# New Flash! Laci Peterson KilledBy satanists! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 16, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660 "2003-05-16T12:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/121 "2003-05-30T03:03:57Z")
Sorry **Zenster,** I missed that bit. I only briefly scanned the article and thought it might be of interest to some posters here. Apologies if I misled anyone. It was unintentional. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/122 "2003-05-30T04:02:14Z")
Not to fear, **Goo**. If Scottie really is guilty, then he should fry _very_ slowly. I too had the same thoughts as you when I read that article. However, when I saw the caveat, I wanted to make sure it was posted here for accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/123 "2003-05-30T10:17:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _Incidentally the name translates to mean “Witch Hammer”._ I’ve also heard “Mallet Against Malefactors” as an acceptable translation of \Malleus Maleficarum\, as it retains both the condemnation and the aliteration of the original while re-establishing the colloquial feel of the Latin title. Works either way, though; both titles make it clear that this is not something from the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/124 "2003-05-30T10:38:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zabali\_Clawbane \* > The third part tells how to prosecute witches in the courts. It states that it is perfectly acceptable to listen to testimony from an accused’s “mortal enemy”. :eek: In US courts today, it is perfectly acceptable to listen to testimony from the accused’s “mortal enemy.” - Rick ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/125 "2003-05-30T15:04:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dragonstar \* > \*\*She was mentally ill and hearing voices … \*\* And so was Abraham, right? 😕 When the voices tell you to do something, how can you tell whether you’re mentally ill or hearing the voice of God? I imagine that one would work under the presumption that one is hearing the voice of God; after all, one can only suffer finite punishment at the hands of man for disregarding man’s law, but one can suffer infinite punishment at the hands of God for flouting His instructions. It’s a simple cost-benefit analysis … ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/126 "2003-05-31T01:45:17Z")
Bricker that may be, however, the testimony that was given at “witch trials” was things like “I saw her calling to satan to send a plague to this village.” or “She stole my seed from me while I slept.” or “I saw her having relations with a demon.” or even “She sent an illness to my crops, livestock and myself.” The testimony that was accepted was not only outrageous because it could not be proven one way or the other, but because the people who testified were often actively trying to acquire the accused’s lands. If the accused were convicted/executed the “mortal enemy” would be able to get the lands, and even all the person’s possesions for a pittance. That’s why it was so wrong. The “mortal enemie’s” testimony was treated as being “gospel truth” and nothing the accused could say would “erase” it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660.md?page=6)