Detective's Testimony Ends in Peterson Trial

Craig Grogan, lead detective in the investigation into the disappearance of Laci Peterson, testified that he thought it was suspicious that Scott Peterson rarely inquired about progress in the case, but records produced by defense attorney Mark Geragos on the last day of Grogan's testimony indicated that Scott inquired multiple times a day.

On Wednesday, under rebuttal questioning by prosecutor Biergit Fladager, Grogan said Scott Peterson rarely asked police about progress in the search for Laci Peterson.

"Did he make inquiries on a daily basis?" Fladager asked.

"No," Grogan said.

"Did he make those inquiries on a weekly basis?" she asked.

"No," he replied.

"Would you say he made them on a monthly basis?" Fladager asked.

"That's possible, yes," Grogan said.

On Thursday however, Geragos produced several records indicating that his client inquired multiple times a day.

Stan Goldman, a professor at Loyola Law School, told the Modesto Bee that prosecutors stumbled by introducing that line of questioning.

"By trying to put their best foot forward, they often end up looking like they are trying to mislead the jury," Goldman said. “You can only get away with that a few times before you start losing credibility. They gave Mark Geragos a chance to go, 'Gotcha,' " Goldman said. "And Mark Geragos never misses an opportunity to go, 'Gotcha.' "

See also:
Peterson Didn't Play Golf Because It Was Too Cold
Defendant Rarely Inquired About Case

Background: The Scott Peterson Trial
See Also: More Headline Cases