unless you are zestfully clean."

DORNIN: And for those who never knew Laci Peterson, a photographic montage from the beginning...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): I will remember you. Will you remember me?

DORNIN: ... to the end.

RENE TOMLINSON, LACI PETERSON'S FRIEND: Even though we are all in tears today, I will forever remember this as a day to celebrate your life and our friendship.

DORNIN: But perhaps Laci's 13-year-old cousin summed it up the best.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even though Laci is not here with us today, she'll always be in my heart and my memories. Happy birthday, Laci.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN: Tears and laughter from a lot of folks who had never met Laci Peterson, but felt like they knew her personally. There may be a private funeral later when her remains are released.

Meantime, we understand from a source close to the legal team here that Geragos will be asking for a change of venue. They're hoping for Los Angeles. That's their home turf. They know the judges, they know the courtrooms. That will be coming up at a later time -- Leon.

HARRIS: I'm glad you brought that point up, because, Rusty, in watching this report you just filed here and seeing so many people who didn't even really personally know her show up, it's quite clear that that entire community may have a hard time keeping, I guess, a fair- minded look at any trial there.

DORNIN: Yes, that's what they're, of course, worried about. And, of course, the prosecution is going to argue, well, we've had -- there has been national and even worldwide exposure on this case. How are you going to find a jury? But I think they are going to have a valid argument that this town in particular, that's been hit by three tragedies of missing women who have been the victims of homicide over the past three years, that they will want to move it from this Stanislaus County.

HARRIS: Yes, that town has been in the bull's-eye for some time now. Thanks, Rusty -- Rusty Dornin live for us in Modesto, California this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired May 5, 2003 - 10:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson is due back in court next hour, as his defense attorney maneuvers in the murder case against him.
Meanwhile, family and friends of his late wife, Laci Peterson, gathered for a public memorial service yesterday on what would have been her 28th birthday.

Our Rusty Dornin is standing by now in Modesto, California. Let's check in with her right now to get the very latest.

Hello -- Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, apparently Scott Peterson, probably while the memorial service was going on, did meet with a member of Mark Geragos' team for seven hours yesterday afternoon. When we see him in court today, no more red jump suit, no more shackles and handcuffs.

We were in the lobby of our hotel last night when Scott's father brought in a couple of suits that Scott will be wearing through the remainder of the legal proceedings.

Today, there will be two hearings, one on whether to unseal the search warrant, another on whether the judge assigned to this case will be able to remain. Also, there may be some motions that Geragos filed over the weekend that may be introduced.

But again, yesterday, Laci Peterson's family invited anyone who wanted to come to come and say good-bye to Laci Peterson. More than 3,000 people showed up at the First Baptist Church to share the pain of this tragedy, and also to celebrate the life of Laci Peterson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN (voice-over): It should have been a birthday party for a woman turning 28, holding a nearly 3-month-old baby in her arms. Instead, a community gathered to say good-bye to Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner.

They began lining up nearly three hours before the service, a farewell to a woman whose smiling face was seen on posters on every street corner and in nearly every storefront in Modesto, California.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We rejoice for her life. God, I can just imagine that it brought you great delight to bless us with her.

DORNIN: From her brother, Brent, something Laci told him three years ago at their grandmother's funeral.

BRENT ROCHA, LACI PETERSON'S BROTHER: "When I die, I don't want people to be sad. I don't want people to be missing me. I want people to be happy." So, I'm up here to convey that message.

DORNIN: So many messages about a woman described as vivacious, outgoing and the life of the party, of a woman who not only loved to smile, but made others do the same.

LORI ELLSWORTH, LACI PETERSON'S FRIEND: I'll never forget your reenactment of the Zest commercial in the backyard with a towel in one hand, a bar of soap in the other, belting out, "You are not fully clean unless you are zestfully clean."

DORNIN: And for those who never knew Laci Peterson, a photographic montage from the beginning...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): I will remember you. Will you remember me?

DORNIN: ... to the end.

RENE TOMLINSON, LACI PETERSON'S FRIEND: Even though we are all in tears today, I will forever remember this as a day to celebrate your life and our friendship.

DORNIN: But perhaps Laci's 13-year-old cousin summed it up the best.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even though Laci is not here with us today, she'll always be in my heart and my memories. Happy birthday, Laci.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN: Tears and laughter from a lot of folks who had never met Laci Peterson, but felt like they knew her personally. There may be a private funeral later when her remains are released.

Meantime, we understand from a source close to the legal team here that Geragos will be asking for a change of venue. They're hoping for Los Angeles. That's their home turf. They know the judges, they know the courtrooms. That will be coming up at a later time -- Leon.

HARRIS: I'm glad you brought that point up, because, Rusty, in watching this report you just filed here and seeing so many people who didn't even really personally know her show up, it's quite clear that that entire community may have a hard time keeping, I guess, a fair- minded look at any trial there.

DORNIN: Yes, that's what they're, of course, worried about. And, of course, the prosecution is going to argue, well, we've had -- there has been national and even worldwide exposure on this case. How are you going to find a jury? But I think they are going to have a valid argument that this town in particular, that's been hit by three tragedies of missing women who have been the victims of homicide over the past three years, that they will want to move it from this Stanislaus County.

HARRIS: Yes, that town has been in the bull's-eye for some time now. Thanks, Rusty -- Rusty Dornin live for us in Modesto, California this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.