Mark Geragos and Scott Peterson
Al Golub/REUTERS/Landov
"I hate to tell you this ... but we've got some problems that have arisen here. Some legal issues have come up," Judge Alfred A. Delucchi told jurors, according to the Associated Press. "I'm going to have to continue the case."
Before making his announcement, the judge, who did not specify the reason for the delay, met with Peterson's attorneys and the prosecution in his chambers for more than half an hour. Legal experts speculated to the San Jose Mercury News that the meeting was probably held to discuss a defense motion to dismiss the case outright. Though such a gesture is common at the beginning of defense cases, it is likely to be rejected.
"I regret doing this to you, it's like pulling teeth for me," Delucchi said. "This is not being done in a frivolous way."
The jurist also informed jurors that closing arguments in the case should be presented Nov. 1 and 2, and that they should be ready to deliberate on Nov. 3.
Prosecutors allege that Peterson, 31, killed his pregnant wife Laci on or around Christmas Eve, then dumped her into San Francisco Bay. The body of Laci and her unborn child washed up about four months later, not far from where the fertilizer salesman claims to have been fishing alone the day his wife vanished. Peterson has pleaded not guilty.
