Judge dismisses jury foreman

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11:50 a.m.:REDWOOD CITY - Scott Peterson’s topsy-turvy murder trial took another turn this morning when the judge abruptly dismissed a second juror in as many days amid signs of misconduct, and directed a reconstituted jury to start deliberations over.

This time, the jury foreman was booted. Gregory Charles Jackson, 46, of Burlingame is a doctor and attorney who kept mostly to himself during more than five months of trial, filling what appeared to be more than a dozen note pads.

Judge Alfred Delucchi noted that he dismissed Jackson “over the objections of defense counsel.” Three alternates remain from the six that began the trial June 1.

The new juror is a retired white man whose daughter’s fiancé briefly worked for Scott and Laci Peterson when they owned a San Luis Obispo restaurant before moving to Modesto. The juror said during jury selection that he never met Scott Peterson; whether his daughter married the defendant’s former employee since jury selection last spring could not be determined.

The new foreman is a firefighter and paramedic who said during jury selection that he aspires to be a captain or chief. He called the media “very often inaccurate and wrong.” He showed little emotion this morning, other than a slight smile while taking his seat.

Other jurors, most of whom wore somber expressions during a sudden juror-swap the day before, smiled as if amused this morning. Many appeared weary, however. They have been sequestered at a hotel and at the courthouse for a week.

The judge gave the newly formed panel the same instructions he read when substituting jurors Tuesday, including admonitions to start over and to base their decision only on what they observed at trial, “and no other source.”

“So, we’ll put you back in the jury room and you’ll begin your deliberations,” the judge said sternly, dropping a file on his desk with a loud slap.

Peterson, 32, could face the death sentence if convicted of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner. His attorneys say someone else snatched her and framed their client.