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American Morning

Laci's Family Asking Cameras be Kept Out of Courtroom

Aired June 27, 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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The preliminary hearing in the Scott Peterson case has been delayed until September. That's when the judge will hear evidence to determine whether Peterson will stand trial on two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife Laci and their unborn son.
Yesterday, Peterson reluctantly waived his right to have the hearing next month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you give up that right so it can be set on September 9th at 9:30 a.m.?

SCOTT PETERSON, DEFENDANT: Well, I think we're forced to without the information coming from the prosecution.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, do you give up that right?

PETERSON: So, it's not my wish, but yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: During the hearing and if there is a trial, Laci's family is asking that cameras be kept out of the courtroom.

Beth Karas has been covering the proceedings for Court Television.

She joins us from a noisy Modesto, California this morning.

Beth, good morning.

BETH KARAS, COURT TV REPORTER: Good morning.

It just started, Daryn.

KAGAN: Of course it did. That's how our morning has been going here, Beth.

First, let's talk about this preliminary hearing. The judge moves the date but Scott Peterson didn't seem any too happy about that.

KARAS: Well, no surprises there. He is not adjusting too well to jail, which is two buildings behind where I'm standing right now. And that also is not a surprise. This is a man who's never been incarcerated before and by all reports he is eager to get out of there. And to the extent that he hasn't been convicted of anything yet, he stands a chance of walking away from these charges. So he would like it to move forward.

But this is -- it's cumbersome for the prosecution to turn over the thousands of pages of reports that are still coming in to them and they're turning over to the defense. And then they have to give all the wiretap intercepted calls. And they're still discovering calls they didn't even know they had.

So that is part of the delay here, but not entirely the reason.

KAGAN: It sounds like they might be building a new prison behind you, Beth, there with all the pounding. But we can hear you.

KARAS: Well, you know, they're knocking one down and building, yes.

KAGAN: We can hear you just fine, so we'll just go ahead and proceed.

It turns out that if the Rocha family -- that's Laci's family -- has their way, we won't see scenes or anything else like it coming up, because they want the cameras out of the courtroom for this trial.

KARAS: Well, as does the prosecution. We don't know the defense position yet, but that doesn't mean the judge is going to grant the wishes, even if both sides don't want the cameras. There's going to be a hearing on August 14th on this issue. We'll be prepared, along with everyone else who is arguing that cameras should be in the courtroom.

I'm sure the judge will take the Rocha position into consideration. But it is a public courtroom. This is not unusual to see victims' families say what the Rochas said in a letter, which was submitted to the court yesterday, that it's very personal and they don't want to have to live it and relive it and relive it because of television broadcasts. That's not a new argument.

KAGAN: Let's talk about the gag order. It looks like it will stand and Attorney Gloria Allred, who is just on the periphery of this case by representing Amber Frey, the former mistress of Scott Peterson, she catches a break here, doesn't she, from the judge?

KARAS: Well, you're exactly right when you say she's on the periphery here. She's not covered by that gag order. That's what Judge Girolami found yesterday. But he also went on to say in so many words that even if she had been covered, the comments that she has made since his order was issued on June 12th don't violate the gag order. She has said things that are out there in the public anyway.

She's not privy to confidential information on the prosecution and defense side that would some way materially prejudice the outcome of the case if she were to talk to the media about it. So it was a big victory for her. But she's not even covered by it.

KAGAN: All right, Beth, we're going to let you go. Maybe put a gag order on that construction sound there.

KARAS: Thank you.

KAGAN: But we do appreciate your insights from Modesto this morning.

Beth Karas from Court TV.

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 27, 2003 - 09:18   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The preliminary hearing in the Scott Peterson case has been delayed until September. That's when the judge will hear evidence to determine whether Peterson will stand trial on two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife Laci and their unborn son.
Yesterday, Peterson reluctantly waived his right to have the hearing next month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you give up that right so it can be set on September 9th at 9:30 a.m.?

SCOTT PETERSON, DEFENDANT: Well, I think we're forced to without the information coming from the prosecution.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, do you give up that right?

PETERSON: So, it's not my wish, but yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: During the hearing and if there is a trial, Laci's family is asking that cameras be kept out of the courtroom.

Beth Karas has been covering the proceedings for Court Television.

She joins us from a noisy Modesto, California this morning.

Beth, good morning.

BETH KARAS, COURT TV REPORTER: Good morning.

It just started, Daryn.

KAGAN: Of course it did. That's how our morning has been going here, Beth.

First, let's talk about this preliminary hearing. The judge moves the date but Scott Peterson didn't seem any too happy about that.

KARAS: Well, no surprises there. He is not adjusting too well to jail, which is two buildings behind where I'm standing right now. And that also is not a surprise. This is a man who's never been incarcerated before and by all reports he is eager to get out of there. And to the extent that he hasn't been convicted of anything yet, he stands a chance of walking away from these charges. So he would like it to move forward.

But this is -- it's cumbersome for the prosecution to turn over the thousands of pages of reports that are still coming in to them and they're turning over to the defense. And then they have to give all the wiretap intercepted calls. And they're still discovering calls they didn't even know they had.

So that is part of the delay here, but not entirely the reason.

KAGAN: It sounds like they might be building a new prison behind you, Beth, there with all the pounding. But we can hear you.

KARAS: Well, you know, they're knocking one down and building, yes.

KAGAN: We can hear you just fine, so we'll just go ahead and proceed.

It turns out that if the Rocha family -- that's Laci's family -- has their way, we won't see scenes or anything else like it coming up, because they want the cameras out of the courtroom for this trial.

KARAS: Well, as does the prosecution. We don't know the defense position yet, but that doesn't mean the judge is going to grant the wishes, even if both sides don't want the cameras. There's going to be a hearing on August 14th on this issue. We'll be prepared, along with everyone else who is arguing that cameras should be in the courtroom.

I'm sure the judge will take the Rocha position into consideration. But it is a public courtroom. This is not unusual to see victims' families say what the Rochas said in a letter, which was submitted to the court yesterday, that it's very personal and they don't want to have to live it and relive it and relive it because of television broadcasts. That's not a new argument.

KAGAN: Let's talk about the gag order. It looks like it will stand and Attorney Gloria Allred, who is just on the periphery of this case by representing Amber Frey, the former mistress of Scott Peterson, she catches a break here, doesn't she, from the judge?

KARAS: Well, you're exactly right when you say she's on the periphery here. She's not covered by that gag order. That's what Judge Girolami found yesterday. But he also went on to say in so many words that even if she had been covered, the comments that she has made since his order was issued on June 12th don't violate the gag order. She has said things that are out there in the public anyway.

She's not privy to confidential information on the prosecution and defense side that would some way materially prejudice the outcome of the case if she were to talk to the media about it. So it was a big victory for her. But she's not even covered by it.

KAGAN: All right, Beth, we're going to let you go. Maybe put a gag order on that construction sound there.

KARAS: Thank you.

KAGAN: But we do appreciate your insights from Modesto this morning.

Beth Karas from Court TV.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com