Defense: Police Ignored Tips to Pursue Peterson

As Scott Peterson's double-murder trial entered its 15th week, prosecution witnesses tried to counter defense claims that investigators ignored other tips in the case because they were set on pursuing Peterson as their only suspect.

Investigators testified about a tip that they received about a pregnant woman being held in a rural area in Tracy, California 30 miles from the Peterson's home. They said they followed the lead in the case for four days before deciding it was a dead end.

Under cross-examination by defense attorney Mark Geragos pointed out that the tip about the Tracy location also included the mention of a van. Witnesses reported seeing a van in the Peterson's neighborhood around the time Laci Peterson disappeared and the defense has long claimed Laci could have been abducted by the three men in the van and later dumped her body in the bay because they read of Scott Peterson's highly publicized alibi.

Also Tuesday, testimony returned to the pair of pliers found on Peterson's boat, which contained a strand of hair. Prosecution witnesses said DNA tests show that it is likely Laci's hair.

But under cross-examination, criminalist Sarah Yoshida said he found no blood or tissue on the pliers and she never tested swabs taken from the pliers because they were rusty and showed now signs of recent use.

See AP report: Peterson Testimony Turns to Tips, Behavior, Lack of Blood

Background: The Scott Peterson Trial
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