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Judge in Peterson Case Rules Not to Allow Defense to View Other Pregnant Woman Murder Case
Aired July 09, 2003 - 15:30 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're keeping our eye on developments today in the Laci Peterson case. A Modesto judge issued his rulings on a number of motions from Scott Peterson's attorneys. CNN's Rusty Dornin joins us now live from Modesto with more -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Scott Peterson's attorneys have been trying to get their hands on a homicide file for an unsolved murder in San Francisco. They claim the murder of Evelyn Hernandez was very similar to that of Laci Peterson.
Both young woman disappeared when they were eight months pregnant, their bodies found floating in San Francisco Bay. The problem was that San Francisco Police didn't believe there was any link and they were fighting the move to hand over this file. It looks like in this case Judge Al Girolami agreed with San Francisco.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE AL GIROLAMI, SUPERIOR COURT: I feel that what there is highly speculative, that it could be used to assist the investigation in this case. And especially in light of the fact that the investigation in that case is still ongoing and could easily be jeopardized, if that material were made public.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORNIN: Turns out all that San Francisco has to turn over is the autopsy report, which is already public to both the prosecution and the defense in this case and some autopsy photos which are subject to the approval of Evelyn Hernandez family. Within ten days the family has to allow the defense and prosecution to look at those photos, otherwise they will not be able to view them.
In other issues, some wiretaps, 176 new ones that were discovered last month. The defense listened to them, there was only one wiretap between Scott Peterson and his attorney. So it looks like the other 175 will be turned over to the prosecution.
And journalists will now have a chance to hear their own conversations that they had with Scott Peterson. They are not going to be allowed to copy them, but they will be allowed to hear them. So look like the next hearing date will be October 14 and that will be when they will decide whether to continue to allow the media to have cameras in the courtroom. Right now the district attorney has already said he doesn't want them, the family of Laci Peterson has also said that. We're waiting to hear now what the defense and the media, the things that they will file in that case -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Rusty Dornin, live from Modesto. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Other Pregnant Woman Murder Case>
Aired July 9, 2003 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're keeping our eye on developments today in the Laci Peterson case. A Modesto judge issued his rulings on a number of motions from Scott Peterson's attorneys. CNN's Rusty Dornin joins us now live from Modesto with more -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Scott Peterson's attorneys have been trying to get their hands on a homicide file for an unsolved murder in San Francisco. They claim the murder of Evelyn Hernandez was very similar to that of Laci Peterson.
Both young woman disappeared when they were eight months pregnant, their bodies found floating in San Francisco Bay. The problem was that San Francisco Police didn't believe there was any link and they were fighting the move to hand over this file. It looks like in this case Judge Al Girolami agreed with San Francisco.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE AL GIROLAMI, SUPERIOR COURT: I feel that what there is highly speculative, that it could be used to assist the investigation in this case. And especially in light of the fact that the investigation in that case is still ongoing and could easily be jeopardized, if that material were made public.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORNIN: Turns out all that San Francisco has to turn over is the autopsy report, which is already public to both the prosecution and the defense in this case and some autopsy photos which are subject to the approval of Evelyn Hernandez family. Within ten days the family has to allow the defense and prosecution to look at those photos, otherwise they will not be able to view them.
In other issues, some wiretaps, 176 new ones that were discovered last month. The defense listened to them, there was only one wiretap between Scott Peterson and his attorney. So it looks like the other 175 will be turned over to the prosecution.
And journalists will now have a chance to hear their own conversations that they had with Scott Peterson. They are not going to be allowed to copy them, but they will be allowed to hear them. So look like the next hearing date will be October 14 and that will be when they will decide whether to continue to allow the media to have cameras in the courtroom. Right now the district attorney has already said he doesn't want them, the family of Laci Peterson has also said that. We're waiting to hear now what the defense and the media, the things that they will file in that case -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Rusty Dornin, live from Modesto. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Other Pregnant Woman Murder Case>
