As the defense rested Tuesday in the murder trial of pediatrician Kevin Anderson, the judge in the case denied a motion for a mistrial based on the conduct of prosecutors.
Pasadena Superior Court Judge Teri Schwartz scolded Deputy Dist. Atty. Marian Thompson, however, for "walking a fine line" with her theatrical style while questioning Anderson. "Ms. Thompson has damaged her case, to be candid," Schwartz said in the jury's absence.
Defense attorney Michael Abzug asked for a mistrial Monday after Thompson asked Anderson whether he thought about the 2-year-old daughter of Dr. Deepti Gupta as he strangled the physician on Nov. 11, 1999, while the two former lovers were parked on Angeles Crest Highway.
Thompson told the judge she believed her questions were appropriate.
Anderson, 41, is accused of strangling Gupta, who was pregnant with his child. Afterward, he allegedly put her body in her car, doused her with gasoline, then pushed the car over a 450-foot cliff.
