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Earthquake halts Peterson trial

Detective says Peterson's affairs nothing new


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REDWOOD CITY, California (CNN) -- The double murder trial for Scott Peterson, who's accused of killing his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, was adjourned early Tuesday after an earthquake rumbled through the region, shaking jurors and the judge.

The prosecution this week is winding up its case after several weeks of testimony.

The lead detective in the case riveted jurors Monday when he testified that Scott Peterson had been cheating on his wife since the first year of their marriage.

During questioning by defense attorney Mark Geragos, Craig Grogan revealed that one girlfriend, who didn't know Scott Peterson was married, burst in on the couple while they were in bed.

Scott Peterson is charged with killing his pregnant wife around December 24, 2002, in their Modesto home.

Grogan is to continue his testimony on Tuesday.

Prosecutors contend he dumped her body into San Francisco Bay. The remains of Laci Peterson and their unborn son washed ashore in April 2003, not far from the marina where he launched his boat on Christmas Eve for what he claims was a solo fishing trip.

Peterson faces the death penalty or life without parole if convicted.

Defense lawyers maintain someone else abducted and killed Laci. They argue against the prosecution claim that Peterson likely killed his wife because of his affair with massage therapist Amber Frey. Frey cut off her relationship with Peterson after learning he was married and a suspect in his wife's death.

The Modesto police detective, who interviewed Scott Peterson and others after the murders, also testified Monday that Peterson told another woman he was separated, and she didn't find out he was married until meeting Laci at his college graduation.

The Petersons had been married about five years, and one of her friends had told investigators they hadn't been having sex because of Laci Peterson's pregnancy.

"Now they want to point out that this has happened over and over again, and it was never a motive for murder," said CNN analyst Dean Johnson.

Grogan testified for the prosecution last week and listed several reasons why he believed Peterson killed his wife.

Geragos also disputed the prosecution's suggestion that Scott Peterson's reference to his wife in the past tense was incriminating. According to the defense attorney, Laci's mother, brother and sister did the same thing in media interviews less than a week after Laci disappeared.

Geragos also used police reports in an effort to dispel the prosecution's suggestion Laci Peterson wasn't fit enough to walk her dog the day she disappeared.

The dog was found running loose by a neighbor. The detective testified that early in the investigation Scott Peterson told investigators that his wife planned to walk the dog that morning. And he also said that Laci's mother said she walked the dog every day.

The defense contends she was abducted outside her home.


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