[CARLA]

LADYCOP,

A LITTLE OF TODAYS EVENTS FROM A BLOG SITE..!!

Get this over with..!! I can't take anymore..!!

http://www.courttv.com/trials/peterson/penaltyblog.html

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 8, 2004

11:19 a.m. PT: Testimony ends for the day.


Jackie Peterson makes her final pitch to jurors, telling them if they sentence her son to death, "it will be like a whole family is wiped off the face of the earth." Sharon Rocha grimaces. Peterson goes on to say her son has been portrayed as "the devil," but "has never been that." Juror No. 12 wipes her eyes, but some panelists won't even look in the direction of the witness stand. At the defense table, Peterson dabs at tears. Prosecutors Dave Harris and Birgit Fladager confer briefly about whether to cross-examine the defendant's mother, but decide not to. She steps down and jurors file out. One male alternate panelist glances at Peterson, but the rest do not. They will hear from one more witness tomorrow and then hear closing arguments. —Harriet Ryan

10:50 a.m.

Jackie shows the jury baby pictures of her son. "If you asked me about Scott, I would say he was a joy from the moment he was born," she says. As the first picture is placed on the projection screen, the foreman turns and looks at Sharon Rocha. The rest of the panel is attentive, but unemotional.—Harriet Ryan

10:38 a.m.: Jackie Peterson takes the stand.

Mark Geragos calls the defendant's mother, Jackie Peterson, to the stand. Jurors watch her slowly make her way into the witness box. In the front row, Sharon Rocha watches. Jackie Peterson says one of the most difficult days for her in the trial was the day Rocha testified about her horrible loss. "We all lost Laci, and I have empathy for her," she says.—Harriet Ryan


10:30 a.m.: Ed Caudillo testifies, followed by Brittney Peterson.

Ed Caudillo and Scott Peterson's teenage niece Brittney Peterson testify, but we learn that the star witness, Jackie Peterson, will be up next. —Harriet Ryan


9:50 a.m.: Shelly Reiman testifies.

The next witness is Shelly Reiman, a friend of the Petersons from college. Reiman testifies about the birth of her own son, Conner, before Laci Peterson's disappearance. She says Peterson seemed "genuinely excited and thrilled" about the birth of his child. She breaks down as she asks jurors not to send Peterson to death row. "It's not going to bring back Laci. It's not going to bring back Conner. It's just going to add another tragedy to this horrible event," she says. For the second time in the penalty phase, prosecutor Dave Harris opts to cross-examine a witness. He asks her just two questions: "Did the Scott you knew ever talk to you about Amber Frey?" and "Did he ever tell you he was telling Amber he didn't want to have children?" The answer to both is no. —Harriet Ryan


9:42 a.m.: Thomas Beardsley testifies.

The first witness is a former customer of Peterson, Thomas Beardsley. Beardsley testifies that as a fertilizer salesman, Peterson was honest and hardworking and went out of his way to help him. "Scott's a calm person. He's got plans, he knows what he wanted to do, and he executed it," he said. —Harriet Ryan

9:24 a.m.


Judge Delucchi tells the jurors they will hear testimony from five witnesses today and perhaps one more tomorrow morning. He promises the panel that no matter what — "even if it's five o'clock", they will be instructed in the law Thursday. The foreman nods as the judge reminds them they will be sequestered starting tomorrow night and should meet at the hotel with their luggage in the morning.—Harriet Ryan


9:21 a.m.

Scott Peterson enters court wearing a khaki suit. He doesn't give his parents the usual smile, perhaps because a court officer is blocking them from his view. A minute later, the jurors file into court.—Harriet Ryan


9:03 a.m.


Jackie Peterson enters the courtroom alone, wearing a black skirt and a gray jacket. Several people in the defense section rise and introduce themselves to her. She smiles and does not appear nervous.—Harriet Ryan

9:02 a.m.

Lee Peterson and his daughter, Susan Caudillo, arrive in court. —Harriet Ryan

8:58 a.m.

Sharon and Brent Rocha take their places in the front row of the courtroom. No sign of Jackie Peterson — the defense's most anticipated witness — yet.—Harriet Ryan

8:30 a.m.


This morning's Public Lottery Report: 100 people vying for 27 tickets. Unofficially, I'd say half the contestants were network bookers. Vinnie Politan got excited from the get-go when he was handed ticket number 44 — the number he wore as a New Jersey teenager back when he was captain of his high school basketball team, the West Orange Cowboys. Halfway through the lottery, a number was called and met with embarrassing cheers of "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" It turned out to be defense attorney and frequent Court TV guest Ivan Golde. A few numbers later, a lucky winner screams out "YES!" This time it's legal analyst Paula Canny. Are they this loud trying cases? The last number read? You guessed it — 44. Another big win for Vinnie. —Bryan Lavietes