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American Morning

Interview With Stanislaus County District Attorney

Aired April 22, 2003 - 07:34   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I also want to talk about another story again making news today. That is the Laci Peterson case. Prosecutors not yet deciding whether or not to seek the death penalty against Scott Peterson if he is convicted of killing his wife and their unborn son.
Laci's mother, meanwhile, wants justice for her daughter and the grandson she says she never knew.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHARON ROCHA, LACI'S MOTHER: Laci and her unborn child did not deserve to die. They certainly did not deserve to be dumped in the bay and sent to a watery grave as though their lives were meaningless. Laci meant the world to me. She was my only daughter. She was my best friend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: The man who ultimately will decide whether or not to seek the death penalty in this case is the district attorney of Stanislaus County, California, Jim Brazelton, who is live this morning in Modesto, where it is very early this morning. But nonetheless, this is a story that continues to make headlines, after this very gripping press conference from the family last night.

Sir, good morning to you.

JAMES BRAZELTON, STANISLAUS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Good morning.

HEMMER: Listen, I know the death penalty decision has not been made yet. What factors will lead you on a decision one way or another in that area?

BRAZELTON: Well, we take into consideration all of the facts in the case, the defendant himself, the nature of the crime of course. We talk with the family, get their feelings, give the defense an opportunity to present anything they would like to, our committee. And then, we evaluate all of that, and arrive at a decision of whether or not we feel it's a case that is supportive of a death penalty consideration.

HEMMER: Sir, there was a quote that you gave to another network. I want to read it for you just to refresh your memory. "It's hard for me to realistically believe it is anything but a death penalty case at this time." Do you still stand behind that statement?

BRAZELTON: Yes, I do. I think just the nature of the crime itself is pretty heavy on the side of proceeding as a death penalty case.

HEMMER: Knowing that answer, it appears possibly you've already made your mind up. Is that accurate?

BRAZELTON: No, I have not made my mind up. I'm open to consideration of other things. As I have said many times, we have not received all of the investigative reports at this time. There may be things in the reports that would tend to influence my opinion the other way.

HEMMER: Yes, what would...

BRAZELTON: I don't know yet.

HEMMER: What would change your mind?

BRAZELTON: I suppose factors of the crime itself, you know, why did this happen, if we can determine that -- a lot of various things that could come into play. I really, at this time, don't know.

HEMMER: We are hearing conflicting reports based on a report that came out yesterday, saying that police believe the crime took place in Scott Peterson's home, possibly on the 23rd, maybe the 24th of December. Do you still stand behind that?

BRAZELTON: Well, that information came from a probable cause statement filed by the police. It was given out by the court administrator for I don't know what reason. It had nothing to do with the complaint that we filed in this case. And that may or may not be accurate.

As I said, we haven't gotten all of the evidence, all of the reports yet. I think that probably, in my opinion, the most likely scenario is that it did occur at the residence.

HEMMER: Do you believe you had enough information and enough evidence on Scott Peterson to charge him before the bodies washed ashore a week-and-a-half ago?

BRAZELTON: I think that we had an ample amount of information at that time to proceed with charges. Of course, as the case developed, it became even stronger.

HEMMER: What changed in the case to lead you to arrest Scott in San Diego a week-and-a-half ago? Why not make that arrest prior to this past Friday?

BRAZELTON: Well, as I said, the evidence was developing as we went along. And the reason that the arrest was made, I'm told by the police officers involved, was because they had a concern that he might attempt to leave the jurisdiction. And we had sufficient evidence at that time to effect an arrest whether or not he did. But since our neighboring countries do not have the death penalty, and it becomes very difficult to get them to return a capitally-charged defendant, they made the decision that they would make the arrest at that time.

HEMMER: Sir, one last question here. Some investigators have told our sources -- have told our personnel, actually, working the story in California, about information about tidal charts found on Scott Peterson's computer at home, talking about remnants of cement possibly found in his boat. Can you verify and confirm that?

BRAZELTON: No, I cannot, because, again, I haven't seen the reports. I've heard the same media reports that you have. Whether or not they are factual I do not know.

HEMMER: James Brazelton, Stanislaus County district attorney, live this morning in Modesto. We will see Scott Peterson again in court sometime in the month of May when the hearings get under way there.

Thank you, sir, for your time 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 April 22, 2003 - 07:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I also want to talk about another story again making news today. That is the Laci Peterson case. Prosecutors not yet deciding whether or not to seek the death penalty against Scott Peterson if he is convicted of killing his wife and their unborn son.
Laci's mother, meanwhile, wants justice for her daughter and the grandson she says she never knew.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHARON ROCHA, LACI'S MOTHER: Laci and her unborn child did not deserve to die. They certainly did not deserve to be dumped in the bay and sent to a watery grave as though their lives were meaningless. Laci meant the world to me. She was my only daughter. She was my best friend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: The man who ultimately will decide whether or not to seek the death penalty in this case is the district attorney of Stanislaus County, California, Jim Brazelton, who is live this morning in Modesto, where it is very early this morning. But nonetheless, this is a story that continues to make headlines, after this very gripping press conference from the family last night.

Sir, good morning to you.

JAMES BRAZELTON, STANISLAUS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Good morning.

HEMMER: Listen, I know the death penalty decision has not been made yet. What factors will lead you on a decision one way or another in that area?

BRAZELTON: Well, we take into consideration all of the facts in the case, the defendant himself, the nature of the crime of course. We talk with the family, get their feelings, give the defense an opportunity to present anything they would like to, our committee. And then, we evaluate all of that, and arrive at a decision of whether or not we feel it's a case that is supportive of a death penalty consideration.

HEMMER: Sir, there was a quote that you gave to another network. I want to read it for you just to refresh your memory. "It's hard for me to realistically believe it is anything but a death penalty case at this time." Do you still stand behind that statement?

BRAZELTON: Yes, I do. I think just the nature of the crime itself is pretty heavy on the side of proceeding as a death penalty case.

HEMMER: Knowing that answer, it appears possibly you've already made your mind up. Is that accurate?

BRAZELTON: No, I have not made my mind up. I'm open to consideration of other things. As I have said many times, we have not received all of the investigative reports at this time. There may be things in the reports that would tend to influence my opinion the other way.

HEMMER: Yes, what would...

BRAZELTON: I don't know yet.

HEMMER: What would change your mind?

BRAZELTON: I suppose factors of the crime itself, you know, why did this happen, if we can determine that -- a lot of various things that could come into play. I really, at this time, don't know.

HEMMER: We are hearing conflicting reports based on a report that came out yesterday, saying that police believe the crime took place in Scott Peterson's home, possibly on the 23rd, maybe the 24th of December. Do you still stand behind that?

BRAZELTON: Well, that information came from a probable cause statement filed by the police. It was given out by the court administrator for I don't know what reason. It had nothing to do with the complaint that we filed in this case. And that may or may not be accurate.

As I said, we haven't gotten all of the evidence, all of the reports yet. I think that probably, in my opinion, the most likely scenario is that it did occur at the residence.

HEMMER: Do you believe you had enough information and enough evidence on Scott Peterson to charge him before the bodies washed ashore a week-and-a-half ago?

BRAZELTON: I think that we had an ample amount of information at that time to proceed with charges. Of course, as the case developed, it became even stronger.

HEMMER: What changed in the case to lead you to arrest Scott in San Diego a week-and-a-half ago? Why not make that arrest prior to this past Friday?

BRAZELTON: Well, as I said, the evidence was developing as we went along. And the reason that the arrest was made, I'm told by the police officers involved, was because they had a concern that he might attempt to leave the jurisdiction. And we had sufficient evidence at that time to effect an arrest whether or not he did. But since our neighboring countries do not have the death penalty, and it becomes very difficult to get them to return a capitally-charged defendant, they made the decision that they would make the arrest at that time.

HEMMER: Sir, one last question here. Some investigators have told our sources -- have told our personnel, actually, working the story in California, about information about tidal charts found on Scott Peterson's computer at home, talking about remnants of cement possibly found in his boat. Can you verify and confirm that?

BRAZELTON: No, I cannot, because, again, I haven't seen the reports. I've heard the same media reports that you have. Whether or not they are factual I do not know.

HEMMER: James Brazelton, Stanislaus County district attorney, live this morning in Modesto. We will see Scott Peterson again in court sometime in the month of May when the hearings get under way there.

Thank you, sir, for your time 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.