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American Morning
Scott Peterson Case
Aired January 08, 2004 - 08:17 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson's lawyer says there is no way that Peterson can get a fair trial in Modesto, California. Peterson is charged in the killing of his wife and his unborn son. There will be a hearing today to consider the request for a change of venue from Peterson's defense team.
Rusty Dornin is live for us in Modesto, California this morning -- Rusty, good morning.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Soledad, this is a dilemma that faces every judge who presides over a notorious case. And, of course, this case has gotten more air time and headlines probably than any other murder case, at least in the new millennium.
But the question is are more people in Modesto and the surrounding area inclined to be prejudiced against Scott Peterson as compared to, let's say, someone from Los Angeles? And why?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN (voice-over): Should he stay or should he go? Can Scott Peterson get an impartial jury and fair trial in Modesto, the hometown of his murdered wife Laci?
Defense Attorney Mark Geragos says no way. He wants the judge to move it to L.A. County. Geragos claims the sheer size -- nine million people -- would mean that fewer potential jurors would have intimate knowledge of the case.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scott!
DORNIN: The day Peterson was arrested, a crowd gathered outside the jail to jeer at the suspect. Geragos says it was a lynch mob atmosphere for his client here from the beginning.
JIM HAMMER, SAN FRANCISCO PROSECUTOR: For the defense, it's really important to get this case away from the human emotions in Stanislaus County.
DORNIN: Prosecutors say no matter where you go, this case has received massive publicity and it's no worse in Modesto. A gag order last June didn't stop the headlines nationally. Prosecutors blame the defense for fanning the flames locally and nationally by leaking allegations that a satanic cult was involved in the kidnapping and murder of Laci Peterson.
A change of venue battle where the weapons are pointed fingers. Each side is blaming the other for hoopla surrounding Amber Frey, and the latest, a copy of Scott's police interview leaked to a tabloid newspaper.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN: Now, 61 percent of potential jurors surveyed by the prosecution claim they haven't made up their minds about this case. Thirty-nine percent said they did think that Scott Peterson was guilty. Now, that's not a huge number that you might expect to come from this area. It might be ammunition from the judge, who has said earlier that he wanted to keep the case here, to, indeed, keep this case here in Stanislaus County.
Now, he could hear arguments or he may not. We understand that he has pretty much made up his mind about this. Now, if he decides to change venue, then it would go to the judicial council for the state. They would come back with a few recommendations in about two or three weeks, and then the judge will decide then where it would move -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Rusty Dornin for us this morning from Modesto, California.
Rusty, thanks.
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 January 8, 2004 - 08:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson's lawyer says there is no way that Peterson can get a fair trial in Modesto, California. Peterson is charged in the killing of his wife and his unborn son. There will be a hearing today to consider the request for a change of venue from Peterson's defense team.
Rusty Dornin is live for us in Modesto, California this morning -- Rusty, good morning.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Soledad, this is a dilemma that faces every judge who presides over a notorious case. And, of course, this case has gotten more air time and headlines probably than any other murder case, at least in the new millennium.
But the question is are more people in Modesto and the surrounding area inclined to be prejudiced against Scott Peterson as compared to, let's say, someone from Los Angeles? And why?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN (voice-over): Should he stay or should he go? Can Scott Peterson get an impartial jury and fair trial in Modesto, the hometown of his murdered wife Laci?
Defense Attorney Mark Geragos says no way. He wants the judge to move it to L.A. County. Geragos claims the sheer size -- nine million people -- would mean that fewer potential jurors would have intimate knowledge of the case.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scott!
DORNIN: The day Peterson was arrested, a crowd gathered outside the jail to jeer at the suspect. Geragos says it was a lynch mob atmosphere for his client here from the beginning.
JIM HAMMER, SAN FRANCISCO PROSECUTOR: For the defense, it's really important to get this case away from the human emotions in Stanislaus County.
DORNIN: Prosecutors say no matter where you go, this case has received massive publicity and it's no worse in Modesto. A gag order last June didn't stop the headlines nationally. Prosecutors blame the defense for fanning the flames locally and nationally by leaking allegations that a satanic cult was involved in the kidnapping and murder of Laci Peterson.
A change of venue battle where the weapons are pointed fingers. Each side is blaming the other for hoopla surrounding Amber Frey, and the latest, a copy of Scott's police interview leaked to a tabloid newspaper.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN: Now, 61 percent of potential jurors surveyed by the prosecution claim they haven't made up their minds about this case. Thirty-nine percent said they did think that Scott Peterson was guilty. Now, that's not a huge number that you might expect to come from this area. It might be ammunition from the judge, who has said earlier that he wanted to keep the case here, to, indeed, keep this case here in Stanislaus County.
Now, he could hear arguments or he may not. We understand that he has pretty much made up his mind about this. Now, if he decides to change venue, then it would go to the judicial council for the state. They would come back with a few recommendations in about two or three weeks, and then the judge will decide then where it would move -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Rusty Dornin for us this morning from Modesto, California.
Rusty, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
