ABC19980309.1830.0519
NEWS
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A teenager who was charged along with his former high school sweetheart
with killing their newborn son has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution.
Today Brian peterson pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which carries
a possible ten-year prison sentence, and he has agrowed to testify
for the prosecution at amy grossberg 's, his girlfriend's, murder
trial. by the time Brian peterson walked into court this morning,
he had made his choice -- plead guilty to avoid being tried for murder.
Standing next to his client, peterson's attorney told the court the
19-year-old believed the baby was born dead and that he quickly put
the baby in a plastic bag because amy grossberg told him, "get rid
of it. Get rid of it." He did, dumping the baby in this motel trash
bin. In his plea agreement, peterson promised to testify in the murder
trial of his former girlfriend in may. Brian is not anyone's adversary.
His duty is to testify truthfully if he is asked to do so. but grossberg
may have become peterson's adversary. Recent pretrail motions by grossberg's
attorneys made peterson fear grossberg would testify she thought she
miscarried and tried to put all the blame for the baby's death on
him. Initially, the high school sweethearts remained loyal. As recently
as last June, grossberg told Barbara walters she and peterson would
never turn against one another. Brian and I have a really good relationship.
I care for him a lot. He's a great kid. And that will always -- that
will stay the same. but now, their relationship Seems irrelevant when
compared to the need to save themselves from the threat death sentences
for murder. Antonio Mora, ABC News, wilmington, Delaware.