A bridge, a plastic bag could be key to Peterson defense theory
(COURT TV) -- Using dramatic re-enactment photographs, prosecutors illustrated for jurors Wednesday their theory of how Scott Peterson disposed of his pregnant wife's body -- by loading it into his fishing boat and dumping it into the San Francisco Bay.
But the defense has its own theories -- one involving a clear, plastic bag -- according to exclusive information obtained by Court TV.
One theory is that the "real killers" wrapped Laci Peterson's body in plastic and tossed it off the nearby Richmond Bridge.
According to a police report obtained by Court TV's Catherine Crier, a clear, plastic bag was found on the same waterfront where Laci's headless and limbless remains were found April 14, 2003. The body was not far from the Berkeley Marina, where Scott Peterson had launched his boat December 24.
Police tracked the bag -- marked with a "Target Products" emblem -- to a Canadian company that uses the bags to wrap building materials for shipping. Investigation by Modesto, California, police Detective Allen Brocchini revealed the company had used similar bags during an ongoing construction project on the Richmond Bridge.
In the confidential report, Brocchini noted, "It is unknown at this time if this bag has any connection to the deceased female or the deceased infant."
In her on-air report, Crier pointed out that police found duct tape attached to the bag, which was larger than 5 feet by 5 feet by 4 feet and made to contain up to 90 pounds of building material.
"The Canadian company said the tape was not something they would have put there," Crier said, referring to Brocchini's correspondence with the company's general manager.
Neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys questioned Brocchini about the bag during his lengthy testimony last month, but defense lawyer Mark Geragos introduced photographs of the bag into evidence Wednesday while cross-examining a Contra Costa County sheriff's detective.
Geragos did not explain the photo, but has previously indicated he believes Laci's body and that of her baby were never in Peterson's boat.
The remains of Laci's unborn son, whom the couple planned to name Conner, were found about a mile away the day before, April 13, 2002.
Peterson, 31, faces the death penalty if convicted of both murders.
