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Post by artguy on Jul 17, 2006 12:14:10 GMT -5
Why was this testimony never introduced at trial by the defense? This alone is grounds for appeal.
From Scottisinnocent.com:
9:45-10:00 am Homer & Helen Maldonado saw Laci
Homer and Helen Maldonado saw Laci walking MacKenzie in front of 211 Covena Ave, at the corner of Covena and Miller. In his OS, Geragos said other witnesses saw Laci along the same route. A truck driver saw Laci and McKenzie crossing the street to avoid 2 people who appeared to be homeless. An unidentified woman thinks she saw Laci on the same block. From this OS and various testimonies elicited so far, I have reconstructed the walk that Laci may have taken that morning. None of the pregnant women that testified they routinely walked down Covena and in the neighborhood would go as far down Covena as Miller.
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Post by artguy on Jul 17, 2006 12:21:47 GMT -5
And ANOTHER one! 10:00-10:30 am Vivian Mitchell saw Laci :Vivian Mitchell, who lives on Buena Vista Avenue roughly 10 blocks from the Peterson home and about three-quarters of a mile from the Maldonado sighting, told police that she saw Peterson walk by between 10 and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 24. Her husband, Bill, also saw Laci and McKenzie.
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Post by happyhaddock on Jul 17, 2006 13:35:37 GMT -5
And ANOTHER one! 10:00-10:30 am Vivian Mitchell saw Laci :Vivian Mitchell, who lives on Buena Vista Avenue roughly 10 blocks from the Peterson home and about three-quarters of a mile from the Maldonado sighting, told police that she saw Peterson walk by between 10 and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 24. Her husband, Bill, also saw Laci and McKenzie. No one knows what Geragos was thinking. He surely should have gotten a video deposition from Mrs. Mitchell before she died. Now some claim she was murdered to eliminate her as a witness - far fetched to be sure. However, if you look at the trial record, Geragos did bring in the police reports of sightings made at the time and thus harder to challenge as faulty memory.
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Post by artguy on Jul 17, 2006 13:40:03 GMT -5
It sounds like he wasn't thinking. All of this testimony would have exonerated Scott. If Laci is seen alive after 10:08 - and she was, by several people, then it is impossible for Scott to have been involved in her disappearance. Case dismissed. What am I missing here? This is as clear a case of ineffective council as I have ever seen!
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Post by artguy on Jul 17, 2006 13:43:37 GMT -5
Happy - The way Geragos introduced that testimony through cross it could not be considered for the truth, but only for the reasonableness of the conduct of the officers.
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Post by Maggie on Jul 17, 2006 15:09:38 GMT -5
Art,
I know how you feel, believe me.
I don't have the name handy at the moment, but there was also a woman who saw Laci that day that KNEW Laci! They went to the same doctor. She was also sure she saw Laci THAT MORNING.
This case is a travesty on so many levels.
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Post by artguy on Jul 17, 2006 15:28:06 GMT -5
Maggie - It's things like this that made me quit practicing law. And of all the travesties of justice I've seen, this appears to be among the very worst. I am just at a loss of words, and that's not something I am usually known for. :-)
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Post by artguy on Jul 17, 2006 15:41:01 GMT -5
I just read Geragos' closing argument again and not once did he mention that Laci was scene after Scott left. Not once. His defense should have afforded a closing argument that stated repeatedly how many times Laci was spotted after Scott left. That should have been the whole basis of his defense. He didn’t even mention it! I am really getting mad now. This is a joke! Scott is rotting away in jail, his parents are suffering emotionally, physically and financially, all their lives are ruined, and all because his attorneys never made it clear that it was impossible for him to have committed the crime, when there was clearly evidence available to do so. Once Scott gets out he should sue the state, the county, Geragos & Geragos... He deserves millions in compensation for the way this case was mishandled.
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Post by happyhaddock on Jul 17, 2006 15:42:08 GMT -5
Maggie - It's things like this that made me quit practicing law. And of all the travesties of justice I've seen, this appears to be among the very worst. I am just at a loss of words, and that's not something I am usually known for. :-) I wonder what it will take for all parties to accept that the system is broken. The police are determining who is convicted based on who they investigate and charge and juries are convicting based on whether they like the defendant or sometimes just because he is charged. Prosecutors are violating their oath of office as if they never took it. Judges are acting as if nothing is their responsibility and too many of them seem to think they are part of the prosecution team. So much for truth and justice. If the MPD had gone after Ron Grantski they could have made at least as good a case as they did against Scott Peterson - perhaps better. See www.corpus-delicti.com/mouser.htmlAsk yourself who is in charge here?
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Post by artguy on Jul 17, 2006 15:57:12 GMT -5
I was always disturbed about the manner in which this case was handled but after hearing about the eye witnesses, this escalates it to a whole new level. I am sending money to the Peterson fund today and I’m going to start writing letters, email and whatever else I can think of. Has anyone already compiled a list of people to appeal to? I can think of a few right off the top of my head:
㝲 The governor of California
㝲 The California State Attorney General
㝲 The US Attorney General
㝲 The ACLU
㝲 The California Supreme Court
㝲 The US Supreme Court
㝲 Hell, even the President of the US!
㝲 All the various media outlets. CNN, 60 Minutes, etc. Obviously not Court TV with their talking heads sans brains.
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Post by happyhaddock on Jul 17, 2006 16:03:04 GMT -5
I was always disturbed about the manner in which this case was handled but after hearing about the eye witnesses, this escalates it to a whole new level. I am sending money to the Peterson fund today and I’m going to start writing letters, email and whatever else I can think of. Has anyone already compiled a list of people to appeal to? I'd be more inclined to go to Larry King, Montel Williams and Oprah.
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Post by artguy on Jul 17, 2006 16:07:24 GMT -5
I tried to make a credit card donation and it keeps saying: "Unable to verify card". I use this card online all the time. Has anyone else donated recently and had this problem?
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Post by Maggie on Jul 17, 2006 16:11:46 GMT -5
Maggie - It's things like this that made me quit practicing law. And of all the travesties of justice I've seen, this appears to be among the very worst. I am just at a loss of words, and that's not something I am usually known for. :-) Art, I got the feeling you were a leagle eagle What I have never understood about this case since the beginning-- is the non-stop demonization of Scott Peterson in the media! And the seemingly hefty investment so many (in power) seem to have in his guilt. Do you remember when Sharon Rocha was pushing the "Laci Bill" (the one Laci herself would not have qualified under)? By that time, she had made it known to the public that she was convinced Scott was guilty. Then we have our PRESIDENT..... Bush >:(getting all cozy with her on TV, before Scott even had a trial!! I felt like our own president was sending a message that Scott is guilty. A TV movie was made for cripes sake!! Look at all the books. Yet, when one really looks at the evidence, and lack of evidence.... and really digs into the case, a story emerges of an innocent man totally railroaded. It's sickening.
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Post by Maggie on Jul 17, 2006 16:16:12 GMT -5
I just read Geragos' closing argument again and not once did he mention that Laci was scene after Scott left. Not once. His defense should have afforded a closing argument that stated repeatedly how many times Laci was spotted after Scott left. That should have been the whole basis of his defense. He didn’t even mention it! I am really getting mad now. This is a joke! Scott is rotting away in jail, his parents are suffering emotionally, physically and financially, all their lives are ruined, and all because his attorneys never made it clear that it was impossible for him to have committed the crime, when there was clearly evidence available to do so. Once Scott gets out he should sue the state, the county, Geragos & Geragos... He deserves millions in compensation for the way this case was mishandled. Yep. IMO Geragos should have brought the witnesses in who saw Laci at the Prelim..... maybe be wouldn't be having this conversation. Art, there are so many things. Let's just hope that his appellate attys get this thing reversed as soon as possible and get him out of there!!! Better yet-- the real killers be caught-- so there will be justice for once, for the Scott Peterson family.
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Post by Maggie on Jul 17, 2006 16:21:51 GMT -5
Maggie - It's things like this that made me quit practicing law. And of all the travesties of justice I've seen, this appears to be among the very worst. I am just at a loss of words, and that's not something I am usually known for. :-) I wonder what it will take for all parties to accept that the system is broken. The police are determining who is convicted based on who they investigate and charge and juries are convicting based on whether they like the defendant or sometimes just because he is charged. Prosecutors are violating their oath of office as if they never took it. Judges are acting as if nothing is their responsibility and too many of them seem to think they are part of the prosecution team. So much for truth and justice. If the MPD had gone after Ron Grantski they could have made at least as good a case as they did against Scott Peterson - perhaps better. See www.corpus-delicti.com/mouser.htmlAsk yourself who is in charge here? I agree with both points Happy. The system IS broken! Look how many people have been exonerated from DEATH ROW! Now, can anybody tell me a prosecutor didn't LIE when he convinced 12 people "beyond a reasonable doubt" that somebody was so guilty, they deserved to die-- yet the person turns out to be innocent. The DA in Scott's case was/is corrupt, imo. Interesting now he is a judge. Yes, the system is broken. On your last point..... I have seen speculation GALORE on the internet that Grantski is suspect. That's all I'll say about that.
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