Jury Selection Set in Peyer Lawsuit

Jury selection will begin today in the wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the parents of college student Cara Knott against Craig Peyer, the former California Highway Patrol officer convicted of her 1986 murder.

Attorneys for the Knott family, Peyer, the state of California and the CHP argued pretrial motions Thursday.

Knott, 20, of El Cajon was found strangled on Dec. 28, 1986. Her body was found below a bridge near the Mercy Road exit on Interstate 15.

Peyer, 40, who became the second CHP officer in state history convicted of killing someone while on duty, is now serving a 25-years-to-life term in state prison in San Luis Obispo.

Peyer, who lived in Poway at the time of his conviction, was found guilty of first-degree murder in 1988 in his second trial after jurors deadlocked 7 to 5 for conviction in his first trial earlier that year.

Superior Court Judge James Milliken asked Thursday for 50 potential jurors to be screened today. They will fill out a questionnaire that includes more than 100 questions.

The wrongful-death suit, which was filed in August, 1987, initially asked $9 million in damages, but the Knotts’ attorney, Brian Monaghan, said Thursday that he has not specified an amount the family will seek.

Peyer is not expected to testify at the trial, although videotapes of him in prison may be played to the jury in the civil case.

The trial is expected to last one month, and evidence presented in Peyer’s two trials may be presented.

The state of California, which is also representing the CHP, is being sued on grounds that the CHP “knew or should have known” about the many complaints by female motorists in 1986 who said Peyer ordered them down the darkened Mercy Road off-ramp during stops for alleged traffic violations.

About 24 women said Peyer guided them down the exit at night and talked to them at length in the isolated area near the slaying site.