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CNN Live At Daybreak
Autopsy Results Leaked in Peterson Murder Case
Aired May 30, 2003 - 06:02 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 bombshell or not? Intriguing details of the Peterson autopsy report leaked to the public. It turns out Laci Peterson's fetus had one-and-a-half loops of plastic tape around his neck.
To Modesto, California and CNN's David Mattingly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On Tuesday, the defense team for Scott Peterson and the prosecution were in unusual agreement in the courtroom about what to do with the autopsy findings on Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Connor. Both sides decided it would be best if they stayed sealed by the court and out of the public eye. But that is changing due to leaks to the media of excerpts of those autopsies.
CNN obtained this excerpt of the autopsy of the baby, Connor, from a source close to the investigation. It reads: "One-and-a-half loops of plastic tape are around the neck of the fetus with an extension to a knot near the left shoulder. An examination of the chest reveals an apparent post-mortem tear exposing the internal surfaces of the shoulder and the right hemithorax. The wound margins are without evidence of chewing or scalloping."
Also from that source close to the investigation, this excerpt, "The estimated age of the fetus was 33 to 38 weeks," which would be consistent with about the time that Laci Peterson was first reported missing.
There has been no public comment and response from the prosecution or from the defense team in this case, but the D.A. has filed this motion in California Superior Court, now asking that the autopsy findings be made public, reversing its earlier decision.
It will be also interesting to see how the judge reacts, who has been very sensitive to pretrial publicity, wondering if Scott Peterson will be able to get a fair trial. That judge was mulling over the idea of a gag order; again, very interesting to see what he might just be deciding to do now.
David Mattingly, CNN, Modesto, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 30, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A bombshell or not? Intriguing details of the Peterson autopsy report leaked to the public. It turns out Laci Peterson's fetus had one-and-a-half loops of plastic tape around his neck.
To Modesto, California and CNN's David Mattingly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On Tuesday, the defense team for Scott Peterson and the prosecution were in unusual agreement in the courtroom about what to do with the autopsy findings on Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Connor. Both sides decided it would be best if they stayed sealed by the court and out of the public eye. But that is changing due to leaks to the media of excerpts of those autopsies.
CNN obtained this excerpt of the autopsy of the baby, Connor, from a source close to the investigation. It reads: "One-and-a-half loops of plastic tape are around the neck of the fetus with an extension to a knot near the left shoulder. An examination of the chest reveals an apparent post-mortem tear exposing the internal surfaces of the shoulder and the right hemithorax. The wound margins are without evidence of chewing or scalloping."
Also from that source close to the investigation, this excerpt, "The estimated age of the fetus was 33 to 38 weeks," which would be consistent with about the time that Laci Peterson was first reported missing.
There has been no public comment and response from the prosecution or from the defense team in this case, but the D.A. has filed this motion in California Superior Court, now asking that the autopsy findings be made public, reversing its earlier decision.
It will be also interesting to see how the judge reacts, who has been very sensitive to pretrial publicity, wondering if Scott Peterson will be able to get a fair trial. That judge was mulling over the idea of a gag order; again, very interesting to see what he might just be deciding to do now.
David Mattingly, CNN, Modesto, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
