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CNN Live Today
Latest Developments in Laci Peterson Case
Aired June 05, 2003 - 10:07 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: We now turn our attention to another high-profile case in the news; this one involving murder suspect Scott Peterson. His lawyers believe a beat-up, old, brown van could be the key to Peterson's defense.
Our Elaine Quijano is following the latest developments. She's at her post in Modesto, California this morning.
Hello -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Leon. We'll get to that van in just a moment.
But, first of all, late yesterday prosecutors filed their response to a defense motion filed earlier this week regarding those wiretaps. Now, you'll recall that the defense in that motion asked that certain prosecutors and investigators be thrown off the case, because the defense felt that intercepted phone calls between Scott Peterson and one of his defense attorneys had been conducted improperly. They believed that those intercepted phone conversations violated attorney/client privilege.
Well, yesterday in its filing, the prosecution defended the use of those intercepts, saying that its agents acted properly.
Now, also, as you mentioned, we're hearing more about that brown van that the defense has put forth as part of a theory regarding a satanic cult. Well, a Modesto police report filed four days after Laci Peterson disappeared contains a statement by a sexual assault counselor. Now, in that statement, the counselor says that a woman claims that she was raped by two men and two women in a brown van about a week-and-a-half before Laci's disappearance. As part of the rape, according to this statement, the woman reportedly said that a satanic ritual was carried out.
The statement also says that the victim claims the group mentioned a Christmas Day death, and that she would read about it in the paper.
Now, police say that they have investigated the couples associated with the van, and they have determined that they had no involvement whatsoever in the Laci Peterson case.
Meantime, tomorrow is shaping up to be a very busy day. Two separate hearings, two different judges, in the morning a number of items on the agenda. There will be arguments on those wiretaps; also discussions about a prosecution motion to unseal the autopsy results on both Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Connor. And the judge will consider a gag order.
Yesterday, Gloria Allred, we should tell you, the attorney representing Amber Frey -- you'll remember that she is the woman who admits that she had a relationship with Scott Peterson -- well, she filed papers against a gag order. She says that her client should have the ability to speak out, to defend any attacks against her reputation that have been made in the media.
Also tomorrow one other hearing set to take place; this one behind closed doors. That will have to do with the eight search warrants that were obtained before Scott Peterson was arrested -- Leon.
HARRIS: There is plenty going on out there. Thanks, Elaine -- Elaine Quijano in Modesto, California.
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 June 5, 2003 - 10:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We now turn our attention to another high-profile case in the news; this one involving murder suspect Scott Peterson. His lawyers believe a beat-up, old, brown van could be the key to Peterson's defense.
Our Elaine Quijano is following the latest developments. She's at her post in Modesto, California this morning.
Hello -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Leon. We'll get to that van in just a moment.
But, first of all, late yesterday prosecutors filed their response to a defense motion filed earlier this week regarding those wiretaps. Now, you'll recall that the defense in that motion asked that certain prosecutors and investigators be thrown off the case, because the defense felt that intercepted phone calls between Scott Peterson and one of his defense attorneys had been conducted improperly. They believed that those intercepted phone conversations violated attorney/client privilege.
Well, yesterday in its filing, the prosecution defended the use of those intercepts, saying that its agents acted properly.
Now, also, as you mentioned, we're hearing more about that brown van that the defense has put forth as part of a theory regarding a satanic cult. Well, a Modesto police report filed four days after Laci Peterson disappeared contains a statement by a sexual assault counselor. Now, in that statement, the counselor says that a woman claims that she was raped by two men and two women in a brown van about a week-and-a-half before Laci's disappearance. As part of the rape, according to this statement, the woman reportedly said that a satanic ritual was carried out.
The statement also says that the victim claims the group mentioned a Christmas Day death, and that she would read about it in the paper.
Now, police say that they have investigated the couples associated with the van, and they have determined that they had no involvement whatsoever in the Laci Peterson case.
Meantime, tomorrow is shaping up to be a very busy day. Two separate hearings, two different judges, in the morning a number of items on the agenda. There will be arguments on those wiretaps; also discussions about a prosecution motion to unseal the autopsy results on both Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Connor. And the judge will consider a gag order.
Yesterday, Gloria Allred, we should tell you, the attorney representing Amber Frey -- you'll remember that she is the woman who admits that she had a relationship with Scott Peterson -- well, she filed papers against a gag order. She says that her client should have the ability to speak out, to defend any attacks against her reputation that have been made in the media.
Also tomorrow one other hearing set to take place; this one behind closed doors. That will have to do with the eight search warrants that were obtained before Scott Peterson was arrested -- Leon.
HARRIS: There is plenty going on out there. Thanks, Elaine -- Elaine Quijano in Modesto, California.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
