Given the intense scrutiny that attorney mark geragos had to expect, it is mindboggling that he told the media that he was going to prove scott peterson stonecold innocent and that the defense team would attempt to find the real killer. There were things that mark geragos could have done better, scott s sisterinlaw janey peterson said when discussing their 200page petition with 10 news. Mark geragos a celebrity lawyer who has also worked highprofile cases for michael jackson, winona ryder, and congressman gary condit proclaimed his client stone cold innocent in court. Mark geragos, from celebrity lawyer to alleged unindicted. Scott peterson was convicted primarily because of what we call demeanor evidence.
Defense attorney mark geragos joins rebecca fearing with an intuitive look at the scott peterson casethen mark is. In his wrapup appearance in the scott peterson doublemurder trial, defense attorney mark geragos provided the jury with a brief set of instructions in which he stressed that if there are two. The badly decomposed remains of laci and the couples fetus washed ashore in april 2003, not far from where peterson said he went on a solo fishing trip the day. Michael jackson accused of child molestation chris.
I picked up a copy of his book then and had him autograph it but never actually got around to reading it until i got sucked into this new scott peterson documentary series. Scott peterson is incarcerated in san quentin state prison, and if unsuccessful in his appeals, this is where he will most likely be executed. Mark geragos born on october 5, 1957 is a lawyer who has defended such people as popstar michael jackson,gary condit, susan mcdougal who was allegedly involved in the whitewater scandal, also involving former us president bill clinton and actress winona ryder. Dec 10, 2018 in a new habeas corpus brief released this week in connection with scott petersons 2004 murder conviction, attorney mark geragos is accused of botching the trial, which ultimately led to infamous killers death sentence in connection with his deceased wife, laci peterson, and their unborn son, conner. More from mark geragos at the center of so many big trials, michael jackson, scott peterson, chris brown, all hired geragos to get them out of legal trouble and the same defense. An inside look at how the criminal justice system works. Daltons book points out inconsistencies in the prosecutions case such as witnesses claiming to see laci alive after the time when scott. Brief that aims to get scott peterson off death row blames. Scott peterson, left, and defense attorney mark geragos at a hearing in modesto on dec. Geragos told talk show host larry king of cnn, absolutely, i considered putting scott on. Aug 08, 2017 there were things that mark geragos could have done better, scott s sisterinlaw janey peterson said when discussing their 200page petition with 10 news. Scott peterson s lawyer conceded wednesday that his client was a cad who twotimed his pregnant wife, but he insisted the fertilizer salesman was stone cold innocent of. Jun 08, 2005 in another new development, scott petersons lawyer, mark geragos, says he considered putting his client on the stand during the famous murder trial. Meet the true believers who say he didnt kill laci from investigation discovery.
The guys talk about the scott peterson case, and mark explains how he ended up representing him. For lawyer, its michael jackson on line 1, scott peterson. He was the attorney for scott peterson and michael jackson. The guys talk about the scott peterson case, and mark explains how he. Caught up in avenatti scandal, mark geragos finds himself.
The author, a lawyer, visited scott dozens of times after he was sentenced to death. Scott peterson, left, and defense attorney mark geragos at a hearing in. In his opening statement, geragos conceded that scott peterson may have been a cad and a bit boorishafter all, he admits cheating on laci with girlfriend amber freybut argued that this does. Peterson sues former lawyer over book us news crime. Based on how people on the radio described him youd think he breathed fire. Mark geragos and pat harris wrote a book mistrial that every conscientious citizen should read. Transcript for mark geragos, bad boy defender news stories captivate the public more than reports that stars may have done something wrong.
Mar 26, 2019 mark geragos has been at the center of some of the most sensational cases, from michael jackson to colin kaepernick. Daltons book points out inconsistencies in the prosecutions case such as witnesses claiming to see laci alive after the time when scott supposedly killed her, and a rash of crimes. My daughter is a 2l in law school and very interested in criminal defense. Scott peterson is attempting to stop the publication of a book written by a lawyer who was kicked off his case for violating a judges gag order.
I am no fan of scott peterson nor his behavior, but i am a fan of evidence and i am a fan of process. By many accounts, this was not the spectacular finish most expected from scott peterson s defense attorney, mark geragos. Nov 24, 2005 scott peterson is attempting to stop the publication of a book written by a lawyer who was kicked off his case for violating a judges gag order. Perhaps loudest among them is petersons original defense team. Geragos represented peterson, now 43, in the blockbuster 2004 trial that ended with the modesto man sent to death row for the. Aug 06, 2004 mark geragos, attorney for scott peterson, right, is greeted by crime book author aphrodite jones as he leaves the san mateo superior county court with jackie peterson, the mother of scott. Dec 24, 2017 scott peterson is still fighting and thats his right to do as a death row inmate in california, but for laci petersons family, justice was served when scott was convicted of her murdera. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Geragos, despite loss, still likely to remain a hot. As peterson attorney mark geragos says in the murder of laci. Attorney mark geragos 79 on his new book about the. Mistrial goodreads share book recommendations with. He has defended numerous celebrities, including michael jackson, mike tyson and winona ryder, and appeared as a legal analyst on cnn, fox and abc. Modesto, california court tv when scott peterson s family hired mark geragos as his lawyer, they set him apart from nearly all other capital.
In 2004, he was convicted of the firstdegree murder of his pregnant wife, laci peterson, and the seconddegree murder of their unborn son, conner, in modesto, california, and in 2005, he was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Well known for representing celebrities and clients on highly publicized cases, in 2004 he represented scott peterson, who was accused of killing his wife in modesto. He is a producer and actor, known for notorious 2016, you be the judge. Peterson, who is not related to either laci or scott peterson, testified that the fetus had not been born before lacis death and was instead expelled from her decaying body. Michael jackson, pop star accused of child sexual abuse, and scott peterson. According to court documents obtained by the modesto bee, defense. Proving that famed defense attorney mark geragos botched scott peterson s highprofile 2004 doublemurder trial could be the modesto mans best chance at leaving death row, his latest appeal.
Attorney geragos bungled scott petersons 2004 murder. Frequent tv commentator hired by scott peterson s family. He also represented scott peterson, a fertilizer salesman who was convicted of fist. Laci denise rocha peterson 19752002 find a grave memorial. Scott lee peterson born october 24, 1972 is an american convicted murderer who is currently on death row in san quentin state prison. Geragos s crushingly busy calendar in the courtroom earned him a rebuke by a judge in an embezzlement case geragos was also representing. Scott peterson sues former lawyer over book nbc news. Dec 15, 2004 file scott peterson, left, and attorney mark geragos listen during prosecution rebuttal to the defense closing arguments in redwood city, calif.
Then he tearfully confessed that he had lied to her, saying he was. Michael jackson in the early stages of the michael jackson molestation case, geragos simultaneously handled that case as well as scott peterson s case, two of the bestknown u. There were things that mark geragos could have done better, scott s sisterinlaw janey peterson said when discussing their 200page petition with 10. For the prosecution of scott peterson, first he told frey he was looking forward to settling down, but hadnt found the right person.
Mark geragos represents two of most attentiongrabbing criminal defendants in country. There wasnt any evidence in this case, attorney mark geragos, interviewed at length for the movie, told a large crowd at the. Harris has served as cocounsel with mark geragos on numerous other highprofile matters, including the cases of susan mcdougal, scott peterson, michael jackson, and barry bonds trainer, greg anderson. Peterson s highprofile lawyer, mark geragos, said wednesday that he would offer evidence contradicting every element of the prosecution theory that. It is well written, entertaining, and enlightening. Apr 11, 20 the authors use portions of the book to suggest that peterson and other clients found guilty are probably innocent. Mistrial by mark geragos and pat harris blog tour and book. Laci petersons murder is solved, but heres why the case. The confession of scott peterson finally provides the answers all america has sought since 27yearold lacis body washed up in san francisco bay in 2003.
Laci petersons mother writing book, geragos talks about scott. Tonight, scott peterson s defense attorney, mark geragos, finally breaks his long silence. Modestos scott peterson was convicted by police with. Its his first live, indepth interview since peterson was sent to death row, how did you get the peterson case. These sections occasionally come across as selfserving, although geragos and harris offer littleknown details that, at the very least, signal reasonable doubt. On november 12, 2004, despite a vigorous defense from his high profile defense attorney, mark geragos, scott peterson was convicted on both charges and a month later, sentenced to death. I first heard of mark geragos when i was in junior high. Scott peterson finally confesses national enquirer. Geragos ended peterson s defense tuesday, not with a. Jury finds scott peterson guilty of murdering his wife laci and their unborn child in 2002. Scott peterson was charged with the murder of his pregnant wife laci denise peterson and their unborn son conner peterson, who disappeared sometime between dec. Since my obsession with the scott peterson trial, i have followed mark geragos career and was interested to hear him speak at a local bar function a couple years ago.
Laci petersons murder is solved, but heres why the case won. Jury finds scott peterson guilty of wifes murder the. Calling out laci peterson with audio from the afterlife. Ive always admired mark for his calm clear presence when interviewed by larry king or anderson cooper.
Years later i see that he has a podcast with adam carolla and surprisingly enough he is very smart and funny. The author, a lawyer, visited scott dozens of times after he. Mistrial share book recommendations with your friends, join. Mark geragos, attorney for scott peterson, right, is greeted by crime book author aphrodite jones as he leaves the san mateo superior county court with jackie peterson, the mother of scott. File scott peterson, left, and attorney mark geragos listen during prosecution rebuttal to the defense closing arguments in redwood city, calif. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mistrial. The court will allow the public defender to be relieved in this matter and mr. Peterson began an affair with amber frey, a massage therapist, a month before he killed his wife. Scott peterson is still fighting and thats his right to do as a death row inmate in california, but for laci peterson s family, justice was served when scott. Defense lawyer mark geragos pointed out that police also found out that peterson had gathered information about fishing.