Dog Handler Questioned at Peterson Murder Trial

Scott Peterson’s murder trial resumed Wednesday with the cross-examination of a search dog handler who testified that her canine picked up Laci Peterson’s scent at the marina where the defendant launched what he says was a solo fishing trip the day his wife vanished.

Defense lawyer Mark Geragos, as part of his effort to undermine the reliability of the scent-tracking technique, began his cross-examination with questions about how search dogs are trained. Defense lawyers attempted to show Tuesday that the scent-sniffing techniques are based on theory, not science.

Eloise Anderson, a dog handler with the Contra Costa County Search and Rescue team, testified Tuesday that her dog, a Labrador named Trimble, picked up Laci’s scent at a pylon at the marina. Anderson said she brought Trimble to the marina on Dec. 28, 2002 -- four days after Peterson reported his pregnant wife missing -- to assist in the search.