Pederson found GUILTY, Murder 1

[Suff]

Ok

[ponyplayer]

Apparently sentencing will be in two weeks. I don't want the death penalty for this guy...too many appeals take way too long a time. I'd like to see him get life in prison, with no possibility of parole, and a big cellmate named Bubba.

[Suff]

unfortunately I suspect a new trial. Two dismissed Jurors , including the ForePerson, in a three day span? Both within Hours of the Guilty verdict. No matter how you shake it he's got serious grouunds for a new trial. One of the Jurors, supposedly, from what i picked up, did some private investigation of her own. Then potentially introduced her findings to the other Jurors.

These High profiles case's are not the NORM.. When I follow an interesting Murder case in my local market, The trials last a week. Two weeks tops. I frequently see murder cases tried in 2 days, The jury deliberates one more and the case is finished.

When the national media gets involved these cases always turn into circus acts and opportunities for Trial lawyers and media lawyers to get Face time.

I'm not sure what all the dynamics are that change the pace and length of HIGH profile cases vs regular everyday trials. But it strikes me as not the way things should be done.

[cryptic1]

I know our legal systems are different but I haven't
seen a murder trial in the Toronto area take less than 2-3
weeks in at least 15 years. Since the introduction of our
charter of rights and recent Appellate courts decisions with
respect to race and jury selection our murder trials have gotten
completely out of hand. Its not unusual when there are
multiple co-accused for the pre-trial motions to last anywhere
from 2 weeks to 3 months, never mind the trial itself. The
cost of all this has increased exponentially.
I suspect that the time between arrest and trial is a
lot less in Boston than here as well. Its not unusual for
murder cases to come to trial 2 to 3 years after the arrest. We
have insufficient resources to properly fund our judicial system
and as result trial delays are inevitable and lengthy.
You're dead on Suff, the Petersen fiasco will be
appealed, as their appear to be numerous grounds to attack
the proceedings.

cryptic1

[Speed Figure]

I hope his new name is SWEET CAKES!

[JustRalph]

Originally posted by cryptic1
I know our legal systems are different but I haven't
seen a murder trial in the Toronto area take less than 2-3
weeks in at least 15 years.

The first week is getting those funny wigs on, right?

:D

[cryptic1]

Thank g-d we never adopted the wigs. I tried one on years
ago and it was heavy and cumbersome, never mind the musty
smell. The few English barristers I've spoken to disliked them
as well, but England is very tradionalist society and the granny
wigs will probably stay in perpetuity.

cryptic1

[DJofSD]

Apparently sentencing will be in two weeks.

The next phase begins 11/22. This is the sentencing phase -- whether he gets the needle or not.

DJofSD

[DJofSD]

What I heard today immediately after the findings were pronounced was the judge had been aware of very many jury 'indescretions (sp?)' and had a very good set of documents about the activities of the last two dismissed jurors. IOW, he was on very firm ground and was not leaving himself open to have the appellate court bounce the case back to him for a retrail.

DJofSD

[so.cal.fan]

I think you're right, DJ.......that judge was too careful......he knew what he was doing.......I think he is on firm ground here.

[Tom]

I think the ramifications of this case will be the second degree murder of an "unborn infant."
This has to open all kinds of doors to challenge abortion statutes, doesn't it? Muder before birth?:confused:

[so.cal.fan]

That's interesting, Tom.......you may be on to something.
You have to remember the people in San Mateo County, Calif are VERY LIBERAL....probably about 75%.
This may have played a role in this strange verdict of second degree......
I personally consider Conner to have been a complete person, as Laci was examined by her doctor just before she was murdered by Scott.....and her baby boy, Conner was fine. Had she delivered Conner that day, he would have likely survived as a "premie".
Scott knew when he killed Laci, he was killing Conner as well.
I heard he was at the doctor's office with Laci that last day, and actually heard his son's heart beat! If this is true.........I don't think I could have made the second degree call.......but let's wait and hear their explaination.

[Tom]

Why wait...kill this SOB today.

[chickenhead]

I am amazed that this case has garnered such national attention.

All I can think is I hope the public is never wrong about their snap judgements....when this case first broke it was about one day later the public had him pegged as the murderer....I couldn't help but think....what if that happened to your wife?

And you had the entire country thinking you did it, before you were arrested, before any evidence was produced...talk about piling on...

I remeber he had a press conference, a few days after, the first question was "MR. Peterson, did you kill your wife?"

Imagine if your wife had just been murdered, and some vulture, trying to make a dime off your suffering, asked you that question? Maybe you'd have been innocent up to that point, but you'd likely have been guilty of attempted murder of that reporter, I can imagine.

Anyway, he's guilty, good riddance, but I think the public and media are pretty disgusting with the way they treat all parties involved in these things, like it's all there for our entertainment. This is someones family.

[JustRalph]

I saw an interesting stat....on a news show..........

84% of pregnant women who are killed, are killed by their husbands or significant other

that stat says it all.

[chickenhead]

well i feel especially sorry then for those 16% then....who not only lose a wife and baby, but god forbid have Matt Lauer and Katie Couric jawing about it every day, about how 84% of all preganant women are murdered by their husbands, so you're 84% guilty before anything even happens....

I think the media attention is disgusting and should be discouraged. Not so much even for the accused sake or anything, god forbid anything tragic ever happened to someone close to me, in my family, but the LAST thing in the world I would want is the media to get involved.

[so.cal.fan]

I sort of agree, chickenhead.......how terrible for both families involved.
The good thing may be, that due to this coverage, if it only discourages one "Scott Peterson" type out there of killing his pregnant wife.......I'm sure the Rocha family AND the Peterson family would feel some good came out of a terrible tragedy.:(

[kenwoodallpromos]

I always thought 2nd degree; I just wish the cops couls get it right sometimes and not have to phony some things up.
And shut Allred up!
I'm not holding my breath to see Amber in Playboy's Adulterous Girlfriend Edition.

[JustRalph]

Originally posted by chickenhead
but the LAST thing in the world I would want is the media to get involved.

I have much experience with the media. There is nothing good that can come from going on camera and cooperating with them. Unless you are asking for money, for a good cause.

Otherwise...........never speak to the media...........remember, the truth is boring.........and boring doesn't get ratings...........no matter how sincere you are, or what you say.......they can make it sound worse than it is...............

[PaceAdvantage]

I agree with chickenhead. What disturbed me even more was how Scott Pederson's mother was viciously abused on her way in and out of the courtroom by these wackos who have to stand outside the courthouse and gawk each and every day (media is certainly to blame for this casualty of human nature)

This poor woman has enough to handle with her son convicted for killing her daughter-in-law AND grandchild, she also has to listen to these lowlifes call her names and abuse her for something she had no control over??? Sickos.....

[boxcar]

From what I saw on TV briefly, there appeared to be a fairly large and vocal crowd gathered outside the courthouse. Is this a correct assessment?

I'd be curious to know, especially because of the area of the trial, just what what the demographic composition of the crowd was. How many were "angry white males"? Angry wihte females? Angry black males? Black females? Hispanic males? Average age, etc., etc.?

Boxcar

[so.cal.fan]

I was watching a lot of that crowd on a few of the cable stations, boxcar, and while most were white females, there were several white men, several hispanic men and women and several black men and women.....saw a few asian people as well......I think Scott was disliked and considered guilty by EVERYONE across the board.
The one juror they reported seeming disliked him the most was a fairly young, black female, some type of professional woman.
She was the gal that smiled at Sharon Rocha as they came out to read the verdict.
I think everyone disliked Scott......but probably women....white, hispanic, black, asian, native american, etc........HATED SCOTT.

[boxcar]

so.cal.fan wrote:

I was watching a lot of that crowd on a few of the cable stations, boxcar, and while most were white females, there were several white men, several hispanic men and women and several black men and women.....saw a few asian people as well......I think Scott was disliked and considered guilty by EVERYONE across the board.
The one juror they reported seeming disliked him the most was a fairly young, black female, some type of professional woman.
She was the gal that smiled at Sharon Rocha as they came out to read the verdict.
I think everyone disliked Scott......but probably women....white, hispanic, black, asian, native american, etc........HATED SCOTT.

This is good news. If they jury should come back with the death penalty, the Libs won't be able to point their finger or wag their tongue in assigning blame on "white angry males".

Thanks, SCF, for the feedback.

Boxcar

[so.cal.fan]

I don't think they will give him the death penalty, boxcar.
That said, I thought the jury would be a hung jury.....so......what do I know?

[Valuist]

I was searching for an old thread on Drew Peterson, but stumbled on an old thread about a different killer named Peterson.

Just saw the documentary (not made for TV movie) on Drew. I thought I had heard everything on that case......was shocked there was a lot more.