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American Morning
Will Autopsy Play Role in Peterson Case?
Aired May 19, 2003 - 09:18 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.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: The judge in the Laci Peterson murder case has sealed the autopsy report, but the results could make or break a theory reportedly being offered by Scott Peterson's defense team that Laci and her unborn son, Connor, were brutally killed not by Scott but as part of a Satanic cult ritual.
Our legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, is here to offer his perspective on this and other developments in the Peterson case -- Jeffrey, thanks for joining us again.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Howdy.
CHOI: So what do you think about this theory that is floating out around there, in the media?
TOOBIN: Well, I don't know many people killed in Satanic cult rituals, maybe it's just me, but I just think this sounds pretty ridiculous, Frankly. I just think this sounds like a defense that is groping for any ludicrous theory that is out there, and a Satanic cult ritual just seems to me an extremely unlikely way to die, when for example, you have a husband who is having an affair, who is seen right around where the body is discovered. It just seems kind of -- if it weren't so serious, it would seem kind of silly.
CHOI: Scott's parents right after this whole thing broke, came out and said, Listen, other women who were pregnant have been murdered and dumped in the same area.
TOOBIN: I am unaware of other women who were murdered...
CHOI: That was never confirmed, despite what they said.
TOOBIN: That was never confirmed. One of the reasons this case is so interesting to so many people, is that fortunately not a lot of pregnant people are murdered, and it is just an extraordinary and extraordinarily horrible story, but it is not like there is a procession of murdered pregnant women anywhere in Northern California, much less in this precise area.
CHOI: No. 2, do you think that the autopsy report, which they want sealed at this point, both the prosecution and the defense, do you think, maybe, the defense gleaned some information out of that to go with this theory?
TOOBIN: I don't know. I don't know what is in that report. What is important to remember is that these bodies were discovered months after the time of death. It's frankly unlikely that there will be much definitive proof one way or the other on the autopsy -- in the autopsy itself, so I don't think it's likely to make or break the case what was in those reports.
CHOI: All right, real quickly, the lead defense attorney, Mark Geragos, wants a change of venue.
TOOBIN: I think he's going to get it. This is the best case for change of venue I've ever seen. You have a medium-sized city overwhelmed with publicity on this subject. I don't see how you could get a unbiased jury. I think he's very likely to get a change of venue. He comes from Los Angeles, Mark Geragos does. I think it's very likely to be moved somewhere in Southern California. Maybe not Los Angeles County, maybe a medium-size county in the area.
CHOI: We shall see if your predictions come true. Jeffrey Toobin, thanks as always.
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 19, 2003 - 09:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: The judge in the Laci Peterson murder case has sealed the autopsy report, but the results could make or break a theory reportedly being offered by Scott Peterson's defense team that Laci and her unborn son, Connor, were brutally killed not by Scott but as part of a Satanic cult ritual.
Our legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, is here to offer his perspective on this and other developments in the Peterson case -- Jeffrey, thanks for joining us again.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Howdy.
CHOI: So what do you think about this theory that is floating out around there, in the media?
TOOBIN: Well, I don't know many people killed in Satanic cult rituals, maybe it's just me, but I just think this sounds pretty ridiculous, Frankly. I just think this sounds like a defense that is groping for any ludicrous theory that is out there, and a Satanic cult ritual just seems to me an extremely unlikely way to die, when for example, you have a husband who is having an affair, who is seen right around where the body is discovered. It just seems kind of -- if it weren't so serious, it would seem kind of silly.
CHOI: Scott's parents right after this whole thing broke, came out and said, Listen, other women who were pregnant have been murdered and dumped in the same area.
TOOBIN: I am unaware of other women who were murdered...
CHOI: That was never confirmed, despite what they said.
TOOBIN: That was never confirmed. One of the reasons this case is so interesting to so many people, is that fortunately not a lot of pregnant people are murdered, and it is just an extraordinary and extraordinarily horrible story, but it is not like there is a procession of murdered pregnant women anywhere in Northern California, much less in this precise area.
CHOI: No. 2, do you think that the autopsy report, which they want sealed at this point, both the prosecution and the defense, do you think, maybe, the defense gleaned some information out of that to go with this theory?
TOOBIN: I don't know. I don't know what is in that report. What is important to remember is that these bodies were discovered months after the time of death. It's frankly unlikely that there will be much definitive proof one way or the other on the autopsy -- in the autopsy itself, so I don't think it's likely to make or break the case what was in those reports.
CHOI: All right, real quickly, the lead defense attorney, Mark Geragos, wants a change of venue.
TOOBIN: I think he's going to get it. This is the best case for change of venue I've ever seen. You have a medium-sized city overwhelmed with publicity on this subject. I don't see how you could get a unbiased jury. I think he's very likely to get a change of venue. He comes from Los Angeles, Mark Geragos does. I think it's very likely to be moved somewhere in Southern California. Maybe not Los Angeles County, maybe a medium-size county in the area.
CHOI: We shall see if your predictions come true. Jeffrey Toobin, thanks as always.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
