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CNN Saturday Morning News
Survey Say Scott Peterson Cannot Recieve Fair Trial in Modesto
Aired January 10, 2004 - 07:31 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.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Just a day after a judge decided to move the Scott Peterson murder trial, new information suggests that key evidence in that decision was not exactly accurate.
Rich Ibarra of CNN affiliate KCRA has the story from Modesto.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHEN SCHOENTHALER, CSU STANISLAUS PROFESSOR: I'm very comfortable with it.
RICH IBARRA, KCRA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): CSU Stanislaus Professor Stephen Schoenthaler expresses confidence in his survey, a survey on Scott Peterson and his chances for a fair trial, a poll that showed that nearly 60 percent of potential jurors in the valley felt Scott Peterson was probably guilty. In the Bay Area, that dropped to just over 55 percent. But in Stanislaus County, almost 70 percent said he probably killed his wife, then unborn son.
SCHOENTHALER: We have a great degree of confidence in the answers that were given in the community polls that we do historically. And that's why I think this one's going to be accurate, too.
IBARRA: Reportedly, 65 students participated in the survey. They had a week before finals to complete it and it constituted 20 percent of their final grade.
(on camera): But now some students have come forward saying they made up the results for the grade. CSU Stanislaus issued this statement. "We have immediately initiated an inquiry. Scientific misconduct and academic dishonesty are serious breaches of professional ethics and research standards that are not tolerated at this University."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You think they'd do something more professional than that, like they'd do more background, they wouldn't trust students.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It goes against our policy of academic integrity. I know that. I feel like those students should be reprimanded and punished.
IBARRA: The court decided to move the trial. That coming after testimony on the survey by Professor Schoenthaler. And now the district attorney says it will interview students who conducted the survey. This information may be provided to the superior court in order to ensure that evidence relied upon by the court to make decisions in this case was properly obtained and introduced.
For Stanislaus residents, the question of moving the trial is again on the table.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it should be tried here. This is where the crime was committed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it was fair. People here are just like anywhere.
IBARRA (on camera): You think he can get a fair trial here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAN MIGUEL: The California Judicial Council will offer up three potential new venues for the Peterson trial, if, indeed, it is moved out of Modesto.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Modesto>
Aired January 10, 2004 - 07:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Just a day after a judge decided to move the Scott Peterson murder trial, new information suggests that key evidence in that decision was not exactly accurate.
Rich Ibarra of CNN affiliate KCRA has the story from Modesto.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHEN SCHOENTHALER, CSU STANISLAUS PROFESSOR: I'm very comfortable with it.
RICH IBARRA, KCRA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): CSU Stanislaus Professor Stephen Schoenthaler expresses confidence in his survey, a survey on Scott Peterson and his chances for a fair trial, a poll that showed that nearly 60 percent of potential jurors in the valley felt Scott Peterson was probably guilty. In the Bay Area, that dropped to just over 55 percent. But in Stanislaus County, almost 70 percent said he probably killed his wife, then unborn son.
SCHOENTHALER: We have a great degree of confidence in the answers that were given in the community polls that we do historically. And that's why I think this one's going to be accurate, too.
IBARRA: Reportedly, 65 students participated in the survey. They had a week before finals to complete it and it constituted 20 percent of their final grade.
(on camera): But now some students have come forward saying they made up the results for the grade. CSU Stanislaus issued this statement. "We have immediately initiated an inquiry. Scientific misconduct and academic dishonesty are serious breaches of professional ethics and research standards that are not tolerated at this University."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You think they'd do something more professional than that, like they'd do more background, they wouldn't trust students.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It goes against our policy of academic integrity. I know that. I feel like those students should be reprimanded and punished.
IBARRA: The court decided to move the trial. That coming after testimony on the survey by Professor Schoenthaler. And now the district attorney says it will interview students who conducted the survey. This information may be provided to the superior court in order to ensure that evidence relied upon by the court to make decisions in this case was properly obtained and introduced.
For Stanislaus residents, the question of moving the trial is again on the table.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it should be tried here. This is where the crime was committed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it was fair. People here are just like anywhere.
IBARRA (on camera): You think he can get a fair trial here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAN MIGUEL: The California Judicial Council will offer up three potential new venues for the Peterson trial, if, indeed, it is moved out of Modesto.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Modesto>
