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| scott peterson |
Will Scott Walk?
The Trial watchers' verdict -- only in this week's National ENQUIRER -- On Sale Now!
As prosecutors began to wrap up their case, they tried to end any disagreement about the age of Laci Peterson's unborn child Conner at the time of death. ENQUIRER reporter Don Gentile reveals the drama at Scott Peterson's double murder trial in Redwood City, Calif.
Dr. Gregory DeVore, a fetal development expert, calculated Conner's age as 33 weeks plus one day, and estimated the fetus died on Dec. 23, 2002, the day cops believe Scott murdered his pregnant wife.
To do this, DeVore measured a thighbone from Conner's remains, and factored in a projected rate of growth using medical records that included Laci's last menstrual cycle and two ultrasound tests she took.
Scott's attorney Mark Geragos, who claims the baby was born alive and was as old as 38 weeks, tried to cast doubt on the doctor's conclusions, saying he couldn't possibly know the exact date Laci conceived.
"Unless you're there, you can never really know," said DeVore.
The only person alive who was there is Scott, and he is not expected to testify.
A dramatic audiotape played in court revealed that lead Detective Craig Grogan tried his best to get Scott to confess.
Grogan: You and I both know what happened to Laci.
Scott: Do you know what happened to her?
Grogan: We both do ? I mean, let's be serious with one another.
Scott: Craig, tell me what --you know what happened to her. Do you know where she is?
Grogan: Well I know where we're looking for her.
Scott: Where?
Grogan: I think we're probably gonna find her over there in the bay (where Scott went fishing).
Scott: Oh.
Grogan: It's a matter of time? Scott, what I'm offerin' you is an opportunity here to end all of this nonsense? I want the door open between us. If you want to end all of this nonsense--all you need to do is call me, all right? We can sit down. I will not treat you badly. You can tell me what happened. We can get Laci back where she needs to be ? We can end all of this stuff for you -- I mean, think about it. Really.
Scott: I'm not involved in my wife's disappearance.
The tension in court was broken when California Department of Justice Agent Alex Quick took the stand. The court clerk didn't notice that Quick's right hand was in a sling and proceeded to ask the agent to raise his right hand to be sworn in. The jury and court observers erupted in laughter. Quick was not sure what he was supposed to do, until Judge Al Delucchi told him he could raise his left hand instead.
Raising his middle finger in defiance was one of Scott's last acts before his arrest, according to Quick, who was among the law enforcement officers who arrested the fertilizer salesman outside a San Diego golf course on April 18, 2002.
Quick said that law enforcement officers in 10 cars followed Scott that day. Scott did his best to lose his pursuers, taking them on a 160-mile loop from San Diego north to Riverside County and back down to San Diego.
Prosecutor Rick Distaso asked Quick how he knew Scott was aware he was being followed. Said Distaso: "He displayed his middle finger at me."
