News
Scott Peterson ordered TV porn after Laci disappeared
Published: Aug 04, 2004 - 08:43 PM
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Jurors will be allowed to hear testimony in Scott Peterson's murder trial that he ordered ''hard-core'' adult television programming in the weeks after his pregnant wife vanished, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos argued that the programs were not relevant, except to ''assassinate his character'' and enflame the jury's passion.
''There is absolutely no foundation that Laci would have approved or disapproved of having the adult programming option,'' Geragos told the judge.
Prosecutors intend to show Laci Peterson had ordered satellite television service in March 2001 without the adult programming option.
But on Jan. 8, 2003, they say, about two weeks after Laci vanished, Peterson changed the account to include the Playboy Channel. He disconnected it on Feb. 18, while authorities searched the Peterson home, they said.
''It's not just the Playboy Channel,'' prosecutor Rick Distaso said. Peterson ordered ''two hard-core channels'' on Jan. 12, Distaso said.
Judge Alfred A. Delucchi said he would allow testimony from a satellite TV company manager regarding Peterson's order. ''The jury can draw whatever inferences they want from that,'' Delucchi said.
Prosecutors allege Peterson killed his wife in their Modesto home on or around Christmas Eve, then drove to San Francisco Bay and dumped her weighted body from his small boat. The decomposed remains of the woman and the couple's fetus washed ashore in April 2003.
''There is absolutely no foundation that Laci would have approved or disapproved of having the adult programming option,'' Geragos told the judge.
Prosecutors intend to show Laci Peterson had ordered satellite television service in March 2001 without the adult programming option.
But on Jan. 8, 2003, they say, about two weeks after Laci vanished, Peterson changed the account to include the Playboy Channel. He disconnected it on Feb. 18, while authorities searched the Peterson home, they said.
''It's not just the Playboy Channel,'' prosecutor Rick Distaso said. Peterson ordered ''two hard-core channels'' on Jan. 12, Distaso said.
Judge Alfred A. Delucchi said he would allow testimony from a satellite TV company manager regarding Peterson's order. ''The jury can draw whatever inferences they want from that,'' Delucchi said.
Prosecutors allege Peterson killed his wife in their Modesto home on or around Christmas Eve, then drove to San Francisco Bay and dumped her weighted body from his small boat. The decomposed remains of the woman and the couple's fetus washed ashore in April 2003.
