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CNN Live At Daybreak
Coffey Talk: Peterson Case
Aired May 27, 2003 - 06:06 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A status hearing for Scott Peterson today, it sounds rather standard, but his attorneys will be asking for important changes, like location and bail. Other issues to be discussed: Whether search warrants relating to Peterson's arrest should be unsealed and wiretaps that had been placed on Peterson's phone. Scott Peterson, as you know, is accused of killing his wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
So, it is time for a little "Coffey Talk" this morning with our legal expert, Kendall Coffey. He's live on the line from Miami.
Good morning -- Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Will Peterson's attorneys ask and get a change of venue?
COFFEY: Well, that's a key issue, and no one knows, of course, how the judge will rule. But something that has to be seriously considered, certainly the whole country has read about the case, but in Modesto there are very strong feelings. We remember 200 people showing up at the jail, thousands of people at Laci Peterson's memorial service. Feelings are running very high there. The judge really needs to consider changing venue.
COSTELLO: OK, so, on a scale of 10, 10 being the most likely, will his bail be reduced?
COFFEY: Very little likelihood of that. Remember, the blonde hair, the cash he was carrying at the time he was arrested. The likelihood is closer -- a whole lot closer to zero than 10.
COSTELLO: Will autopsy results be made public?
COFFEY: Probably not yet. The defense is justifiably concerned about any public release of inflammatory materials. But ultimately, Carol, that autopsy may raise so many questions that it could prove to be a friend of the defendant rather than the prosecution at the time of trial.
COSTELLO: Understand. How about phone transcripts? Will they be released?
COFFEY: Again, a careful judge would hold back on that, at least for now. But those transcripts, which don't contain any direct admissions of guilt, are likely to support the prosecution's theory of motive. And one thing is clear: Whether or not the jury ultimately convicts, once they hear that evidence about the affair with Amber Frey, they're not going to like Scott Peterson, not even a little bit.
COSTELLO: Understand. Kendall Coffey, thanks for giving us your insights live on the line from Miami 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 27, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A status hearing for Scott Peterson today, it sounds rather standard, but his attorneys will be asking for important changes, like location and bail. Other issues to be discussed: Whether search warrants relating to Peterson's arrest should be unsealed and wiretaps that had been placed on Peterson's phone. Scott Peterson, as you know, is accused of killing his wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
So, it is time for a little "Coffey Talk" this morning with our legal expert, Kendall Coffey. He's live on the line from Miami.
Good morning -- Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Will Peterson's attorneys ask and get a change of venue?
COFFEY: Well, that's a key issue, and no one knows, of course, how the judge will rule. But something that has to be seriously considered, certainly the whole country has read about the case, but in Modesto there are very strong feelings. We remember 200 people showing up at the jail, thousands of people at Laci Peterson's memorial service. Feelings are running very high there. The judge really needs to consider changing venue.
COSTELLO: OK, so, on a scale of 10, 10 being the most likely, will his bail be reduced?
COFFEY: Very little likelihood of that. Remember, the blonde hair, the cash he was carrying at the time he was arrested. The likelihood is closer -- a whole lot closer to zero than 10.
COSTELLO: Will autopsy results be made public?
COFFEY: Probably not yet. The defense is justifiably concerned about any public release of inflammatory materials. But ultimately, Carol, that autopsy may raise so many questions that it could prove to be a friend of the defendant rather than the prosecution at the time of trial.
COSTELLO: Understand. How about phone transcripts? Will they be released?
COFFEY: Again, a careful judge would hold back on that, at least for now. But those transcripts, which don't contain any direct admissions of guilt, are likely to support the prosecution's theory of motive. And one thing is clear: Whether or not the jury ultimately convicts, once they hear that evidence about the affair with Amber Frey, they're not going to like Scott Peterson, not even a little bit.
COSTELLO: Understand. Kendall Coffey, thanks for giving us your insights live on the line from Miami 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.
