"Legal" Jury Tampering?

[Triple7's]

Does anyone find it disturbing that the judge in the peterson trial appeared to replace jurors that were stubborn and may have believed in his innocence, or lack of evidence, with jurors that would not go "against the flow" and be willing to convict him to prevent a hung jury?.
Do you think he folded under public pressure or believed he was guilty and "wanted" to see him cooked?
I'm not judging scott peterson's guilt or innocence either way, and, after the press relentlessly pounded the case, the guy never had a chance anyway.
Then the verdict, which came almost instantaneously after the foreman was replaced. 1st on lacey, 2nd on the fetus?
Seems to me if you premeditate one, you premeditate both.
I used to think if I ever was accused of a serious crime, I would prefer a trial by judge, not jury. I'm not so sure now?
What do you think of the way the whole trial was handled?

[jerryctx]

Peterson's attorneys plan to appeal. I'm sure the judge's actions will be a basis for the appeal if they were out of order (and I don't know though I found it surprising).

[DuaneB]

As I understand one of the removals:

One of the jurors told the other jurors that she had been "researching the case" on the internet. This was after the judge had told the jurors that they were to consider only information presented during the trial.

[Welshjim]

Not quite the same "tampering" but a good movie about manipulating trials
Runaway Jury
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313542/

[SuperSparks]

For those of us outside the US, can someone explain what it's all about or post a link please? I haven't heard anything about it on this side of the pond.

[Welshjim]

SuperSparks--A young handsome man, a beautiful wife, pregnant in her eighth month. Sad
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/13/national/13peterson.html?oref=login
(you may need to login in to see this, but log in is free.
Or my local paper
http://www.abqjournal.com/cgi-bin/a1pdf.pl

[DuaneB]

Here's the Reuters story.

Scott Peterson Found Guilty, May Get Death Penalty
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6803013

[BIG JOHN]

Originally posted by SuperSparks
For those of us outside the US, can someone explain what it's all about or post a link please? I haven't heard anything about it on this side of the pond.

You are very lucky, thats all we have heard about the last six months. BJ

[OilPatch197]

I feel he is INNOCENT, and the jury was rigged.

[Nix]

For those of us too lazy follow the links let alone read all about it, can some summarise in a couple of paragraphs.

Sorry it's late and I've had a few beers.

[techallenged]

now he's convicted, what do you think about the sentence he may or may not get?

The Death Penalty (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4093753.stm) or not? Should it be in the hands of the jury.

Is the jury only there to weigh up the facts and conclude guilty or not guilty, or do you think they should have a say in the sentencing as well?

[Ridgerunr]

Regardless of what they finally 'do' with this guy. How much of the taxpayers money do you suppose will be spent on this "media bloated" debacle?! :confused: :rolleyes: :mad:

[DuaneB]

California has 641 people on death row. With the state executing less than one condemned person a year, ``it's overwhelmingly likely that Peterson will die of old age in prison before being executed,'' CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said on the cable TV broadcast.

[ylen13]

The first jury was removed for cause and I see no jury tampering there. The second jury which was "jury spokesman" was removed and no one has any idea why, he was lawyer/doctor and seems to be holding out on guilty verdict. As soon he was replaced guilty verdict was reached by jury. Regarding appeal, from listening to different layers on TV the consensus are that he will not win on appeal and will be executed; only time will tell us what will happen

[Calpitor]

Originally posted by DuaneB
California has 641 people on death row. With the state executing less than one condemned person a year, ``it's overwhelmingly likely that Peterson will die of old age in prison before being executed,'' CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said on the cable TV broadcast.

At least that's something Texas does better. Only 444 on death row and 19 executed in the past year.

Of course not even Texas can hold a candle to China. The condemned are summarily shot once judgement is handed down providing the victim's family is willing to pay for the bullet. Now there's justice in action.

[Abhoth]

Can't follow the link!? Oh come on...! ;-) In a nutshell...

Scott and Laci Peterson: Youngish couple expecting their first child. Laci was 8 months along. Good looking couple and to all around them, family included, very happily married...

Laci goes missing last Christmas eve? Yeah, think that's right... close enough. So, Scott pleads on the local and national news for info and her return for the next 3 to 4 months... blah blah blah.

But then, her body washes up on the beach. You see, the morning she went missing he had gone fishing. How about that, body washes up in the same are as he went fishing... baby also is found a few days later near the same area. Things have gone bad for Mr. Scott...

He's apprehended trying to skip town and oh yeah, he was having an affair etc. etc. etc.....

As far as the trial, I did not follow it much.... other than the highlights on the news. And of course today...
Do I think he's guilty? Yes...

But, my opinion is irrelevant... it was a circumstancial (sp.?) case and he's never admitted guilt. But he's also acted more like a guilty man throughout the entire thing as opposed to an innocent man who's lost his wife and child.

As far as jury tampering, or whatever you wish to view it as... I view it differently. There was nothing improper in my eyes and I believe our justice system did an excellent job.

The interview with 3 of the 12 jurors after the guilty verdict was very enlightening... primarily from the standpoint of how seriously they took this duty they had been charged with. It is not an easy thing to find a person guilty and then recommend the death penalty. And this has not been an easy thing for them and as they all said, it's something that has changed all of their lives. Not necessarily for the better mind you! ;-)

It's a very high profile case and it's a very sad case... no winners in this on any side of whatever coin you're flipping. It'll be a hard Christmas for those close to this case.

[DuaneB]

Originally posted by Ridgerunr
How much of the taxpayers money do you suppose will be spent on this "media bloated" debacle?!

Stanislaus County has not released their budget for State v. Peterson but it is believed that the final tally will exceed two or three million. Appeals could double that amount. The State of California will reimburse the county for a large portion of those costs.

[JKB]

The jurors will be inundated with books deals; the prosecutors have effectively secured their political careers; at least one of the media giants will release a made for TV movie about the case - probably several; Court TV and other media outlets made a ton of money on this trial; there will be a Laci Peterson foundation of some kind; Amber frey will also get a book deal or more; and the list goes on and on.

Other than the two families, the only loser in this media circus is Scott Peterson's lawyer.

The parasitic nature of all of this is disturbing.

[Calpitor]

Originally posted by JKB
Other than the two families, the only loser in this media circus is Scott Peterson's lawyer.

Hmmm seems to me Scot Peterson comes out of this a loser too. ;)

[Abhoth]

Good point Calpitor, brought a smile so had to say it out loud!

And I really don't see it as a winner/loser situation... dollars and book deals do not winners make.

[JKB]

Originally posted by Calpitor
Hmmm seems to me Scot Peterson comes out of this a loser too. ;)

Yes, it's always good to point out the obvious ;)

[mackrich]

Scottie boy got what he deserved...they will just LOVE him in Quentin...just like he loved his wife and un-born child. He's barely scum. At least he had a trial.

[Calpitor]

Originally posted by mackrich
Scottie boy got what he deserved...they will just LOVE him in Quentin...just like he loved his wife and un-born child. He's barely scum. At least he had a trial.

WOW!!! Such anger and so close to Christmas. Doesn't sound like too tough a job to predict who will be getting a lump of coal in their stocking on Saturday. ;) And very big BAH HUM BUG to you as well. :D

[mackrich]

What? The truth hurt? I call'em as I see them....What's Christmas got to do with it? Are you wishing Scottie boy a Merry Christmas? It's a shame he wasn't convicted in China. He deserves to lose...Try praying for the victims.

OH, OH, OH...:)