Scott Peterson Death Sentence Overturned

Scott Peterson's death sentence in murder of pregnant wife overturned by California Supreme Court
Laci Peterson and their unborn son, Conner, were killed over 15 years ago



The California Supreme Court on Monday overturned the death penalty sentence for Scott Peterson, convicted in the Christmas Eve murder of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner.

The court's decision came more than 15 years after Laci, a Modesto, Calif., school teacher, was killed. Investigators said Peterson dumped his wife's body from his fishing boat into the San Francisco Bay in 2002. The bodies of Laci and Conner surfaced months later.

While the murder conviction against Peterson stayed in place, the court ordered a new penalty phase trial.


"Peterson contends his trial was flawed for multiple reasons, beginning with the unusual amount of pretrial publicity that surrounded the case," the court found. "We reject Peterson's claim that he received an unfair trial as to guilt and thus affirm his convictions for murder."

SCOTT PETERSON: 'I HAD NO IDEA' CONVICTION IN LACI PETERSON MURDER WAS COMING

However, the court ruled the trial judge in Peterson's case "made a series of clear and significant errors in jury selection that, under long-standing United States Supreme Court precedent, undermined Peterson's right to an impartial jury at the penalty phase."

The court also agreed that potential jurors improperly were dismissed from the jury pool after saying they personally disagreed with the death penalty but would be willing to impose it per California law.

Peterson, now 47, also claimed on appeal that he couldn't get a fair trial because of the massive publicity that surrounded his case, even though his trial was held nearly 90 miles away from his Central Valley home of Modesto to San Mateo County, south of San Francisco.


SCOTT PETERSON: 15 YEARS LATER, A LOOK BACK AT A CASE THAT GRIPPED A NATION

Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager did not immediately say if she would seek the death penalty again.

Peterson has been housed on San Quentin State Prison's death row since he was sentenced to death by lethal injection in 2005.

Peterson's case grabbed national headlines and intense pressure was put on investigators to find her killer. They chased nearly 10,000 tips and considered parolees and convicted sex offenders as possible suspects.

On Dec. 24, 2002, Peterson called his mother-in-law, Sharon Rocha, in the early evening to ask if Laci was with her. He told Rocha he had returned from a day of fishing and when he got home, Laci's car was in the driveway and their dog was in the backyard with his leash on.


The call to Rocha around 5:15 p.m. would set off a chain of events that would move an entire community, which jumped into action to find the missing mom to be. As the days and weeks went on, the search for Laci, who was 8 1/2 months pregnant when she disappeared, became more desperate.

Peterson claimed she was home the morning he left for his fishing trip in the San Francisco Bay and that was the last time he saw her.



Laci's family went on television, pleading for her safe return and for any information to help find her.

"Please bring my daughter home," Rocha asked the public in one news conference.

Attention soon turned to Peterson who has maintained he had nothing to do with Laci's disappearance.

One month after Laci's disappearance, police revealed her husband was living a double life, having an affair with a massage therapist who was living in Fresno by the name of Amber Frey.

SCOTT PETERSON MISTRESS AMBER FREY SUED OVER 'MEMOIRS OF A SEX ADDICT,' 'MYTHS OF THE FLESH'

Frey, a single mother, went to police once she became aware that the man she thought was her boyfriend was quickly becoming a prime suspect in a nationally televised case.

She eventually would go on to wear a wire and helped police record her conversations with Peterson, which would play a key role in the trial.


On April 13, 2003, the body of a baby boy was discovered along the shore of San Francisco Bay. The next day, the body of an adult female wearing maternity clothes was found nearby. The bodies were positively identified as those of Laci and her unborn son Conner.

Peterson was arrested in San Diego just days after the bodies were discovered.


He had dyed his hair blonde, grown a goatee and had many items in his car which led investigators to believe he may have been ready to run.

The double murder trial would take more than a year to begin, but at the end Scott Peterson was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing his wife, and second-degree murder for killing Conner.

Peterson, who pleaded not guilty, has always maintained his innocence.


He had dyed his hair blonde, grown a goatee and had many items in his car which led investigators to believe he may have been ready to run.

The double murder trial would take more than a year to begin, but at the end Scott Peterson was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing his wife, and second-degree murder for killing Conner.

Peterson, who pleaded not guilty, has always maintained his innocence.

Scott Peterson's death sentence in murder of pregnant wife overturned by California Supreme Court

The California Supreme Court on Monday overturned Scott Peterson's 2005 death sentence in the murder of his pregnant wife, Laci, but left the door open for prosecutors to try again for the same sentence.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Howell]

I disagree. He met Amber on 11/20/02. They slept together that very night and stayed the night in a hotel. I wonder how you get away with that with a pregnant wife. He was introduced to Amber by a colleague who, by the way, believed him to be unmarried. This is definitely a man talking out of both sides of his mouth and living a double life. Scott told Amber he was not married.

Laci's due date was Februrary 16th, he slept with Amber the 20th of November on the very first meeting which he sought. He was hardly faithful through the pregnancy and was definitely leading a double life (had of course she lived until delivery of the baby, he would have been for even longer but she died). Scott never went through any 9 months of pregnancy with Laci, not even close and by the last month of her life I doubt he was around a whole lot at all with Amber in the picture...

He likely sat at Thanksgiving dinner that year with family and Laci playing good son/son-in-law/future dad/husband while leading a double life, having met Amber 8 days earlier (or did he even attend?). It is interesting to note too that he met Amber on 11/20/02 and a pregnant Laci was gone on December 24, 2002, such a short time after meeting this new woman... And again, add in first he was not married and then stated his wife was dead and a short time later, she really was. Let's also not forget he blew off a Christmas party he was to attend with Laci to attend one with Amber.

So I respectfully disagree on the double life. He also told Amber he did not want children and was considering a vasectomy. I see your points but to me his doing what he was to do in front of their families means little when coupled with everything else.

I will respond to your other parts separately.

You may have missed my point. By your own calculation, Scott didn't meet Amber until 6 months into the pregnancy. The conversations he had with friends and family, the doctor visits, the Lamaze classes, the building out of the nursery, etc. were taking place before that time; before he ever met Amber. He wasn't leading any sort of "double life" then. Understand?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Quote: "It was an entirely circumstantial case. No direct evidence tied Scott to their deaths. The bodies being found in the Bay is certainly damning at a glance, but it needs to be considered in perspective. They were found months later and miles away from where Scott proved he had been fishing."

Response: Fine, there was the hair in the pliers but it is argued both ways. So we shall call it entirely circumstantial, one of the strongest circumstantial I have seen. I just to refresh myself read an entire list of all they had.

As to the fishing, very damning was Scott told many people he was going to golf on Christmas Eve. Most damning is he told his own uncle shortly after Laci was missing that he WAS golfing. As far as where he was fishing and where they were found months later? What did he prove? He eagerly provided a receipt to prove he was at the Bay and where he parked, that's about it... Not to mention all other sorts of things about fishing, where, why, time of day, etc., that neither family knew he had a boat but also that he was "golfing", not fishing... Innocent people do not need to lie about such things imo.

I am not saying any one thing is enough just touching on each thing we are talking about as part of the entire picture...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Your Quote @Howell "But we have to work with the facts, not speculation. LE(including the FBI) spent months examining the five different crime scenes in this case. They never found a single piece of incriminating physical evidence against Scott, and found zero evidence of clean-up. None. So we can't just dismiss that by saying 'Well, he must've done a good enough job cleaning up..." There's no evidence that he ever attempted to clean up anything."

Response: Not entirely true. The maid had just cleaned and did the floors, etc. with testimony to type of cleaner. They found other cleaner which had to be used shortly after that. Laci was known to be a neat freak and there were a couple of mops sitting, a rag in an odd place on the floor, etc. There were two tarps covered one with fertilizer and one drenched in gasoline, both items used to break down DNA and biological material to keep tracking dogs from picking up a scent.

Nothing direct but all pieces in a very big puzzle of many pieces. Circumstantial cases are legal by the way and often more compelling with one than say only DNA and nothing else.

Just discussing and remembering the case.

 

[GrandmaBear]

You may have missed my point. By your own calculation, Scott didn't meet Amber until 6 months into the pregnancy. The conversations he had with friends and family, the doctor visits, the Lamaze classes, the building out of the nursery, etc. were taking place before that time; before he ever met Amber. He wasn't leading any sort of "double life" then. Understand?

Of course I understand, do you? He was leading a double life before he murdered his wife and son. I don't care if he raked the neighbor's lawn and decorated a nursery for them and everyone on his block. I don't care if he did it in the first months or the ones before she reached full term when he killed her and his unborn son. If fact your argument just shows he played house until he met Amber if you are saying anything he never did for Laci and the baby was before Amber. You have no way of knowing that, gee are you sure he did not buy Connor a little football for Christmas after he met Amber and show his family? How can you be sure that everything was done before Amber who in the midst of the pregnancy he halted all of his efforts for are you saying?? To me that is very damning so I don't see how you think it is an argument at all in his favor.

1. He had at least one colleague believing he was not married, for how long?
2. He told Amber he was not married.
3. He then told Amber he was married but his wife died a year before (hmm sounds like she was dead to him around the time maybe she got pregnant)...
4. He told Amber he never wanted children of his own and was thinking of a vasectomy.

I have a baby in the family killed by her father (he is no one to me) and let me tell you he too got a crib and more and such. It means absolutely nothing. Do you understand that I hope? That's a defense to you? Amber on the other hand and his not wanting children is a very strong possible motive and far more than one thing points to that.

The four things above tied together mean plenty. They are only a small part of it all. And that's without adding his messing around AND actively looking for someone.

Before you say that is not direct evidence I know that but it is part of the big picture. And before you say some of it comes only from Amber, well first there is the colleague as well, and second, Scott Peterson was caught in numerous lies, Amber was not. The jury naturally judged her credible which a jury has every right to do.

Yes, he led a double life which was the original point. They also found two other women prior to Amber, they don't call them girlfriends which likely means one night stands or prostitutes. Double life. Before Amber. It likely was not allowed in. You have no way of knowing what you are stating. With all due respect.

 

[Howell]

Your Quote @Howell "But we have to work with the facts, not speculation. LE(including the FBI) spent months examining the five different crime scenes in this case. They never found a single piece of incriminating physical evidence against Scott, and found zero evidence of clean-up. None. So we can't just dismiss that by saying 'Well, he must've done a good enough job cleaning up..." There's no evidence that he ever attempted to clean up anything."

Response: Not entirely true. The maid had just cleaned and did the floors, etc. with testimony to type of cleaner. They found other cleaner which had to be used shortly after that. Laci was known to be a neat freak and there were a couple of mops sitting, a rag in an odd place on the floor, etc. There were two tarps covered one with fertilizer and one drenched in gasoline, both items used to break down DNA and biological material to keep tracking dogs from picking up a scent.

Nothing direct but all pieces in a very big puzzle of many pieces. Circumstantial cases are legal by the way and often more compelling with one than say only DNA and nothing else.

Just discussing and remembering the case.

It's entirely true. There's not a single piece of evidence to indicate that Scott tried to clean up any of those 5 crime scenes. The blue tarp, which supposedly had spent hours wrapped around Laci's dead body, had not a single piece of forensic evidence on it. No DNA, blood, saliva, hair, nothing. So apparently Scott(the criminal mastermind), unwrapped her body at some point before he dumped it into the Bay, and then thought it wise to bring that same tarp back to his house so it could be found and examined... The boat cover, which supposedly was used as a secondary wrap for the body, had the same amount of evidence on it. Nothing. Scott placed it in his shed when he got home and some gasoline from a leaf blower dripped on it. But of course, we're supposed to believe that was deliberate. He took the time to destroy any possible evidence on the boat cover but left the blue tarp unmolested? Nonsense.

 

[Howell]

Of course I understand, do you? He was leading a double life before he murdered his wife and son. I don't care if he raked the neighbor's lawn and decorated a nursery for them and everyone on his block. I don't care if he did it in the first months or the ones before she reached full term when he killed her and his unborn son. If fact your argument just shows he played house until he met Amber if you are saying anything he never did for Laci and the baby was before Amber. You have no way of knowing that, gee are you sure he did not buy Connor a little football for Christmas after he met Amber and show his family? How can you be sure that everything was done before Amber who in the midst of the pregnancy he halted all of his efforts for are you saying?? To me that is very damning so I don't see how you think it is an argument at all in his favor.

1. He had at least one colleague believing he was not married, for how long?
2. He told Amber he was not married.
3. He then told Amber he was married but his wife died a year before (hmm sounds like she was dead to him around the time maybe she got pregnant)...
4. He told Amber he never wanted children of his own and was thinking of a vasectomy.

I have a baby in the family killed by her father (he is no one to me) and let me tell you he too got a crib and more and such. It means absolutely nothing. Do you understand that I hope? That's a defense to you? Amber on the other hand and his not wanting children is a very strong possible motive and far more than one thing points to that.

The four things above tied together mean plenty. They are only a small part of it all. And that's without adding his messing around AND actively looking for someone.

Before you say that is not direct evidence I know that but it is part of the big picture. And before you say some of it comes only from Amber, well first there is the colleague as well, and second, Scott Peterson was caught in numerous lies, Amber was not. The jury naturally judged her credible which a jury has every right to do.

Yes, he led a double life which was the original point. They also found two other women prior to Amber, they don't call them girlfriends which likely means one night stands or prostitutes. Double life. Before Amber. It likely was not allowed in. You have no way of knowing what you are stating. With all due respect.

What I'm stating is based on the testimony and evidence offered at trial; it's not speculation. Read the trial transcripts. After you've done so, maybe we can have a meaningful conversation. I'm not going to respond to your conjecture.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It's entirely true. There's not a single piece of evidence to indicate that Scott tried to clean up any of those 5 crime scenes. The blue tarp, which supposedly had spent hours wrapped around Laci's dead body, had not a single piece of forensic evidence on it. No DNA, blood, saliva, hair, nothing. So apparently Scott(the criminal mastermind), unwrapped her body at some point before he dumped it into the Bay, and then thought it wise to bring that same tarp back to his house so it could be found and examined... The boat cover, which supposedly was used as a secondary wrap for the body, had the same amount of evidence on it. Nothing. Scott placed it in his shed when he got home and some gasoline from a leaf blower dripped on it. But of course, we're supposed to believe that was deliberate. He took the time to destroy any possible evidence on the boat cover but left the blue tarp unmolested? Nonsense.

You know, in the interest of discussion and keeping threads open, I do agree it was a circumstantial case. I do know some don't see it. I am happy with the jury's decision and concur. You don't have to.

There is a ton of circumstantial evidence and he was stupid to get caught in obvious lies. As for clean-up who knows? It may not have been a violent death by any means. More that did not add up (and there is a ton) is that he named the show Laci was watching and it was on the wrong day... He had time.

I will say I was worried through the trial of the verdict. The bodies floating up in some ways was a blessing although tragic. Without the bodies and Amber it is difficult to say what the verdict would have been, and of course Scott's own inconsistencies and many lies.

To me, when you have too many things you have to explain, I start weighing one way. There can be a few coincidences but when there are tons that have to be disputed, it is another story.

As I have said in other cases, I think your argument is with the system. A circumstantial case is not banned. I suspect you hate jigsaw puzzles with many pieces. When you fit together enough of them, they can create an entire picture or close enough to see the picture without that last missing piece.

However, it most definitely is a case of circumstantial evidence. It seems that is your issue.

 

[GrandmaBear]

What I'm stating is based on the testimony and evidence offered at trial; it's not speculation. Read the trial transcripts. After you've done so, maybe we can have a meaningful conversation. I'm not going to respond to your conjecture.

Then don't. Conjecture is assuming that Scott stopped acting around family like he was into the baby or Laci on November 20th, on a specific deadline in her pregnancy. Later

 

[fran]

Are we talking about the actual sentence or the sentencing, or the the case itself.

YOU ALL REALIZE THE ACTUAL CASE ITSELF IS NOW IN JEOPRADY? RIGHT????????????????

Its not just the sentencing now, it's the whole case, period!

fran

Laci Peterson’s Family ‘Disgusted’ and Blindsided as Court Orders Review of Scott Peterson Conviction: Report​

​

ALBERTO LUPERONOct 16th, 2020, 4:17 pm

The family of murder victims Laci Peterson, 27, and her unborn son Conner are reportedly “horrified and disgusted” after the California Supreme Court ordered a review of the conviction of killer Scott Peterson, 47.

“This was a closed case,” said a source close to Laci’s family, according to PEOPLE. “The family wasn’t moving on, of course, but they were definitely moving forward. Now they’re facing the very real possibility of having to sit through another trial. They’re horrified. They’re horrified and disgusted.”

The appellate team of Scott Peterson said that one of the jurors who convicted the defendant in 2004 did not say in a jury questionnaire that she was the victim of a crime. While pregnant, she had filed a restraining order against her then-boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend. Laci Peterson was eight months pregnant with Conner at the time of the 2000 murders.

The juror in question, Richelle Nice, told The Modesto Bee in a 2017 report that the Peterson case and hers were very different.

The ex “never threatened to kill me, to kill my unborn child, to beat me up,” she said. “When I filled out that questionnaire, my situation never came into my mind because it was not similar at all.”

Nonetheless, now the defense has the prosecution on the back foot.

“Laci’s family is stunned,” said the PEOPLE source. “This juror may be the reason that they have to go through this all over again. It’s a nightmare. They’ve already suffered an unimaginable loss.”

The state has until a Nov. 13 deadline to show a lower court why the conviction should remain in place.

The death sentence had already been overturned after the California Supreme Court determined in August that the trial judge improperly dismissed certain potential jurors who voiced opposition to death penalty. The thing is, according to the court, these potential jurors “gave no indication that their views would prevent them from following the law — and, indeed, specifically attested in their questionnaire responses that they would have no such difficulty.” The state does have the opportunity to retry the penalty phase, but now they have to save the underlying conviction.

A possible retrial for the guilt phase is not even the worst case scenario for Laci Peterson’s family.

“Right now, they’re preparing themselves that there may be another trial,” the PEOPLE source said. “They haven’t even begun to consider what they’ll do if he ever walks free again. It’s just awful for them.”

Scott Peterson’s trial attorney Mark Geragos continues to maintain the defendant’s innocence.

“They’re no way they convict him,” he told Law&Crime Daily co-host Aaron Keller in an interview Thursday. “I just don’t believe that’s going to happen.”

The defense has maintained that some people tried to get on the jury in order to convict their client. Geragos said he had no concerns about Nice back when she was initially an alternate.

Laci Peterson's Family Reacts to Scott Peterson's Conviction Review | Law & Crime

The family of murder victims Laci Peterson, 27, and her unborn son Conner are reportedly "horrified and disgusted" after the California Supreme Court ordered a review of the conviction of killer Scott Peterson, 47.

lawandcrime.com

 

[fran]

I read an article the other day where Michelle Nice said the defense is making more out of this than was there in the first place.
I sure as heck wish she would have brought this up before the trial!!



I feel he's guilty as heck, but OMG if the family has to go through another trial.

JMHO
fran

PS as for Geragos and his showmanship, he's not much of a lawyer if he missed something like this.

 

[Whatsnext]

Maybe I am stupid and missing something, but as far as I know scott cheated on Laci right from the beginning of their marriage, that's leading a double life for me....

 

[fran]

In case there’s any confusion, the sentencing of the death penalty and the actual “conviction” are two separate items.
They already threw out the death penalty and that hasto be retried. Now they have to see if the California is going to throw out the conviction of guilty itself.

Super liberal California holds the key.

fran

 

[GrandmaBear]

Are we talking about the actual sentence or the sentencing, or the the case itself.

YOU ALL REALIZE THE ACTUAL CASE ITSELF IS NOW IN JEOPRADY? RIGHT????????????????

Its not just the sentencing now, it's the whole case, period!

fran

Laci Peterson’s Family ‘Disgusted’ and Blindsided as Court Orders Review of Scott Peterson Conviction: Report​

​

ALBERTO LUPERONOct 16th, 2020, 4:17 pm

The family of murder victims Laci Peterson, 27, and her unborn son Conner are reportedly “horrified and disgusted” after the California Supreme Court ordered a review of the conviction of killer Scott Peterson, 47.

“This was a closed case,” said a source close to Laci’s family, according to PEOPLE. “The family wasn’t moving on, of course, but they were definitely moving forward. Now they’re facing the very real possibility of having to sit through another trial. They’re horrified. They’re horrified and disgusted.”

The appellate team of Scott Peterson said that one of the jurors who convicted the defendant in 2004 did not say in a jury questionnaire that she was the victim of a crime. While pregnant, she had filed a restraining order against her then-boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend. Laci Peterson was eight months pregnant with Conner at the time of the 2000 murders.

The juror in question, Richelle Nice, told The Modesto Bee in a 2017 report that the Peterson case and hers were very different.

The ex “never threatened to kill me, to kill my unborn child, to beat me up,” she said. “When I filled out that questionnaire, my situation never came into my mind because it was not similar at all.”

Nonetheless, now the defense has the prosecution on the back foot.

“Laci’s family is stunned,” said the PEOPLE source. “This juror may be the reason that they have to go through this all over again. It’s a nightmare. They’ve already suffered an unimaginable loss.”

The state has until a Nov. 13 deadline to show a lower court why the conviction should remain in place.

The death sentence had already been overturned after the California Supreme Court determined in August that the trial judge improperly dismissed certain potential jurors who voiced opposition to death penalty. The thing is, according to the court, these potential jurors “gave no indication that their views would prevent them from following the law — and, indeed, specifically attested in their questionnaire responses that they would have no such difficulty.” The state does have the opportunity to retry the penalty phase, but now they have to save the underlying conviction.

A possible retrial for the guilt phase is not even the worst case scenario for Laci Peterson’s family.

“Right now, they’re preparing themselves that there may be another trial,” the PEOPLE source said. “They haven’t even begun to consider what they’ll do if he ever walks free again. It’s just awful for them.”

Scott Peterson’s trial attorney Mark Geragos continues to maintain the defendant’s innocence.

“They’re no way they convict him,” he told Law&Crime Daily co-host Aaron Keller in an interview Thursday. “I just don’t believe that’s going to happen.”

The defense has maintained that some people tried to get on the jury in order to convict their client. Geragos said he had no concerns about Nice back when she was initially an alternate.

Laci Peterson's Family Reacts to Scott Peterson's Conviction Review | Law & Crime

The family of murder victims Laci Peterson, 27, and her unborn son Conner are reportedly "horrified and disgusted" after the California Supreme Court ordered a review of the conviction of killer Scott Peterson, 47.

lawandcrime.com

It is horrible and I did just read this recently and am praying the jury verdict is upheld. It worries me greatly and it is very unfair to Laci's family. I imagine it worries most of the public as well, it does me.

Is Mark Geragos still representing him or are they simply quoting him and talking to him because he was the trial attorney? It is difficult to tell.

Let's pray this does not happen.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Maybe I am stupid and missing something, but as far as I know scott cheated on Laci right from the beginning of their marriage, that's leading a double life for me....

I agree. What he was doing is the definition of a double life to me.

 

[fran]

It is horrible and I did just read this recently and am praying the jury verdict is upheld. It worries me greatly and it is very unfair to Laci's family. I imagine it worries most of the public as well, it does me.

Is Mark Geragos still representing him or are they simply quoting him and talking to him because he was the trial attorney? It is difficult to tell.

Let's pray this does not happen.

As far as I know geragos stopped representing him after the death penalty trial.

We have super liberal appeals court so I’d say 50-50 chance

Jmho
fran

 

[GrandmaBear]

In case there’s any confusion, the sentencing of the death penalty and the actual “conviction” are two separate items.
They already threw out the death penalty and that hasto be retried. Now they have to see if the California is going to throw out the conviction of guilty itself.

Super liberal California holds the key.

fran

November 13th it looks like from the info you provided is the deadline for the State to show why the conviction should stand. I suspect that means it will be some time after that before a decision is rendered.

 

[GrandmaBear]

As far as I know geragos stopped representing him after the death penalty trial.

We have super liberal appeals court so I’d say 50-50 chance

Jmho
fran

So he likely has a public defender then filing appeals and such I am guessing...

 

[fran]

Whoops!! Looks like I was partially wrong!


SCOTT PETERSON

Scott Peterson penalty phase to be retried, prosecutors say​

Peterson will be represented by attorney Pat Harris, who was involved in the original trial with defense counsel Mark Geragos.

STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- 18 years after his wife and unborn son were found washed up and mutilated on the shore of the San Francisco Bay, Scott Peterson is looking at the possibility of his murder conviction getting overturned.

Two months after Scott Peterson's capital sentence was overturned, prosecutors in Stanislaus County said Friday that they will ask for the death penalty again for Peterson, who was convicted in 2004, of killing his wife, Laci Peterson and their unborn son.

Peterson appeared remotely from San Quentin. He was wearing a mask.

Former San Francisco prosecutor, Jim Hammer, covered the Peterson trial on a daily basis as a legal analyst.


"Every death penalty case gets a double and triple scrutiny, so if there's any small error made through all of the appeal processes it will eventually come out and that's what happened in this case," said Hammer.

The California Supreme Court unanimously overturned Peterson's death sentence in August because a judge reportedly dismissed prospective jurors improperly.

However, there's a second issue playing out simultaneously which could result in Peterson's entire conviction getting overturned, making the death penalty issue a moot point.

A juror, Richelle Nice, is being accused of lying her way onto the jury.

SEE MORE AT LINK ..................

Scott Peterson penalty phase to be retried, prosecutors say

The Stanislaus County District Attorney's office announced in court Friday it will retry the penalty phase in the case of convicted murderer Scott Peterson.

abc7news.com

 

[fran]

Oh brother! Here we go again with his empty claims of "I'm innocent."
Good grief! imo

Scott Peterson's murder convictions to be reexamined in San Mateo court​

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- The California Supreme Court has ordered a reexamination of Scott Peterson's murder charges, according to court documents released Wednesday.

Peterson was convicted in 2005 of murdering his 27-year-old wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son.


TIMELINE: How the Laci Peterson case unfolded

Now, a trial judge has been ordered to consider the possibility of overturning Peterson's convictions.

This comes after the court agreed there was a potential issue with a juror, who reportedly committed prejudicial misconduct by not disclosing that she was previously involved in other legal proceedings, including being the victim of a crime herself.


In a brief order, the court sent the case back to San Mateo County Superior Court to determine whether Peterson should be granted a new trial on the grounds that "Juror No. 7 committed prejudicial misconduct by not disclosing her prior involvement with other legal proceedings, including but not limited to being the victim of a crime."

Scott Peterson's murder convictions to be reexamined in San Mateo court

The California Supreme Court has ordered a reexamination of Scott Peterson's murder charges.

abc7news.com

This comes after the state's highest court reversed Peterson's death penalty conviction in August.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Oh brother! Here we go again with his empty claims of "I'm innocent."
Good grief! imo

Scott Peterson's murder convictions to be reexamined in San Mateo court​

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- The California Supreme Court has ordered a reexamination of Scott Peterson's murder charges, according to court documents released Wednesday.

Peterson was convicted in 2005 of murdering his 27-year-old wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son.


TIMELINE: How the Laci Peterson case unfolded

Now, a trial judge has been ordered to consider the possibility of overturning Peterson's convictions.

This comes after the court agreed there was a potential issue with a juror, who reportedly committed prejudicial misconduct by not disclosing that she was previously involved in other legal proceedings, including being the victim of a crime herself.


In a brief order, the court sent the case back to San Mateo County Superior Court to determine whether Peterson should be granted a new trial on the grounds that "Juror No. 7 committed prejudicial misconduct by not disclosing her prior involvement with other legal proceedings, including but not limited to being the victim of a crime."

Scott Peterson's murder convictions to be reexamined in San Mateo court

The California Supreme Court has ordered a reexamination of Scott Peterson's murder charges.

abc7news.com

This comes after the state's highest court reversed Peterson's death penalty conviction in August.

So a trial judge has been ordered to consider it. Or so it sounds. Hopefully, there is not enough to throw anything out. I don't know what they have to look at or consider, but there is no evidence this woman did this intentionally and another juror said she showed no bias in deliberations.

That man is no more innocent than the devil himself imo. He was tried and he was convicted in a consensus.