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CNN Saturday Morning News
Laci Petersons Autopsy Reports to Remain Sealed
Aired May 31, 2003 - 07:40 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.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: In the Laci Peterson case, the judge has ruled that the autopsy reports on both Laci and her unborn child should remain sealed. The details from the child's autopsy were leaked to the press Thursday, leading attorneys on both sides to ask for them to be made public. Meanwhile, some of Laci Peterson's relatives, including her brother, went to the home Scott and Laci shared and removed several items. Among them, we're talking a baby crib.
Now, attorneys for Laci's family say there was an agreement on removing items while defense attorneys say the removals were tantamount to theft.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST: So she broke the agreement, is what you're saying?
LEE PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S FATHER: She broke the agreement and she uses as an excuse that she is devastating by the autopsy reports on little Conner. Well, my wife Jackie was devastated, as was I. I mean my wife could not leave the house yesterday. But instead of grieving, Sharon apparently planned this break-in. There were a half a dozen vehicles at that house and I'd like to, you know, Nancy says well all she wanted was a wedding dress and a few sentimental things. Well, I saw at least three pickups full of furniture, full of cartons, god knows what, going out of that house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEVILLE: OK, joining us now to talk about the Peterson case is Court TV Anchor Lisa Bloom. Her mother, Gloria Allred, is also involved in the proceedings, as the attorney for Amber Frey, who had an affair with Scott Peterson.
Good morning, Lisa.
LISA BLOOM, COURT TV ANCHOR: Good morning, Arthel.
NEVILLE: All right, Lisa, listen, there are so many new developments in this case. First off, tell us, if you would, what does this mean for the prosecution?
BLOOM: Well, at this point the Judge Girolami yesterday ruled definitively that the search warrant affidavits are going to continue to remained sealed and the autopsy results will continue to remain sealed. There are two more hearings on next week, Tuesday and Friday, where similar issues will be revisited. But I think the judge is trying to indicate loudly and clearly to both sides, especially the defense, that he does not want any more information leaked.
NEVILLE: Yes, but in the meantime, Lisa, so much information has been leaked...
BLOOM: That's right.
NEVILLE: And I ask you, what is the strategy behind that?
BLOOM: Well, it's very interesting, this defense team seems to be floating theories, putting information out in the press designed to taint the jury pool and at the same time going into court and saying hey, everything should remain sealed. Don't let those search warrant affidavits out. Those are the affidavits that have the facts, that are chock full of information about what the police has. And I think it's very unfair to the prosecution for the defense to be out there, on the one hand, leaking selective, provocative information, especially what was leaked Thursday about the tape being around baby Conner's neck and at the same time saying in court hey, let's keep everything sealed so that the prosecution cannot speak.
NEVILLE: So then, Lisa, let's say this all backfires. Who is going to be hurt most? Which side?
BLOOM: Well, I think the defense could really be hurt the most. I mean look what happened to Mark Geragos's last client, Winona Ryder, when he made promises in the press that ultimately were not kept, that there were going to be recipients for the merchandise from Saks. That never happened. Winona Ryder was convicted.
I think the press is and the public are tired of defense attorneys just saying anything and doing anything for an accused murderer. If the defense doesn't have the goods to back up these statements, they're going to be in big trouble at trial.
NEVILLE: Now, Lisa, you mentioned the public growing tired of this. What about the jury pool? Is this going to be tainted at all?
BLOOM: Well, if it's tainted, it's tainted by the defense. I mean keep in mind, prior to last week all of these leaks were sourced to the defense. Geragos was making press quotes for attribution or at least defense team says was the quote in the press. This week, since an in chambers discussion last Tuesday with Judge Girolami, where he made it clear he didn't want any more press statements, the defense has gone underground and the latest, most provocative leak about the tape around the baby's neck has not been sourced to anyone, although the prosecution has denied it.
NEVILLE: OK, Lisa Bloom, Court TV, good to see you this morning.
Thank you so much.
BLOOM: Nice to see you.
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 May 31, 2003 - 07:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: In the Laci Peterson case, the judge has ruled that the autopsy reports on both Laci and her unborn child should remain sealed. The details from the child's autopsy were leaked to the press Thursday, leading attorneys on both sides to ask for them to be made public. Meanwhile, some of Laci Peterson's relatives, including her brother, went to the home Scott and Laci shared and removed several items. Among them, we're talking a baby crib.
Now, attorneys for Laci's family say there was an agreement on removing items while defense attorneys say the removals were tantamount to theft.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST: So she broke the agreement, is what you're saying?
LEE PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S FATHER: She broke the agreement and she uses as an excuse that she is devastating by the autopsy reports on little Conner. Well, my wife Jackie was devastated, as was I. I mean my wife could not leave the house yesterday. But instead of grieving, Sharon apparently planned this break-in. There were a half a dozen vehicles at that house and I'd like to, you know, Nancy says well all she wanted was a wedding dress and a few sentimental things. Well, I saw at least three pickups full of furniture, full of cartons, god knows what, going out of that house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEVILLE: OK, joining us now to talk about the Peterson case is Court TV Anchor Lisa Bloom. Her mother, Gloria Allred, is also involved in the proceedings, as the attorney for Amber Frey, who had an affair with Scott Peterson.
Good morning, Lisa.
LISA BLOOM, COURT TV ANCHOR: Good morning, Arthel.
NEVILLE: All right, Lisa, listen, there are so many new developments in this case. First off, tell us, if you would, what does this mean for the prosecution?
BLOOM: Well, at this point the Judge Girolami yesterday ruled definitively that the search warrant affidavits are going to continue to remained sealed and the autopsy results will continue to remain sealed. There are two more hearings on next week, Tuesday and Friday, where similar issues will be revisited. But I think the judge is trying to indicate loudly and clearly to both sides, especially the defense, that he does not want any more information leaked.
NEVILLE: Yes, but in the meantime, Lisa, so much information has been leaked...
BLOOM: That's right.
NEVILLE: And I ask you, what is the strategy behind that?
BLOOM: Well, it's very interesting, this defense team seems to be floating theories, putting information out in the press designed to taint the jury pool and at the same time going into court and saying hey, everything should remain sealed. Don't let those search warrant affidavits out. Those are the affidavits that have the facts, that are chock full of information about what the police has. And I think it's very unfair to the prosecution for the defense to be out there, on the one hand, leaking selective, provocative information, especially what was leaked Thursday about the tape being around baby Conner's neck and at the same time saying in court hey, let's keep everything sealed so that the prosecution cannot speak.
NEVILLE: So then, Lisa, let's say this all backfires. Who is going to be hurt most? Which side?
BLOOM: Well, I think the defense could really be hurt the most. I mean look what happened to Mark Geragos's last client, Winona Ryder, when he made promises in the press that ultimately were not kept, that there were going to be recipients for the merchandise from Saks. That never happened. Winona Ryder was convicted.
I think the press is and the public are tired of defense attorneys just saying anything and doing anything for an accused murderer. If the defense doesn't have the goods to back up these statements, they're going to be in big trouble at trial.
NEVILLE: Now, Lisa, you mentioned the public growing tired of this. What about the jury pool? Is this going to be tainted at all?
BLOOM: Well, if it's tainted, it's tainted by the defense. I mean keep in mind, prior to last week all of these leaks were sourced to the defense. Geragos was making press quotes for attribution or at least defense team says was the quote in the press. This week, since an in chambers discussion last Tuesday with Judge Girolami, where he made it clear he didn't want any more press statements, the defense has gone underground and the latest, most provocative leak about the tape around the baby's neck has not been sourced to anyone, although the prosecution has denied it.
NEVILLE: OK, Lisa Bloom, Court TV, good to see you this morning.
Thank you so much.
BLOOM: Nice to see you.
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
