Fourth Day of Deliberations in Peterson Trial
WALLACE: The Scott Peterson jury resumes its life and death deliberations today. The panel is being sequestered until they reach a verdict. Today will be their fourth day working behind closed doors. Reporter Gloria Gomez with Sacramento TV station KOVR has covered the Peterson case from day one. She joins us from Redwood City, California. Good morning, Gloria. Thanks for being with us.</s>GLORIA GOMEZ, REPORTER, KOVR TV: Good morning.</s>WALLACE: So, we understand that the jury on Friday afternoon today asked to see Scott Peterson's boat. This is the boat that prosecutors charge he used to dump wife Laci Peterson's body. What's the significance of this request from the jury, Gloria?</s>GOMEZ: Well, I think what they are trying to see mainly is what prosecutors said all along, that Scott Peterson dumped his wife's body out of this boat. But of course, the defense has argued, wait a minute, how do you know that? Because if you dump a body out of a boat or something similar in size, the boat would capsize. And of course, the defense has argued that if you believe he did do that, that Scott Peterson did do that, then why didn't do you a demonstration for the jury. So, clearly, this jury wants to take another look at this boat to see if that's a possibility. And if juror number five, who is a doctor and a lawyer, is in charge of this jury, and he's the foreman, that he'll probably take this jury step by step on that.</s>WALLACE: Yeah, tell us a little bit of jury number -- person number five, the foreperson of this jury. He is a doctor/lawyer, as you said. What do we know about his style, and how is he likely to be leading the deliberations?</s>GOMEZ: Well, I can tell you he takes meticulous notes. I think he has up to 19 notepads. And -- can you imagine? If he goes step by step with this jury, we could be here a while. And he was the only one, when reporters weren't taking notes that some of the information that was coming out of court, he still was taking notes. And so, if he's in charge, then you know he's going to take this jury in a very, very slow, meticulous, calculating way. And of course, that will be interesting to see how long this jury will be deliberating.</s>WALLACE: And Gloria, of course, you have been covering this trial from day one. Now you kind of find yourself involved in some way. The prosecution using a portion of an interview you did with Scott Peterson in his closing arguments. First let's let the viewers listen to a portion of that interview.</s>SCOTT PETERSON, DEFENDANT: Look at my hands. You can see, you know, cuts here on my knuckles, numerous scars. I have -- I work on farms. I work with machinery. I know I cut my knuckle that day.</s>GOMEZ: On what day?</s>PETERSON: On Christmas Eve.</s>GOMEZ: Doing what?</s>PETERSON: Reaching in the toolbox of my truck and then into the pocket on the door. I cut it with my knuckle. There's a blood stain on the door.</s>WALLACE: Gloria, what's the significance here? Why did the prosecution want to show that interview where Scott Peterson is talking about some scrapes on his hand?</s>GOMEZ: Well, mainly because Defense Attorney Mark Geragos really opened the door for that. In his closing argument to the jury, he said there was no evidence of a strangulation. There were no cuts or marks on Scott Peterson's hands. Apparently, he forgot about my interview with Scott Peterson. But the prosecution didn't forget. And as a matter of fact, during their rebuttal case, they said, "We have this videotape. Play for it the jury." So, this was really the last thing the jury saw before they went into deliberations. And Scott Peterson, you know, basically said to me that, yeah, I cut myself that day. I mean, I didn't even really prompt him on that day, but he brought it up himself. He volunteered the information. So, that was clearly an indication. Of course, Rick Distaso, who is a prosecutor in this case, he really demonstrated for the jury at the very end. He says, you know, "And that's why these marks were on his hand, because he was strangling Laci. And as he was strangling her, she was fighting for her life and she scratched him." And that was a very, very dramatic moment for the jury.</s>WALLACE: Gloria Gomez, we have to leave it there. Another day of deliberations beginning today. Thanks so much for being with us.</s>GOMEZ: Thank you.</s>HEMMER: Back to Iraq now, where thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops are amassed in the desert, bracing for the long-awaited offensive against Falluja. War planes artillery overnight hammering insurgent targets ahead of the expected assault. Lieutenant Colonel Pete Newell is a commander with Task Force 22 with the 1st Infantry Division. He is near Falluja. He joins us by way of videophone. And sir, we want to say thank you for your time at such a busy time. But update our viewers -- by my watch, it's about 3:00 in the afternoon there. What's happened overnight and in the hours so far today on Monday?</s>HEMMER: Lieutenant, do you believe Zarqawi is in that town? Lieutenant, I'm going to try it again, if we can keep did the line open here. And again, we just ask our viewers to be patient with us for a moment here. Do you believe Zarqawi is inside the town of Falluja, sir?</s>NEWELL: I have no idea. He could be anywhere.</s>HEMMER: You were quoted as saying over the weekend, "We're going to start at one end of the city, and we're not going to stop until we get to the other." Explain to us what you mean by that, from a military standpoint, going into that town?</s>HEMMER: We are told two bridges that cross the river on the western edge of the town were taken over the weekend. A hospital in that same area was taken, as well. Why do you believe this hospital was so critical to your operation?</s>NEWELL: You know,</s>HEMMER: One more question while we have you: How many insurgents, do you believe, are inside the town?</s>NEWELL: We've heard anywhere (ph) from a couple of hundred to 1,200 to 1,500 to more than that. It's really difficult to give that an answer.</s>HEMMER: And can you give us a better understanding of the role that Iraqi forces are playing in this operation?</s>NEWELL: Actually, the Iraqi Intervention Force are really the important part of this operation. There's some things that they do that we just can't do. And their job is to get in, establish a rule of law, establish a rapport with the people of Falluja will return Falluja to a city that is ready for the Democratic process.</s>HEMMER: Lieutenant Colonel Pete Newell with the U.S. Army, Task Force 22 1st Infantry Division near Falluja, by way of videophone. And we thank you for speaking with us today. And if you get more information, we'll put you on the air whenever you have it. Thank you, sir, again -- Kelly?</s>WALLACE: Thanks, Bill. Fascinating interview. Still to come, as you saw in that interview, the circle is tightening around Falluja as the clock ticks down to an all-out ground assault. And a battle has broken out over Yasser Arafat's money. He may be worth billions, but who gets the money? And by the way, where is it? Stay with us. That's all right here on AMERICAN MORNING.