http://www.click2houston.com/news/4...ak&ts=T&tmi=hou_natlbreak_7213_12060303162005 Scott Peterson Sentenced To Death Judge Confirms Jury's Recommendation Of Death Penalty POSTED: 10:31 pm CST March 15, 2005 UPDATED: 12:09 pm CST March 16, 2005 REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Scott Peterson has been officially sentenced to die.. A judge confirmed the recommendation of the death penalty that came from the jury that convicted Peterson in the deaths of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son. Shackled at the waist, Peterson entered the courtroom in Redwood City Wednesday to learn his fate. A jury recommended the death sentence for the convicted killer, but it was up to the judge to make the final decision. Ten of the 12 jurors who sentenced him to death were present for the formal sentencing hearing. He was convicted in November in the deaths of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son. There was heavy security in the San Mateo County Superior Court. Peterson was wearing a dark suit. Prior to imposing the death sentence on Peterson, Judge Alfred A. Delucci denied his attorneys' request for a new trial. Defense lawyer Mark Geragos contended that Peterson's telephone calls to his mistress, Amber Frey, should not have been used at trial. Geragos said Peterson never implicated himself in the crime during the calls and that authorities should not have tapped his phone. Peterson's lawyers also argued that newly discovered evidence could have brought a different verdict. They accused prosecutors of withholding key evidence that a state prison inmate claimed to have information about Laci Peterson's disappearance. The inmate said he was told the pregnant schoolteacher had interrupted a burglary at a neighbor's home. Peterson's attorneys claimed that information was buried in thousands of pages of documents. Prosecutors countered that the defense simply missed the details in its haste to take the case to trial. Meanwhile, KCRA-TV in Sacramento, Calif., reported that some of the jurors who convicted Scott Peterson are teaming up to write a book. Starting this week, the jurors are allowed to sell their story. Under state law they could not accept payment for information for 90 days, and as such have been reluctant to discuss details. "I certainly couldn't get involved in anything to make money over such a terrible thing, but if there was one and if I were to get involved with it, it would certainly have to take into consideration something that would pay respect to the memory of Laci and Conner Peterson," juror Mike Belmessieri said. "It could be a possibility, no one's approached me, I haven't written a book. (It's) something I've thought about at times but right now I am mainly focused on my work, my career," juror John Guinasso said. KCRA confirmed that as many as 11 of the jurors have scheduled a meeting with an attorney for later this week to discuss a book deal. Many of the jurors are expected to be in court Wednesday as Peterson is formally sentenced. Many said they hope being there in person will give them closure. Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, faxed a letter to the media Tuesday, expressing her anger that she cannot get more seats in the courtroom for Laci's family and friends. "Laci would be sooooo upset to know that the people who worked so hard to find her, and worked so hard to put Scott in prison, won't be allowed to witness his sentencing," the fax read. "She would be heartbroken to know her family and dearest, lifelong friends won't be allowed to witness the sentencing of the man who murdered her because their seats were taken by people who felt their need to be part of the circus atmosphere in the courtroom far outweighs the needs of Laci's loved ones to witness justice being served on her and Conner's behalf." The court is reporting that the family requested and got 21 seats.
Hope he really is guilty. I'm philosophically pro-death penalty but practically against it in cases where there isn't 100% evidence - a videotape or something like that, given the number of stories of inmates being released after years in prison wrongfully accused. If I was a juror, though, damn straight I'd be heading straight to the bank.
HAHA, COURTTV blasted him. They said Scott Peterson only showed emotion one time; and that was when the jurors visited the boat involved in the case. They said he put his head down when the lawyers were discussing items. The rest of the time, he was "stonefaced". Crazy. Lacy's parents are holding a press conference tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. here). This entire case was crazy. There was no DNA evidence, confessions, videotape, nothing concrete to convict him. Also, during the time the judge was telling everyone his reasons for implementing the death penaltly, Scott was talking to his lawyer.
He certainly doesn't act like someone that is being falsely accused, which made me think that he might be guilty.
If he is 100% guilty, may he fry in hell...Only he and god know this, but you know what they say...Things happen for a reason...
Scott Peterson sentenced to death Scott Peterson, seen during his trial in August 2004, was sentenced to death on Wednesday. REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) — A judge formally sentenced Scott Peterson to death Wednesday after family members got into a shouting match and Laci Peterson's mother sobbed as she called her son-in-law "an evil murderer." Judge Alfred A. Delucchi allowed only Laci's family members to speak at the hearing after indicating he believed the death penalty was warranted. Peterson's father yelled from the audience as Laci's brother, Brent Rocha, spoke to the court, saying "Laci and Conner are the true victims here." "What a liar!" Lee Peterson said before the judge admonished him and he walked out of the courtroom. Jackie Peterson, Scott Peterson's mother, also interrupted Rocha but her voice was inaudible. Scott Peterson, 32, was invited to make a statement. After several minutes of discussion with his attorneys, he declined. Delucchi denied a defense request for a new trial before upholding the jury's recommendation that Peterson be sentenced to death. "The court is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, Scott Lee Peterson, is guilty of first-degree murder" and second degree, Delucchi said, adding that he found the killings "were cruel, uncaring, heartless and callous." Peterson, shackled at the waist and wearing a dark suit, showed no emotion throughout the hearing. Peterson will probably be sent to death row at San Quentin State Prison within 48 hours, said San Mateo County Sheriff's Lt. Lisa Williams. The infamous lockup overlooks the same bay where Laci Peterson's body was discarded. Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, sobbed and trembled from a podium as she lashed out at her former son-in-law. Scott Peterson stared back at her without emotion. "You decided to throw Laci and Conner away, dispose of them like they were just a piece of garbage," she said. "You were wrong; dead wrong." Dabbing at her eyes with tissues, she called him "an evil murderer." "The fact that you no longer wanted Laci did not give you the right to murder her," Sharon Rocha said. "She was my daughter ... I trusted you, and you betrayed me ... You betrayed everybody." Peterson was convicted in November of first-degree murder in the killing of Laci and second-degree murder for the slaying of her fetus. A jury recommended the death penalty a month later. Rocha spoke to Scott Peterson directly. "I would hope that you regret the choices that you made. Maybe you don't," Rocha said. "Did you really hate Laci and Conner that much or did you just dislike yourself?" Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, tried to get the judge to allow Peterson's parents, Jackie and Lee Peterson, to speak, on the basis that they were related to Conner. But the judge said the hearing was an opportunity for Laci's relatives to speak only. He ordered Scott Peterson to pay $10,000 restitution for funeral expenses and an additional $5,000, though the reason for that amount was unexplained.
Because the national media has to pick one case every year or two to make a big deal about. Spouses murder each other all the time...why a big deal on this one? Kind of like Jean Benet Ramsy. Why a big deal about THAT case??...they could have picked 100 others just like it.
Because if there weren't hyped up trials for the press to cover, celebrity or otherwise, the press would actually have to cover stories of great meaning that nobody cares about, like health care, the economy, and the War in Iraq.
I think it's 'cuz it happened around christmas time (when she went missing). Something like that happening on christmas eve is pretty tragic and will make the news. And also they look like your prototypical american family - you never expect something like this to happen to a family like that.
