Scott Peterson's New Trial Hearing Canceled; Judge Did Not Cite Reason on Decision

The hearing set to deliberate if Scott Peterson will be given a new trial has been canceled, with the presiding judge to issue a written decision instead of a hearing to announce the verdict.

Peterson's hearing for a new trial was originally set on Friday. However, the judge said that she will release the written decision by December 16.

Janey Peterson, Peterson's sister-in-law, said that both parties were not given a reason for the change of course, but noted that a written ruling "is probably more preferable."

She noted that no matter which way the judge rules, a "family leaves the courtroom upset."

In 2020, the California Supreme Court returned the case to the San Mateo Superior Court so that a judge could make a ruling on Peterson's juror misconduct claim.

Judge Anne-Christine Massullo will depend on the evidence shown during a hearing earlier this year, with written briefs filed by Peterson's attorneys and Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office.

Scott Peterson's Juror Misconduct Claims

Peterson's lawyers have accused Richelle Nice of misconduct for failing to disclose that she had filed a restraining order on her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend at time while she was pregnant.

She did not also disclose that her former partner, Eddie Whiteside, had pleaded guilty to domestic violence.

Aside from juror misconduct, Peterson's legal team had also claimed that Nice was a "stealth" juror, who may have cost Peterson a fair trial.

Defense attorneys claim that Nice may have been more inclined to be on Laci's side. Laci was Peterson's wife, whom he murdered while she was pregnant with their unborn son named Conner.

Nice argued that she does not consider herself to be a victim at the time, adding that she never wrote the restraining order on the questionnaire as it never crossed her mind.

Nice testified during one of the hearings on the case while journalist Shareen Anderson was also eyed to testify on the case. However, Anderson's attorney argued that her client does not want to testify and asserted her First Amendment right.

Anderson interviewed Nice for an A&E crime documentary "The Murder of Laci Peterson."

Scott Peterson Murder Case

In a 2002 Christmas Eve, Laci was reported missing, which was a time when she was eight months pregnant. Peterson claimed that he returned from a fishing trip at Berkeley Marina and saw that his wife was gone.

In March 2003, Laci was believed to have been a victim of a homicide and by the following month, her remains with her unborn son were discovered in San Francisco Bay.

Peterson was arrested days later and was charged with capital murder. When he was arrested, Peterson was allegedly carrying his brother's passport and large amounts of cash.

Peterson was first convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder and was sentenced to the death penalty. However, the California Supreme Court overturned his death penalty in 2020 and cited "significant errors" in jury selection.

Peterson was then moved to the Stanislaus County jail after officials opted not to reinstate the death sentence on Peterson's case.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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