Peterson jurors view graphic autopsy photos

Peterson jurors viewgraphic autopsy photos
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Jurors in the Scott Peterson murder trial winced when prosecutors showed them graphic photos of Laci Peterson's badly decomposed body during testimony from a criminalist who helped collect evidence from the remains.
John Nelson, who works in the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department crime lab, said he was present for the autopsy April 14, 2003, the day Laci's headless body washed ashore along San Francisco Bay.
Among the items obtained from the body for analysis were four hairs, a piece of red plastic, some plant material and a 15-inch-long piece of duct tape, Nelson said.
Nelson also catalogued some of the evidence found near the body -- a plastic tarp, strips of duct tape and a piece of rusty metal.
Award-winning composerGoldsmith dead at 75
LOS ANGELES -- Academy Award-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith, who created the memorable music for scores of classic movies and television shows ranging from the "Star Trek" and "Planet of the Apes" series to "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and "Dr. Kildare," has died. He was 75.
Goldsmith died in his sleep Wednesday night at his Beverly Hills home after a long battle with cancer, said Lois Carruth, his personal assistant.
A classically trained composer and conductor who began musical studies at age 6, Goldsmith's award-dappled Hollywood career -- he was nominated for 17 Academy Awards, won one, and also took home five Emmys -- spanned nearly half a century.
From the clarions of "Patton" to the syrupy theme for TV's "The Waltons," Goldsmith sometimes seemed virtually synonymous with soundtracks.
He took on action hits such as "Total Recall," which he considered one of his best scores, as well as the "Star Trek" movies and more lightweight fare, like his most recent movie theme, for last year's "Looney Tunes: Back in Action." His hundreds of works included scores for "The Blue Max," "L.A. Confidential," "Basic Instinct" and "Chinatown."
Florida landscaper losesarm in alligator attack
SANIBEL, Fla. -- A 12-foot alligator attacked a landscaper Wednesday behind an island home, dragging her into a pond before a neighbor and police officers yanked the woman from the animal's jaws.
"It was kind of a tug-of-war," said the neighbor, Jim Anholt.
Part of Janie Melsek's right arm had to be amputated later during six hours of surgery. She also was severely bitten on her buttocks and thighs, but doctors believe she will walk again, her family said. She remained in critical condition.
Melsek, 54, was trimming a tree when the alligator attacked. "The lady was in the pond and the alligator had hold of her and just her face was showing," Anholt told The News-Press of Fort Myers.
He rushed to help, holding Melsek's neck to help keep her head above water, and three Sanibel police officers tried to get her out of the water.
Rescuers struggled for about five minutes to pull her from the pond. When she came free, medical workers began treating her on the shore.
Police shot the alligator in the head, killing it.
Dogs used in smuggling
LONDON -- A British man and woman face lengthy prison sentences after being convicted Wednesday of trying to smuggle more than two pounds of cocaine in the stomachs of two dogs.
London residents Gregory Graham, 27, and Kaye Chapman, 20, were found guilty of conspiracy to import the drug. Two others were acquitted.
The cocaine was discovered inside Labradors Rex and Frispa at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in September. An X-ray taken after an airport worker thought the dogs were behaving oddly revealed that 21 canisters of cocaine with a value of $232,000 were stitched into the animals' stomach cavities.
Rex recovered, but Frispa had to be put down. A vet found the canisters had fused to her abdominal wall.
Turmoil over toilet
STRATFORD, Conn. -- It was a case of potty rage.
Two men were arrested after a fight broke out over a public toilet.
Andres A. Diaz, 52, was using the bathroom at a Burger King while Joseph Manuel Augusto, 37, waited for his turn Friday night. The two got into an argument when Diaz emerged after what Augusto thought was too much time, police said.
The two men reportedly bumped chests, then chased each other around the restaurant with their weapons -- Augusto was armed with a small razor pocket knife and Diaz brandished a Burger King straw dispenser, police said.
Both men were charged with breach of peace and issued a summons to appear in court on July 27.
Associated Press