Judge Sentences Peterson to Death
Family Members' Emotions Boil Over in Courtroom
By BRIAN SKOLOFF, AP

Getty


Judge Alfred A. Delucchi denied a defense request for a new trial before upholding the jury's recommendation.


REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (March 16) - A judge formally sentenced Scott Peterson to death Wednesday after calling the murder of his pregnant wife, Laci, ''cruel, uncaring, heartless and callous.''

Judge Alfred A. Delucchi then allowed family members to speak, prompting a shouting match that led to Peterson's father storming out of the courtroom.

Lee Peterson 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 left 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 saying he agreed with the jury that ''death is warranted.''

''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, was escorted into court under heavy security.

He will be sent to death row at San Quentin State Prison outside San Francisco, the infamous lockup that overlooks the same bay where Laci Peterson's body was discarded.

He 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?''


03-16-05 13:56 EST

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Tsk Tsk, I guess he has a short amount of time to work his charm on the "ladies" on death row.

I recently saw Scott's half-sister on a talk show hawking her new book. She seemed fairly convinced that he did it, and very sad because she seemed to sincerely love Laci. I was shocked to find out that day that the leading cause of death for pregnant women was murder. I remember never feeling closer to my husband when I was expecting our girls, but it seems that certain men can't stand the idea that they will be replaced as #1 in their wife's eyes by an addition to the family, and they end up killing their wife and unborn child. I can't say that I don't agree with the verdict, though I am surprised by it. I was fairly sure that they would give him life in prison.

I am personally opposed to the death penalty, but if anyone was going to get it, he was. What a dirt bag.

I hope he rots.

My gut feeling is he's guilty, and I'm not surprised he was found guilty nor do I have sympathy for him. Yet, I don't believe in the death penalty anyway, but since the evidence here seemed mostly circumstancial I'm surprised that the death penalty was an option.


BTW They are announcing the Robert Blake verdict at 2:30 PST.

TIS

The verdict is an outrage, and I'm appalled at our judicial system for sentencing him to death. Do I think he did it? Yea, personally, I do. He seems like a dirt bag. Should he be killed for being an asshole? ABSOLUTELY NOT! If that were the case, we could kiss the majority of the human race good-bye. All the evidence was circumstancial, there was not a single thread of physically incriminating evidence. They couldn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he did it. He should be walking free right now.

With all due respect, were you in that courtroom? Did you hear the evidence first hand? I don't know if you've ever sat on a jury in a criminal case, but I can tell you, first hand, that it is very different when you are sitting in the jury box listening to everything first hand. The law is completely different when you are on the jury. There are things that you MUST consider under the law, and things under the law that you cannot take into condsideration. The last thing that those people sitting in that jury box want to do is put a person away for life, or to death because they made a mistake judgement! It is a very serious thing, and a stressful thing to sit in a room and have a persons fate lie in your hands! I believe that the jury in this case sincerely deliberated and took all the facts and testimony into deep consideration before rendering their verdict. I think that he has been sentenced to death for more than just being an asshole! After all he was found guilty by a jury of his peers for the murder of a mother and her unborn child. I think that someone who commits those kinds of acts are a bit more than just an asshole!


Don Cardi

Thank God the justice system worked in this case. I say go ahead and fry him now. Save the tax payers a heck of alot of money.

I think the man got what he deserved. There are so many times where the killer is never caught, never brought to justice. Let's be glad that this one did not get away.

Here's my stand on the whole thing (expanding upon my previous post):

I'm almost positive that he did, probably about 90% sure that he murdered Laci. And if he is guilty (which this jury has "proven"), then yea, he deserves to fry. But it was a very shady trial. The majority of the evidence shown was circumstancial, and I'm sorry if anyone disagrees, but no one deserves the death penalty because of "circumstance." This was, IMO, a lynching. It was a witch hunt. There was testimony from a witness saying that they saw Laci hauled into a white van by two men and carried off, but it wasn't allowed to be presented. Basically, any evidence in his favor was thrown out the freakin' window, but anything that could incriminate him was allowed. It's outrageous. I think he did it, but I can't prove it, and they had no physical evidence to prove he did it.

DC, I can understand where you're coming from, as I have been summoned for jury duty as well. It's a whole different experience when you're the one holding this person's life in your hands. But it was clear that no one on the jury liked him, and one of the jurors who convicted him even admitted to being impartial. But I digress, it's done, it's over, and he "got what he deserved." :rolleyes:

Actually, it may seem that the death penalty itself is actually more expensive than just throwing their ass into a cell or isolation chamber.

Really, I understand the support for the death penalty, but lets ask ourselves this.

Say you're given a choice after conviction of either getting a quick sterilized-needle shot(or a choice of being hanged in Montana or firing squad in Utah or the good ole gas chamber in some states) or living in a very small square of a jail cell where there is NO privacy, your individualism becomes a thing of the past, you most likely get your ass kicked by prisoner gangs or the guards(especially worse if you did a not-so-nippy crime like molestation) and oh ya, get your ass searched via "body cavity search" for the rest of your life..........dammit, give me the needle! I at least go out a martyr!!!

Of course, I'm for hellish Gollague-esque prisons, so I might be a f*cking wacko actually.

I did an article for my school newspaper back when I was in high school on how the death penalty really isn't justice. Yea, the person who did this horrible crime must pay with his life, but the majority of the states in this country have the lethal injection as either A) their only means of execution, or B) one of the choices they give the inmate being executed. Ok, for one, that mother f*cker shouldn't even have the right to choose how he dies. He didn't give his victims the choice. But, our nation doesn't believe in cruel and unusual punishment, even to those who deserve it. Scott Peterson will most likely receive the lethal injection for his crime. You all know my stand on the whole deal to begin with, but I'm over it. He was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife and unborn child. Is sticking three needles in his arm justice? Is putting him to sleep before they inject that lethal dose of chemicals in his veins really justice? They should let his ass rot in his prison cell.

Death penalty is one of those issues that necessarily question our consciences and divide public opinion. As for me, in my Country death penalty was abolished in 1889. And with my brain and my conscience I'm against it. Yet, there are horrible crimes in front of which my guts would support it, especially when children are the victims and there is no reasonable doubt about the guilt. And most of all, no other punishment would compare to the crime. But it's such a terrible choice, such a terrible responsability...

I don't belive he should have recieved the death sentence. Isnt the purpose of the death penalty to make sure that people who are at a high risk to commit crimes don't get near the public? I mean really, what are the chances if Scott Peterson was realised he would commit the same crime. He didnt do it for a profit and he's not mentaly unfit so i say he should have recieved Life (25 years) and would need to be analyzed by a pyshciatrist

I don't think Laci's family would feel that way.
Would you, if it was your sister, mother or wife?
By the Way, that is not the reason for the death penalty. It isn't given so lightly. It is very hard to get.
Who knows what he may have done in the future. He seems to have no trouble doing what he did, then out and chased another women. Would he have done the same thing to her?
He seems so cold and has showed no emotions or remorse as they say. And my understanding is that he is going to be in a cell by himself and has no other contact with other inmates so I don't think he is going to get his ass kick by gangs and such.

What I would really like to know is why? To take another's life? for what. What could be that bad for him, that he couldn't have just walked away if he wanted another women or didn't want to share his money with Laci? Now what does he have.
Zip..............

"I don't think Laci's family would feel that way.
Would you, if it was your sister, mother or wife?
By the Way, that is not the reason for the death penalty. It isn't given so lightly. It is very hard to get.
Who knows what he may have done in the future. He seems to have no trouble doing what he did, then out and chased another women. Would he have done the same thing to her?
He seems so cold and has showed no emotions or remorse as they say. And my understanding is that he is going to be in a cell by himself and has no other contact with other inmates so I don't think he is going to get his ass kick by gangs and such."

How did I know someone was going to pull this trump card to play? Not that the point isn't actually valid(for it is).

The question "what if it was your sister/wife/daughter/ ?" is really bogus. If it were my sister/wife/daughter I would want to slit the guy's throat...but it is not about me it is about the legal process and the rile of law, not personal revenge.

Circumstantial evidence is every bit as valid as eyewitness evidence, and sometimes it is more powerful. For instance, if you look at the statistics of people picking the right person out of fair lineups it is amazing how many mistakes are made. On the other hand, if you walk past a building one day, and the next day you see a bunch of ashes and smoke coming up, you can fairly conclude the place burned down, even though you didnt see the fire.

An interesting tidbit that was mentioned, and reminded me of my recent jury duty service on a murder trial, let's see if I can get it straight: In California, you can convict on circumstancial evidence. However, if there is circumstancial evidence in a specific area, one pointing to the defendant's guilt, and one pointing to his innocence, you must go with the one that points to his innocence while deliberating his guilt/innocence.

I don't know if that's the case for all states, but got the impression that it's unique to California. I remember being given these instruction before I sat on the jury.

The law can be a very confusing process, and you are suppose to follow the instructions given to you. Fortunately in my case, the trial I was on, everyone came to the same conclusions. However, there can be much bickering/disagreement among jurors. You don't know how anyone is thinking until the case is given to you to decide.

TIS

I few nuggets of funny quotes:

Well, gentlemen, you are about to see a baked Appel.
Executed in electric chair in New York.
~~ George Appel, d. 1928

How about this for a headline for tomorrow's paper? French fries.
Executed in electric chair in Oklahoma.
~~ James French, d. 1966

I'd rather be fishing.
Executed in electric chair, Louisiana.
~~ Jimmy Glass, d. June 12, 1987

I did not get my Spaghetti-O's, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.
Executed by injection, Oklahoma.
~~ Thomas J. Grasso, d. March 20, 1995


See ya Scotty!

The Doc

You beat me to it.

I am completely against the death penalty. My reasoning? You cannot teach society it is wrong to murder by committing murder. Ok, so many people don't agree with my logic and when I explain my views on the subject, they ALWAYS make me explain myself in regards to "what if it was your daughter..."

I never discuss what would happen if "it were my daughter..." - the point is whatever I did it would be of my own free will and I would act fully knowing the consequences.

My mother was a prison guard for 18 years. My husband is retired law enforcement. I have worked (and will soon resume as a volunteer in the near future) as a crime victim's advocate going to domestic crime scenes and removing children and victims and helping to place them in safe houses. I have SEEN my share of scumbags up close and personal and the havoc they wreak upon society.

Denouncing capital punishment is MY own moral choice for the very reason I stated above. But I give kudos to ronnierocketAGO for stating what I believe:

"Of course, I'm for hellish Gollague-esque prisons, so I might be a f*cking wacko actually."

From one fucking wacko to another - unfortunately it is a harsh reality that the state of our prison system is in ruin and going downhill fast. It is too bad that my kid will have to earn her scholarship for college when the scumbags in prison are getting education and so many other things on the taxpayer's dime.

I have no answers and it just depresses me that there is some jerk out there who would kill his wife and unborn baby for either the insurance money or to save himself the hassle of divorce. I believe in karma though. I strongly believe in a punishment greater and more painful than any death by lethal injection. We just won't ever hear of it.

Hear, hear, Dolce!!! In the words of Laci's mom "May he burn in hell forever". I think it's just sick they said on the news he's got tons of fan mail from women waiting in prison for him to read. I'm ashamed sometime to say I'm a women when there are women, (and I use that word slightly) in the world who'd give that guy the time of day just because of his "looks". Ted Bundy was a handsome man. Look how that story turned out.

He did have a really nice smirk, and he had very nice hair. I'm going to have to be lenient and say he deserved another chance at living in our free world. We have to realize that this man was handsome and his mistakes in life should have no bearing on whether he goes to jail or not. If he killed a little pooch, I'd probably think different, because beautiful people should not be hurting animals. We have to take care of our animals, because sometimes they can't help themselves. Look at those poor defenseless butterflies, and tell me they don't need some affectionate touching from the soft hands of an individual who moisturizes his or her hands.

Mobb, you've still got it!

And his parents will pay for the bullet, too?
I don't like this death penalty thing. It's just an escape for the individual. They should put him in some maximum security jail and beat his ass from time to time. Life sentenced though.

I oppose the death penalty, but not necessarily on moral gounds.

For me, the main issues are that

1)It seems to be unfairly applied, and

2)They make too damn many mistakes convicting the wrong person.

Barry Scheck, The O.J. Simpson lawyer who handled the DNA portion of the case, heads up a project (the name of which escapes me) in which crime scene evidence from cases decided long ago - before there was DNA testing- is reexamined and tested today. I don't have statistics, but I know they have gotten quite a number of death row inmates completely cleared and released based on their work.

And to put a reverse spin on the "What if it was your daughter.....?" argument:

What if it was your son or brother who was the convicted murderer rather than the victim?

Would you want to see them get the death penalty?

To further your, "what if it were your relative" point, PL, I think that's why "Dead Man Walking" was so well done. It showed the anguish suffered by both sides. At least Jackie Peterson was allowed to beg for her son's life. At least she will have the chance to say goodbye to him and make her inner peace with his death, which is something that Laci's mother will forever be denied. I can't imagine that pain, but I think I would forever be torturing myself with all of the unanswerable questions, like what my daughter's last moments were like, did she know it was coming, did she know that the person she loved above anyone was going to kill her, did she beg, did she suffer??? I think I would always feel that the one time she truly needed her mother, I couldn't save her. And I think of all those months when they didn't know where she was or what had happened to her. I think that's got to be worse, the not knowing.

I gotta agree with plawrence's reasons for opposition to the death penalty.

Of course, the other school of thought against the penalty is the "moral" angle, which then becomes a sticky issue(like whatever its "moral" to fight in war, whatever for self-defense or not disregarded)

From everything I've learned in the Criminal Justice classes I've taken (loads, by the way) most if not all evidence in any trial is going to be circumstancial. That's just they way things work.

Never fear, all you death penalty opponents. Although in the State of California it is possible to convict and sentence to death based on circumstantial evidence...every legal expert I've seen talk about this is certain that thanks to the neverending appeals process, Scott Peterson is likely to live to a ripe old age and die in prison.

By the way...though I believe Peterson to be guilty, a better defense might've gotten him an acquital. Mark Geragos was there for nothing more than face time, couldn't care less about his client...and would never have taken the case if he wasn't certain he'd win.

On top of that, I hear he'll be involved in a reality show later this year.

The man is a clown (a term used by Ron Kuby, not me).

Apple