The Los Angeles Innocence Project is backing convicted murderer Scott Peterson, arguing in legal papers that new evidence will prove he did not kill his pregnant wife more than two decades ago.
Peterson, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Laci Peterson, received renewed hope Thursday when the legal organization confirmed to the media that it had taken over his case.
He was convicted in 2004 of killing his wife and unborn child after Laci’s body was found the previous year.
Lawyers for the Innocent Project argued in a recent court filing that “new evidence now supports Mr. Peterson’s long-standing claim of innocence and raises many questions about who kidnapped and killed Laci and Conner Peterson,” ABC News reported Thursday. .
Attorneys are searching for numerous items they couldn’t find after reviewing trial records, including evidence from investigations into a December 2002 robbery across the street from where the couple lived, a missing watch worn by Laci Peterson and a fire in a van. in the area at the time the expectant mother disappeared, as well as documents linked to interviews with witnesses, the outlet reported.
The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office responded to the nonprofit’s request for information late last year, alleging that the project’s pitch was not approved, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Scott Peterson has been imprisoned for two decades for the murder of his wife and unborn child. AP
The DA’s special prosecutor, Birgit Fladager, alleged that the project intentionally withheld information about exoneration efforts.
“The fact that you have decided to withhold items that you claim to possess and that support some of your claims is concerning,” he allegedly wrote.
Peterson, 51, has always maintained that he was innocent of the murders.
Laci Peterson’s body was found in 2003. AP
His attorney, Pat Harris, told the Los Angeles Times in a statement that he was excited that the LA Innocence Project is “lending its considerable expertise to help investigate that Scott Peterson is innocent.”
One juror told ABC News on Thursday that he supports the new review of the case.
“If they think they’re going to find something different, that sheds light on something new, I fully support that,” Mike Belmessieri said, adding that he thinks about the case daily.
A California judge denied Peterson’s bid for a new trial in 2022 after he argued that single-jury bias tainted the rest of the jury in reaching a verdict.
Juror Richelle Nice deliberately concealed her own case of domestic abuse during jury selection, her attorneys argued, but the judge found no misconduct on her part.
Peterson was found guilty during his trial in 2004. AP
Peterson was initially sentenced to death, but that punishment was overturned and he was given a life sentence instead.
The Innocence Project provides free legal help to inmates convicted of crimes in Central and Southern California.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn