News briefs

Peterson trial jury begins deliberations

REDWOOD CITY “”mdash; Jurors began deliberating the fate of Scott
Peterson on Wednesday, more than five months after testimony began
in the trial for the murder of Peterson’s wife and her
fetus.

Judge Alfred A. Delucchi sent the panelists off with lunch into
the jury room after about 45 minutes of instructions. Jurors must
decide whether Peterson killed his pregnant wife and dumped her
body in San Francisco Bay, or was merely a straying husband who was
framed. Delucchi plans to keep the jury sequestered until it
reaches a verdict.

Winding up their case earlier in the day, defense lawyers spoke
fiercely against the notion that Laci Peterson’s fetus died
in her womb.

Lawyer Mark Geragos reminded jurors that authorities never found
the placenta or the fetus’ umbilical cord, leaving little
evidence to determine whether the male fetus was born alive and
killed later.

Compiled from Bruin wire services.