A judge will allow evidence from a global positioning system (GPS) that was used to track Scott Peterson’s movements before his arrest, says the San Jose Mercury News. Judge Alfred DeLucchi ruled the technique scientifically sound enough to be admitted in the double-murder trial. Peterson, 31, could face the death penalty if found guilty of murdering his 27-year-old wife, Laci, and their unborn son.
The prosecution is expected to use the GPS evidence to show that Peterson made repeated trips by himself to San Francisco Bay to watch divers searching for his missing wife. Prosecutors contend he dumped her body there. The GPS device was used on several of Peterson’s vehicles, without his knowledge, early last year.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos argued that GPS technology had never been certified as reliable in a California trial.
DeLucchi refused to allow testimony from Kristin Dempewolf, who had been hypnotized by a psychologist to determine whether she had been walking in the Petersons’ neighborhood the day Laci Peterson disappeared, Dec. 24, 2002. Prosecutors were expected to use Dempewolf to counter witnesses who said they saw Laci Peterson that day — suggesting they saw Dempewolf.
Link: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/laci_peterson/7979504.htm