We, the Jury: Deciding the Scott Peterson Case

[happyhaddock]

Excerpts from "We, the Jury: Deciding the Scott Peterson Case"

'It seemed that the prosecution wanted a nice, clean murder trial and that Scott Peterson was going to be the fall guy. Scott Peterson was going to go through this ordeal for just being the husband, I thought, and it was bad luck. I remember thinking this trial was a waste of money and time.'

-- Greg Beratlis, on early periods of the trial when prosecutors struggled

'Often during the trial, I prayed for some huge sign of innocence or guilt that would make it easier for us. Every night before I went to sleep, I prayed for guidance and strength to do my duty.'

-- Tom Marino

'A week after being dismissed, I broke down completely. I went to Kaiser for Xanax and sought help through counseling. My counselor concluded that I was suffering from post-traumatic stress and offered to write me a disability note. That was a wake-up call. I'd never been on disability in my life and wasn't about to start now.'

-- Fran Gorman, dismissed three days before the guilty verdict for improperly conducting research on her home computer

'Stone cold innocent? He didn't have to prove to me that (Peterson) was innocent. The prosecution had to prove to me that Peterson was guilty. By saying this, (defense attorney Mark) Geragos seemed to suggest that even though he didn't have to, he would prove his client was innocent. It just hung over the trial, and by the end I thought, "Good try, Mark. You said that you would show us he was innocent. All you did was prove to me he was guilty."'

-- Mike Belmessieri

'The problem with jury duty is the loss of freedom. The judge rules your life. I had finally achieved retirement freedom and he took it away.'

-- Dennis Lear, who had moved near Fresno just before the trial and stayed in a Redwood City hotel on weekdays during the trial

'(Scott Peterson) lied about everything on the tapes. Of course, he is going to lie about not killing his wife.'

-- Julie Zanartu, on recordings Amber Frey made of her telephone chats with Peterson before his arrest

'San Mateo County does not provide counseling to any juror that may be suffering mentally after such a horrific experience. I find that shameful. The county protected us jurors as pieces of fine china during the trial and deliberations, and then disposed of us like paper plates at its conclusion.'

-- John Guinasso

'All I knew is that I was done with my life; it was over. I wanted to slam my truck into the wall, slam it while I was driving. I couldn't care less about me, but my kids, I had those kids and I feel an obligation to take care of them. They keep me going. I'm thinking of Laci when songs come on. You know, everyone knows who I am. There are a lot of girls in my college classes who are 18 or 19 years old and their moms are telling them to get my autograph. It's like man, you know, I just convicted this guy for killing his wife. I'm now his f------ pen pal. What the hell is going on?'

-- Richelle Nice, who has corresponded with Scott Peterson since he arrived on death row

Posted on 12/15/06 04:25:15
www.modbee.com/local/story/13115432p-13763769c.html

[Maggie]

As far as I am concerned, this book is good for one thing only... to be used as exhibit A when somebody finally draws up a proposal that shows why our justice system NEEDS professional jurors.

[pumpkinpie]

That Richelle Nice really does sound like a nut. I mean, who in there right mind sends a man to death row, and then befriends them afterwards and becomes there pen-pal? Someone with a guilty conscience, that's who. And it's even crazier that she turned around and broadcasted it to the whole world that she writes to him. She wants to keep herself in the media obviously, and really all she's doing is letting the world know how crazy she is. Even her above statement sounds kind of all over the place and crazy, saying she wants to drive her truck into a wall. She's completely guilt-ridden about this whole thing!

[texasgirl]

I know that the jury convicted him based on emotion. But really, who could not have sat through a trial like this and not been affected in some way? It had to have been difficult for all of them.
And no, I don't think I could correspond with someone I had just helped to convict. She should never have been accepted as an alternate, even. She obviously had mental problems long before the trial ever started.

[happyhaddock]

texasgirl said:

I know that the jury convicted him based on emotion. But really, who could not have sat through a trial like this and not been affected in some way? It had to have been difficult for all of them.
And no, I don't think I could correspond with someone I had just helped to convict. She should never have been accepted as an alternate, even. She obviously had mental problems long before the trial ever started.

A conviction and death sentence based on 'Truthiness'!

Truthiness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Truthiness is a satirical term invented by Stephen Colbert in reference to the quality by which a person claims to know something intuitively, instinctively, or "from the gut" without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or actual facts (similar to the meaning of "bellyfeel", a Newspeak term from George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four). Colbert created this definition of the word during the inaugural episode (October 17, 2005) of his satirical television program The Colbert Report, as the subject of a segment called "The WØRD". It was named word of the year for 2005 by the American Dialect Society and for 2006 by Merriam-Webster.

By using the term as part of his satirical routine, Colbert sought to criticize the tendency to rely upon "truthiness" and its use as an appeal to emotion and tool of rhetoric in contemporary socio-political discourse.

[lulu]

Good work happyhaddock;
I'm hoping the book will bring out some answers on actually why they convicted an innocent man was it their own self pity or the fact they were influenced by the media the book actually shows they are still striving for attention and money for their own justice. I'm also curious what actual evidence they convicted on. One said Scott lied but he only lied to Amber did they realize Amber lied to him more than he did with that reasoning Amber should be in jail maybe for more than lieing. And how about the lies from the prosecutor and the Detectives, they lied in court but Scott did not lie to the authorties or to the jury

[puddles]

Has anyone read the book yet? I've been trying to get it at a local Barnes & Noble but no luck yet.

If you have read the book, is it worth purchasing?

TIA

[happyhaddock]

puddles said:

Has anyone read the book yet? I've been trying to get it at a local Barnes & Noble but no luck yet.

If you have read the book, is it worth purchasing?

TIA

Generally the book seems to cover how Guinasso rammed the verdict he wanted through. It makes it clear that from day one he never intended to give Peterson any possibility of a not guilty verdict. I suggest you request your library to get a copy. Not worth more than $3 IMO.

[sara]

I think i'll wait til my library get this book in to read it. ;D

[sara]

I'm in luck my boyfriend Allen is done reading his book. He told me not to buy this book as it was NOT worth the money. Maybe this will help with Scott appeal. ;D ;D ;D

[pumpkinpie]

sara said:

I'm in luck my boyfriend Allen is done reading his book. He told me not to buy this book as it was NOT worth the money. Maybe this will help with Scott appeal. ;D ;D ;D

Well, let us know how you like it. Although I probably won't bother reading it. The only book about Scott Peterson I ever bought and read was the one Amber Fry wrote, called Witness. I like romance novels.

[cloudyskies]

pumpkinpie said:

sara said:

I'm in luck my boyfriend Allen is done reading his book. He told me not to buy this book as it was NOT worth the money. Maybe this will help with Scott appeal. ;D ;D ;D

Well, let us know how you like it. Although I probably won't bother reading it. The only book about Scott Peterson I ever bought and read was the one Amber Fry wrote, called Witness. I like romance novels.

I bought & read the book...very disappointing.