Inside scoop

--Compiled by the Daily Pilot staff

The media and spectators played musical chairs in the courtroom at the

murder trial of Eric Bechler, who is accused of killing his wife, Pegye,

off Newport Beach more than three years ago.

The tiny room barely had enough chairs for about 25 people. Eager

spectators arrived minutes before the doors opened the day Bechler was

expected to testify.

People reserved their prime spots with newspapers or handbags to make

sure they didn’t lose their spot.

As one reporter put it: “Looking for a place to sit? Yeah, you can

take any seat except mine.”

PROSECUTOR, DEFENDANT ENGAGE IN TETE-A-TETE

Deputy Dist. Atty. Debora Lloyd and Bechler had an interesting

repartee or two during cross-examination.

Lloyd was questioning Bechler about thousands of dollars his wife

loaned him during the last six months before she disappeared on July 6,

1997.

Bechler: “Yes, I borrowed the money for business. I was going to repay

her. I knew she wasn’t going anywhere.”

Lloyd: “Yeah, not for a while.”

Lloyd also grilled Bechler about why their rented boat didn’t have any

crumbs or spilled snacks on board if the ride was rough and they were

eating snacks.

Bechler: “We’re fastidious . . .”

Lloyd: “Fastidious?”

Bechler: “Yes. We had good manners. We didn’t spill food.”

Asking about the day Pegye disappeared at sea, Lloyd asked Bechler to

remember how she was sitting on the boat right before she fell off, as

Bechler claimed she did.

Lloyd: “So was she straddling, sitting or standing?”

Bechler: “I don’t remember exactly how she was sitting . . .”

Lloyd: “Is that because she wasn’t sitting on the boat or pulling you

when she disappeared?”

Bechler: “That’s not true.”

Bechler’s cross-examination will continue today.