The Los Angeles Innocence Project is defending convicted murderer Scott Peterson, saying new evidence will show he didn't kill his pregnant wife more than 20 years ago, legal documents state. It is claimed that.
Peterson, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Laci Peterson, had new hope Thursday when he confirmed to the media that the judiciary had taken up his case.
He was convicted of murdering his wife and her unborn child in 2004 after Lacey's body was discovered the year before.
In a recent court filing, lawyers for the Innocent Project said: “New evidence supports Mr. Peterson's long-standing claim of innocence and questions about who kidnapped and murdered Mr. Lacey and Connor Peterson. “It raises a lot of questions.” ABC News reported Thursday.
Lawyers are currently using investigation evidence from a December 2002 robbery across the street from the couple's home, a missing watch Laci Peterson was wearing, and a van fire at their home to help build his case. I'm looking for a number of items that I couldn't find after combing through my files. The same media reported documents related to the crime scene around the time the mother went missing and interviews with witnesses.
The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office responded to the nonprofit's request for information late last year, claiming that the project's claims did not pass review. The San Francisco Chronicle reported.
DA Special Counsel Birgit Fladager argued that the project intentionally withheld information about its innocence efforts.
“The fact that you have chosen to withhold possession of items that you claim to own that support some of your claims is alarming,” she reportedly wrote.
Peterson, 51, has always maintained that he is innocent of the murder.
His lawyer Pat Harris told the Los Angeles Times He said in a statement that he is excited that the LA Innocence Project is “bringing its significant expertise to bear on Scott Peterson's innocence.”
One juror told ABC News Thursday that he supports a new review of the case.
Mike Bermesieri said, “If they think they're trying to shine a light on something new, to find something different, I fully support that.'' He added that he thinks about the incident every day.
A California judge refused to retry Peterson in 2022, arguing that one juror's bias in reaching a verdict negatively influenced the rest of the jury.
Lawyers argued that juror Richelle Nice intentionally concealed her domestic violence case during jury selection, but the judge found no wrongdoing by her.
Peterson was initially sentenced to death, but that sentence was overturned and he was sentenced to life in prison instead.
The Innocence Project provides free legal assistance to convicted prisoners in Central and Southern California.
