Matt Dalton book

[yvonnepar]

I am nearly finished reading this book, and although I never thought Scott killed Laci...I was more convinced than ever after reading this book. My questiones might be answered when I'm finished, but maybe someone can enlighten me. If Geragos was Scott's lawyer, why didn't he use ANY of the evidence that Mr. Dalton worked so hard to acquire? Why weren't any of these witnesses called? That brown van was KEY in this case, and yet nothing was followed up and Geragos didn't call anyone who had seen it or ran across some of the strange occurances??

Earlier someone commented on why Laci was wearing pants when she was found, so how could she have given birth with her pants on? The theory was the baby was expelled from her body when it decomposed, so maybe she didn't actually give birth. However, if she did, and was taken for a baby "sacrifice", she could have been alive up until the baby was "taken" from her...and led to believe she might be set free...therefore, dressed. The case of the other pregnant woman found with no limbs or head....I can't believe this whole case wasn't followed up...talk to her family...anything...

The grounds for appeal in this case are staggering....but how long will it be before that can happen? The BIG one was the fuss made out of Amber....calling her had NOTHING to do with this case...all it did was prove he screwed around...she was a nobody and her testimony had no bearing on the case....all she should have been was another witness...nothing more. Having Gloria Allred as her attorney only brought about more camera time for them both....Gloria is a camera hog...was was during the OJ trial too.

I do...fully support the death penalty....when there is so much evidence, that there is no other explanation. Fingerprints, DNA, eye witnesses..confessions...video or audio...etc etc...when there is that much evidence...then execute...but when a case is completely circumstantial, there is NO way someone should be sentenced to death....as in this case. There was NO evidence...there was only hatred for Scott and complete imagination. My hatred in this went out to the people who treated his family with such total disrespect....even assuming he was guilty...who can be so cruel as to yell obscenities and hateful things to those people....I was disgusted at their actions.

I believe one day Scott will be free...because the evidence points to someone else....100%.

[Maggie]

Hi Yvonnepar--

I too found Dalton's book very interesting. I don't know why Geragos didn't call the many witnesses who saw Laci walking. He did a good job on cross examination to bring the info out from police reports and interviews.... but I wish he would have called some of them in his CIC- many people were disappointed he did not, imo. Dalton seemed like a good investigator to me, and also passionate about the case. I wish he had stayed on the team... oh well... you know what they say about hindsight.

I agree with you on Scott's case-- no evidence.... at all, actually.
Consider that if our justice system can be so flawed, there should be no death penalty. You can see how it is applied. It is a myth that it is only applied to the worst with proof. There are other reasons that I do not agree with the death penalty, but cases like Scott's (and many others-- ) alone is enough to abolish the DP imo.

I often wonder if a NON "death qualified" jury would have found Scott guilty? It's been shown over and over again that death qualified juries favor the prosecution big time. I have issues with that as well.

[legallybrunette]

Maggie, what does 'non death' qualified juror mean exactly? Here, you've generally only got the one type 'slow'... ;D

[Maggie]

LB,

Here, when the death penalty is on the table, ALL jurors must be in favor of the death penalty. If you say you are against the death penalty, you are immediately let go. A "death qualified" jury means that every person on that jury is PRO DEATH PENALTY.

Shocking isn't it?

Studies have shown that a death qualified jury is more likely to convict. Somehow that doesn't surprise me as imo these people are more run by an emotional blood thirst for revenge than an objective observation of the facts.

eta- I bumped an older thread for you in the debate section on death qualified juries.

[happyhaddock]

barbaraweaver said:

... Studies have shown that a death qualified jury is more likely to convict. Somehow that doesn't surprise me as imo these people are more run by an emotional blood thirst for revenge than an objective observation of the facts. ...

IMO, the death penalty is rarely sought for the 'worst of the worst'. It is, instead, sought for the weakest of the weakest of prosecution cases.

[happyhaddock]

yvonnepar said:

I am nearly finished reading this book, and although I never thought Scott killed Laci...I was more convinced than ever after reading this book. My questiones might be answered when I'm finished, but maybe someone can enlighten me. If Geragos was Scott's lawyer, why didn't he use ANY of the evidence that Mr. Dalton worked so hard to acquire? ...

IMO Geragos let his personal feelings influence what he did. I find he has many faults and is a problematic defender.

[Maggie]

HH I don't know much about his other cases.... but I was disappointed in his CIC. However.... if the jury hadn't been media brainwashed, idiots and looking for a book deal, then the verdict should have been NOT GUILTY, even without a defense. The prosecution proved NOTHING. This case was a travesty on so many levels. It showed the standard of proof in this country has dropped to a dangerously low level. When NOTHING gets the death penalty, that's pretty scary.

[looking4justice]

To be honest, I am for the death penalty. When someone murders another human in a most heinous of ways, if the person who was murdered suffered greatly, I don't think we should make that murderer's death as painless as possible. Why should he be given that opportunity when he didn't give that to his victim? However, I believe if you want to convict someone of capital murder and give him the death penatly, it has to be on DE, not CE. There are too many errors in CE as there was in this case.

In Peterson's case however, I don't believe he did it. I believe Geragos was hungry not only for the money, but the added fame under his belt, whether he won or lost, it wouldn't matter. It was a high profile case and it would get his name in the media as the attorney who defended Scott Peterson.

I believe Matt Dalton saw that Geragos was not going to put up much of a defense, and this why he tried to get Peterson to fire Geragos and go with him to the new firm he was going to. I understand that there are some errors in his book, but what are a few errors compared to what are facts that he came across.

Why is it the jury did not consider the fact that the hair found on the duct tape which was attached to, IIRC, to Laci, did not match her or Peterson? This alone would tell me he was not in contact with the duct tape. Does anyone remember what color the hair was? I thought I read somewhere it was blonde?

[sharon]

I enjoyed Matt Dalton's book but I found it incredibly frustrating.There was so much info that could have been used in the trial.I think Scott should have fired Geragos.I too have had doubts about Scott,but after reading this book I know he didn't do it.I wish I knew why all of this information wasn't used but unfortunately I don't.It is just another thing about this case that bothers me.

[looking4justice]

I have a question. On other boards or forums I am on, the G's keep mentioning that Dalton's book is full of lies. I don't have the book, but they state that he said in his book Amy went to the Peterson's for dinner the night before Laci was murdered. Was that an error on the part of the publisher/editor? Does anyone know if there were other inconsistancies because I don't recall which other's they mentioned?

[happyhaddock]

looking4justice said:

I have a question. On other boards or forums I am on, the G's keep mentioning that Dalton's book is full of lies. I don't have the book, but they state that he said in his book Amy went to the Peterson's for dinner the night before Laci was murdered. Was that an error on the part of the publisher/editor? Does anyone know if there were other inconsistencies because I don't recall which other's they mentioned?

There are errors in Dalton's book. There are errors in Crier's book. There are errors in Frey's book (Ablow's book is total rubbish and Bird's, which Ablow's is based on, is hardly better). There are errors in many of the news reports. There was no mountain of evidence but there is a mountain of errors.

[legallybrunette]

Are US jurors permitted post trial to talk about their behind closed doors deliberations?? In this country, you are not permitted to do so and it is a criminal offence if you broadcast any such confidential information.
On a separate note, it is good to see that people with entirely varying degrees of pro and anti DP, join this board as it suggests an honest approach to matters by all. Further, I think that we can learn so much from each other and even alter individuals' ways of thinking.
I have even found myself (cue dramatic score) actually stopping short of towing the media line and condemning an accused out of hand, before the evidence has even been presented when watching tv reports.
Last night, as ever, I was watching 'True CSI' and it followed the Canadian case of a lady who was raped, tortured and finally smashed to death by a crazed guy.At first, in a fit of misguided remorse, her husband made a confession - clearly Canadian police forces are somewhat less bloodthirsty than certain US forces ; they reserved judgement on the admission and carried out a thorough examination of every single aspect. They ended up locating the real killer - a complete stranger. Just imagine if Canada had the DP and a lazy DA to boot!!

[happyhaddock]

legallybrunette said:

Just imagine if Canada had the DP and a lazy DA to boot!!

Canada came close to hanging a 14 yr old boy - and many think he was not guilty, although he has never been cleared. That was a major reason we dropped the death penalty.

[pumpkinpie]

I dont care what he did, a 14 year old should not be hung. There is rehabilitation for a 14 year old.

[happyhaddock]

pumpkinpie said:

I dont care what he did, a 14 year old should not be hung. There is rehabilitation for a 14 year old.

Or what he didn't do.

www.justice.gc.ca/en/news/nr/2004/doc_31270.html

JUSTICE MINISTER CONCLUDES THAT MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE
LIKELY OCCURRED IN STEVEN TRUSCOTT CASE

Minister refers case to the Ontario Court of Appeal

OTTAWA, October 28, 2004 – The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, announced today that he has determined “that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred” in 1959 when Steven Truscott, then 14, was convicted of murdering 12-year-old Lynne Harper. He has therefore granted Mr. Truscott's application for a wrongful conviction review and is referring the case to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

See also en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscarriage_of_justice