Media seek recorded calls in Peterson case
From Chuck Afflerbach
CNN
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Scott Peterson appears in court May 5 with attorney Mark Geragos.
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MODESTO, California (CNN) -- Several news organizations filed motions in Stanislaus County Court Wednesday, to ask for access to wiretapped telephone conversations their reporters had with Scott Peterson.
The motions were filed by representatives of MSNBC and NBC, as well as local television stations like KTVU and its reporter Ted Rowlands, whose motion also requested an immediate hearing on the matter.
Peterson, 30, is awaiting trial on two counts of murder for the deaths of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold told CNN that prosecutors are required by law to inform citizens that their phone conversations may be used as evidence in a criminal trial. He pointed out that the taps were not on the reporters' phones, but were likely intercepts of calls made to Peterson's phone numbers.
CNN has not filed a similar motion at this time, although correspondent David Mattingly was informed Tuesday by the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office that conversations he had with Peterson were recorded.
Judge Al Girolami denied KTVU's request for an immediate hearing and set a June 6 date to hear all the access motions.
In his handwritten decision, Girolami said due to the fact that there would probably be numerous requests for access to the wiretapped conversations, "it would be too disruptive to the parties and the court to handle these outside of the usual noticed motions requirements."
Laci Peterson disappeared December 24, resulting in a massive search that generated national headlines. Laci Peterson's body and that of her unborn child were found washed ashore in early April near the Berkeley Marina, where Peterson said he launched his boat on a fishing trip the day his wife was reported missing.
The Stanislaus County Superior Court authorized three separate wiretaps during the investigation.
Mattingly's letter dated May 2 and signed by Deputy District Attorney Rick Distaso, said Stanislaus County Superior Court authorized a wiretap on January 10 for a period of 30 days.
"During the period covered by the order, communications were intercepted," the letter said.
Rowlands, a frequent panelist on CNN's "Larry King Live," showed CNN two letters he received from District Attorney Jim Brazelton's office Monday regarding the wiretaps. Rowlands was one of two local TV reporters who obtained on-camera interviews with Peterson on January 29.
