Scott Peterson, who was convicted of first-degree murder of his pregnant wife and second-degree murder of their unborn son in 2002, is currently serving out his conviction in San Quentin State Prison. Recently, the Los Angeles Innocence Project has taken up his case and is seeking new evidence that could potentially set him free.
Why was Scott Peterson on trial?
The San Diego native was accused of murdering his wife and unborn child after she was reported missing in December 2002. Peterson’s arrest came in April 2003 when the remains of a woman and fetus were found on the shoreline of the San Francisco Bay, not far from where he claimed to have been on Christmas Eve when she went missing. During the trial, it was revealed that Peterson had been having an affair with a massage therapist named Amber Frey, who testified that he had lied to her about being a widower. The prosecution argued that Peterson used the same cement from his driveway to make anchors that sunk his wife’s body in the bay.
How long was Scott Peterson’s trial?
Scott Peterson’s trial took place from July 1, 2004, to November 12, 2004. After a week of deliberation and the replacement of two jurors, he was found guilty of the murders of his wife and unborn son. As a result, Laci’s mother was awarded the $250,000 life insurance policy that Peterson had taken out on her.
Recent developments
In August 2020, Scott Peterson’s death sentence was overturned by California’s Supreme Court due to unfair sentencing and impartial jury selection. The California Supreme Court then ordered a reexamination of Peterson’s case after it was discovered that one of the jurors had not disclosed their involvement in other legal proceedings. A hearing was set for September 2021 to determine if there was juror misconduct and if Peterson should be granted a new trial. However, due to the pandemic, the decision was delayed until December 2022 when a judge denied Peterson’s request for a new trial.
On January 18, 2024, it was announced that the Los Angeles Innocence Project had taken up Peterson’s case and is seeking new evidence from the original trial to potentially prove his innocence. Peterson himself has filed a petition claiming juror misconduct and presenting “new evidence” that supports his innocence. The Los Angeles Innocence Project provides pro bono legal services to incarcerated individuals who may have been wrongfully convicted.
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