Yoohoo! Over here! Hello!
If this wasn't the most important day for democracy in forever, you know this would be the top story. So, coming in a far distant second, we bring you...
The Scott Peterson case is going to the jury tomorrow. The prosecution gave its closing statement on Monday and today the defense wrapped up their case. A rebuttal is expected this afternoon with the judge charging the jury tomorrow.
Highlights of closing arguments include the prosecution arguing that Peterson had emotionally killed his wife weeks before he actually killed her and that his primary motivation was to avoid the responsibility of being a father. Because, clearly, being a husband had already been too much for him.
"The reason he killed Laci Peterson was because Conner Peterson was on the way. When it was just Laci, he could do this dual life. When Conner came around, things were going to change.", said prosecutor Rick Disasto.
This afternoon, Mark Geragos argued that jurors certainly could hate Scott for being a philandering liar, but they couldn't convict him of murder because of it. "But if you hate him, then maybe what they're asking you to do is just convict him. Don't bother with the five months of evidence ... don't bother with the fact that the evidence shows clearly that he didn't do this and had absolutely no motive to do this." Geragos used various multimedia elements - televisions with clips of testimony posted on them - in his summation.
Last week, the judge decided the jury could consider second-degree murder as an option to first-degree (carrying the possible death penalty sentence). He also decided that he was not going to allow cameras in the courtroom when the verdict is read, reversing his own earlier decision.
San Mateo County is breathing a sigh of near-relief at it almost being over. What is downtown Redwood City going to do with all the extra parking?
SFist Mary-Lynn, contributing.