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Scott Peterson Trial Suspended Until Monday

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Thu Aug 19, 2004 at 11:46:40 AM EST
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Update: A reporter on Greta's show Thursday night has as good a guess on the delay as I've heard: Geragos wanted to play more of the Amber tapes, the prosecution objected, and the Judge said he has to listen to all the tapes Geragos wants to introduce before ruling. Hence, a three day delay.

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Update: The delay may be related to recorded conversations from police wiretaps rather than those Amber recorded. It may be that when the prosecution learned Geragos sought to play them in court during his cross, the prosecution objected and said it needed more time to investigate. Geragos was seen meeting with DA investigators at the courthouse today.

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Original Post: 8/18, 9:20 pm

Instead of listening to a cross-examination of Amber Frey, the jury in the Scott Peterson trial today was told by the Judge there was a "potential new development" and Amber would not be back on the stand until Monday. He initially said other witnesses would testify Thursday, and then canceled all proceeding until Monday.

Mark Geragos had his projector and powerpoint ready to go this morning. His brother had flown in to hear his cross. Gloria Allred, Amber's lawyer, expressed total surprise at the delay.

So what happened? Hard to say. My best guess:

1. The prosecution complained of surprise resulting from new exhibits or areas of cross examination Geragos disclosed to them this morning that he intended to include in his cross of Amber. Perhaps Geragos' investigators were able to find something such new impeachment from Amber's court testimony, they would not have been able to disclose it earlier.

2. The Court got a tip. Meaning someone called the court and said something that could affect the outcome of the case--probably about Amber Frey. Perhaps someone who knows her read the transcripts of her taped converstions with Scott or a press report of her testimony, and wanted to report some significant aspect of her testimony was false. The court would have advised the lawyers and granted both sides time to check out the new information.

Given the gag order, we can't know for sure. But Judges don't send juries home during murder trials unless there's a really good reason. And usually, the Judge tells the jury the delay is not the fault of either party. There was no such admonition from the Judge today. And no yelling at either party.

Who does the delay favor? I'll guess Scott Peterson.

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