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American Morning
Peterson Murder Trial to Move to San Mateo County
Aired January 21, 2004 - 08:19 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson's mother says she's happy to get her son's trial going so he can prove his innocence. That was her reaction yesterday after the judge in the double murder case decided to move the trial out of Modesto, California.
Rusty Dornin joining us now live from the trial's new home, Redwood City, in San Mateo County -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the courthouse in Redwood City where the trial will take place. These were the headlines in the local newspaper yesterday. You can see the people are, it was a special edition, actually. This is a morning paper, it came out last night. They're expecting this trial to pump millions into the economy.
Now, we know where the trial will be, but we don't know when.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN (voice-over): San Mateo County is only one and a half hour's drive from Scott Peterson's hometown, but the judge in this case hopes it will be a world away. Despite the prosecution's battle to keep the trial in Modesto, Judge Al Girolami said the trial had to be moved because of the massive media coverage in Stanislaus County.
San Mateo County, according to the judge, has good security, convenience for witnesses, easy access to a major airport, and, most important --
JUDGE AL GIROLAMI, STANISLAUS COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT: I am satisfied it's significantly larger than Stanislaus County and large enough to select a fair and impartial jury.
DORNIN: Home to the software giant Oracle and other high tech companies, San Mateo County lies in the northern part of Silicon Valley. County officials say they can handle the notoriety the case brings, but...
MICHAEL NEVIN, SAN MATEO COUNTY SUPERVISOR: Lives are going to be disrupted for a while. This trial is not going to be speedy, it's not going to be quick and it's going to have an impact on us in San Mateo County as long as it lasts.
DORNIN: Peterson's father called Modesto a nice community, but says the move was necessary.
LEE PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S FATHER: There are obviously some signs of a real poisoned atmosphere.
DORNIN: There will be a hearing Friday to decide exactly when the trial will begin. Prosecutors want a two week delay in light of the change of venue. But the deadline for the trial to begin under speedy trial laws is Monday.
Defense Attorney Mark Geragos told reporters he had no plans to waive the court deadline and had a message of thanks to the local newspaper.
MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S ATTORNEY: I want to thank the "Modesto Bee," because without them, this motion never could have been granted.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN: Well, we're not sure which judge is going to preside over this case, either. Judge Al Girolami did tell the court yesterday he did not want to go on the road with this case. So the chief presiding judge is expected to make an announcement this morning. If Girolami stays on this case, there is a chance it could start on Monday and it may be in Modesto for a couple of weeks. If there is a new judge, it's going to be very difficult for there not to be a delay for this new judge to catch up.
This courthouse has not really had any high profile cases in recent years, but it did host the Patty Hearst trial, as well as the billionaire boys club -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Rusty Dornin live from Redwood City.
Thanks so much, Rusty.
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 21, 2004 - 08:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson's mother says she's happy to get her son's trial going so he can prove his innocence. That was her reaction yesterday after the judge in the double murder case decided to move the trial out of Modesto, California.
Rusty Dornin joining us now live from the trial's new home, Redwood City, in San Mateo County -- Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the courthouse in Redwood City where the trial will take place. These were the headlines in the local newspaper yesterday. You can see the people are, it was a special edition, actually. This is a morning paper, it came out last night. They're expecting this trial to pump millions into the economy.
Now, we know where the trial will be, but we don't know when.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN (voice-over): San Mateo County is only one and a half hour's drive from Scott Peterson's hometown, but the judge in this case hopes it will be a world away. Despite the prosecution's battle to keep the trial in Modesto, Judge Al Girolami said the trial had to be moved because of the massive media coverage in Stanislaus County.
San Mateo County, according to the judge, has good security, convenience for witnesses, easy access to a major airport, and, most important --
JUDGE AL GIROLAMI, STANISLAUS COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT: I am satisfied it's significantly larger than Stanislaus County and large enough to select a fair and impartial jury.
DORNIN: Home to the software giant Oracle and other high tech companies, San Mateo County lies in the northern part of Silicon Valley. County officials say they can handle the notoriety the case brings, but...
MICHAEL NEVIN, SAN MATEO COUNTY SUPERVISOR: Lives are going to be disrupted for a while. This trial is not going to be speedy, it's not going to be quick and it's going to have an impact on us in San Mateo County as long as it lasts.
DORNIN: Peterson's father called Modesto a nice community, but says the move was necessary.
LEE PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S FATHER: There are obviously some signs of a real poisoned atmosphere.
DORNIN: There will be a hearing Friday to decide exactly when the trial will begin. Prosecutors want a two week delay in light of the change of venue. But the deadline for the trial to begin under speedy trial laws is Monday.
Defense Attorney Mark Geragos told reporters he had no plans to waive the court deadline and had a message of thanks to the local newspaper.
MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S ATTORNEY: I want to thank the "Modesto Bee," because without them, this motion never could have been granted.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN: Well, we're not sure which judge is going to preside over this case, either. Judge Al Girolami did tell the court yesterday he did not want to go on the road with this case. So the chief presiding judge is expected to make an announcement this morning. If Girolami stays on this case, there is a chance it could start on Monday and it may be in Modesto for a couple of weeks. If there is a new judge, it's going to be very difficult for there not to be a delay for this new judge to catch up.
This courthouse has not really had any high profile cases in recent years, but it did host the Patty Hearst trial, as well as the billionaire boys club -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Rusty Dornin live from Redwood City.
Thanks so much, Rusty.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
