Reply #159: Forensic pathologist shocked at death sentence.

[moondust]

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_283079.html

~snip~

"(There was a) complete absence of physical evidence," he said. "I never would have thought there would be a death penalty verdict.

"Somewhere along the line it is clear to me that not only was the jury lost to the defense, but the jury became hostile to the defense."

Absent any physical evidence, Wecht said, the jurors had to imagine Scott Peterson premeditated the murder, transported Laci Peterson's body to a dock, loaded it on a boat and dumped it in the sea -- all without leaving any physical evidence for investigators to find.

Given the advanced forensic techniques available to modern investigators, "This is not so easily accomplished," Wecht said.

Wecht made two visits to California, performing autopsies on the bodies of Laci Peterson and her unborn child, reviewing all the evidence with detectives and visiting Peterson's home and the site where the bodies were discovered. Wecht did not testify because there was no physical evidence to discuss.

~more~


Authoritarian times indeed.