Peterson found guilty of murder...

[venray]

Updated: 04:15 PM EST
Scott Peterson Found Guilty of Murder
By BRIAN SKOLOFF, AP




Scott Peterson's trial began with jury selection in March. He's charged with killing his wife and unborn son.

UPDATE: Jury finds Scott Peterson guilty of first degree murder in his wife Laci's death and second degree murder in the death of his unborn son. More to come.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Nov. 12) - Jurors in the Scott Peterson murder trial reached a verdict Friday, winding up the sensational case on their second day of deliberations after having to start back at square one twice in two days.

Judge Alfred A. Delucchi told the court, filled with attorneys, the media and Peterson himself, that the verdict would be made public at 4 p.m. EST. Audio of the court proceeding was to be made available for broadcasters, but not video, the judge had ruled.

The verdict followed the back-to-back dismissals of jurors on Tuesday and Wednesday and a day off of deliberations for Veterans Day. The two dismissed jurors were replaced with alternates, and each time, the panel was told to begin deliberations anew.

The final panel had deliberated for around five hours on Wednesday and an additional three hours Friday.

Jurors were deciding whether Peterson killed his pregnant wife, Laci, who vanished Dec. 24, 2002, from their home in Modesto. He faced a second murder count in the death of the fetus, a boy the couple planned to name Conner.

The highly publicized trial began with jury selection in March and opening arguments in June. Closing arguments were presented Nov. 1 and 2 and the original panel began deliberating Nov. 3.

Prosecutors claim Peterson killed Laci, then dumped her weighted body into San Francisco Bay, because he wanted to escape marriage and fatherhood. The remains of Laci and the fetus were discovered in April a few miles from where Peterson says he went fishing alone the day his wife vanished.

 

[Mitchell]

I felt relieved to hear this. Justice has been served. I hope Petersen gets the death penalty, and nothing less. What he did was a cold blooded, and dastardly act, and he deserves to pay with his life. There were so many other options for him. If he didnt love Laci, or want the baby, he could have filed for divorce. To me, this was one time when our often flawed justice system served just punishment to a haneous criminal where punishment was due.

Mitch

 

[QBWeaver]

I'm glad they found him guilty also.

The wierdest thing I found is that both his main attorney, Mark Geragos, and his own father, Lee Peterson, weren't there when the verdicts were read. Geragos was in LA and didn't fly up and only heaven knows where his dad was. All during the trial there were rarely any friends of Scott's in the audience. His parents and siblings were there but no one else. Yet Laci's side was filled with friends and family every day.

This won't bring Laci and Conner back but at least this puts somewhat of an ending on it for Laci's family and friends.

I doubt he'll get the death penalty since his past has been squeaky clean as far as the law is concerned. Life in prison will be hell enough for him I think especially then the other prisoners find out he killed his wife and an unborn baby.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

I was relieved that they were able to come to a decision. With all the problems, I was afraid they'd end up being pressured to call a mistrial.

Ann

 

[daddy]

I was very, very happy when the guilty verdict was announced. The man is simply a spoiled deranged brat who's attempt to get "his way" again failed. Amber Lee should thank her lucky stars for how long would it have been before he tired of her? The death penalty needs to be applied to this man. It was calculated, cold blooded murder...he killed his OWN son for god's sake.

peace out,
daddy

 

[the_Baron]

oh please people.

you're all happy......why, because the justice system failed us? bias convicted a man for whom no evidence could.

no murder weapon, no discernable bodies, no physical evidence of any sort.

if this is how convictions are won, lock youselves in your homes, grab a shotgun, and wait for the reactionary police to arrive with reporters.

 

[General Zod]

oh please people.

you're all happy......why, because the justice system failed us? bias convicted a man for whom no evidence could.

no murder weapon, no discernable bodies, no physical evidence of any sort.

if this is how convictions are won, lock youselves in your homes, grab a shotgun, and wait for the reactionary police to arrive with reporters.

Then why was he found guilty? Also,if he is innocent why didn't he ever take the stand?

 

[the_Baron]

^^^^

since their was no evidence, he was found guilty (by default) owing to emotional disgust at the murders, and predetermined bias that only he could have been the culprit.

and lots of innocent people don't take the stand.

 

[Majestic]

I have to admit that Im glad I didnt have to sit on that jury. With what was presented, or what the public was told I dont honestly think I could have found him guilty with what little evidence there was. I do believe, in my gut, that he did it but, as a juror, that wouldnt have been enough for me.

Majestic

 

[TickledToDeath]

DAMN glad he was found guilty for he IS guilty.
They should be getting the needle ready to send his lying ass of a soul OUT of this existance.

TTD

 

[steph]

This happened in my backyard and we have been BURIED by news of it 24/7. He was found guilty with special circumstances, which means here in Cali, he CAN be put to death. The same jury that convicted him gets to decide his fate...

XOXO

 

[daddy]

With what was presented, or what the public was told

That is the key...WE, the public, have no idea of all the evidence that was presented and we won't until after the penalty phase of the trial is over. However, 12 people had what they considered enough "circumstancial" evidence to come to a unanimous decision.

Baron...you say no evidence??? Now do you really believe people are found guilty with NO evidence??? C'mon now...that is just not true. You don't have to have physical evidence to convict someone if they can't account for thier actions. The man is a liar and a cheater...that HAS been proved. There is recorded phone conversations in which he talks about Lacey in the past tense before her body was ever found...he went fishing in the same bay where her body was found...he bought cement and a boat just weeks before that...he changes his appearance...these are just a few of the things WE (the public)know. The justice system may not be perfect, but I do believe in this case it worked just fine.

peace out,
daddy

 

[daddy]

This happened in my backyard and we have been BURIED by news of it 24/7.

Yes steph...that is why this is important to me too. I live next door to Modesto and have pretty much heard it all. Hell, it's on the news right now and let me tell you, not one single person as of yet that has been interviewed has shed a tear for Mr. Scott Peterson...thay all believe it was the right decision.

peace out,
daddy

 

[steph]

Oh you're even closer honey! Would have been so much easier if he'd just used a condom and asked for a divorce! 🙄

XOXO

 

[venray]

Wow! Listen to all of you...

I do believe that he is guilty and am glad there was no mistrial.

To kill him, however serves no purpose short of revenge which in itself serves no purpose.

There were a number of points on which to file appeal whether or not he gets a death sentence. I am sure his attorney will exhaust all of them before this is all over. His lead attorney was in another court today as he was sure that there would be no verdict before the 1 o'clock deadline. He later began work on the presentation for the sentencing. No surprises here.

The death penalty does not work. It does not deter violent crime nor does it do any real justice. It makes people feel better about something they should not feel good about at all......

Just my humble opinion...

Ray

 

[Neutron]

Circumstantial Evidence..

Is allowed under the Constitution, especially a preponderance of it.

I am for the Death Penalty but not on a carte blanche basis. Serial killers should get it. On the basis Peterson killed a child, I think he should get it.

Others, I'm not so sure.


Tron

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Those of you hootin' and hollerin' over the application of the death penalty, this is merely a demonstration of your own blood lust. It's borne from a frustration with the state of the criminal justice system in America. Understandable. However, if you really think that it's a better form of justice than the consequences of Scott's first night's visit to the shower, and the resulting abject, mortal fear of visiting there again for the next TWENTY FIVE YEARS, well, then, you've lived a sheltered life. I think that Scott Peterson will WISH he'd been strapped down to the gurney instead. He will probably get Death, and will go through another fifteen years of appeals, sitting on Death Row at San Quentin, in a plush cell by himself, getting interviewed every so often by some asinine hack from People magazine.

Evidence? Shmevidence. Who gives a shit? Did anyone on the OJ jury give any care about the Mount Everest of evidence against him? No. This preoccupation with evidence, more often than not, is an indication of the naivete of the offerer. 'Innocent until proven guilty' is a sophistry. One day, it will finally dawn on you.

It's so strange, here in America, we're presented with 'Reality' every day, on our TV sets, online, wherever. Yet we're all so obsessed over 'How Things SHOULD be', and we refuse to accept that we will never see things happen that way. What does that say about our society?

 

[natural tickler]

DAMN glad he was found guilty for he IS guilty.
They should be getting the needle ready to send his lying ass of a soul OUT of this existance.

TTD

If that's the case, TTD, where's the EVIDENCE? you need evidence to prove guilt. The convicted him on circumstantial evidence. Where's the justice in that?

ANd Knox, yes we're hootin and hollerin' and for damn good reason. This man cold-bloodedly killed his wife and son. He should DIE a horrible death, more than what the death penalty gives. He should die because he took a life. That is the ONLY way to make it even. Not for justice, for equality. If you take a life, yours should be taken. Simple as that

 

[steph]

just to clarify a little, guys...

Criminal Justice was one of my majors. As a former Roman Catholic and practicing Buddist, I do not beleive in revenge. I do support the death penalty, not as a deterrent. I know that doesn't work, I've analyzed the shit out of the statistics. I am in favor of the death penalty for one reason only: it means he NEVER gets the chance to do it again. I do think had he murdered YOUR wife and unborn baby, you might feel a bit differently about it?

Respectfully,
Me 🙂

 

[natural tickler]

Well, numyohoregekyo to you then😛

I believe in the death penalty as well, but I cannot understand how someone can be convicted with just circumstantial evidence?? I'm not even a lawyer, but I could've gotten Petersen off with that, and these high-priced attorneys couldn't??🙄

 

[Cosmo_ac]

i didn't follow everything in the case, but from what i sqw, the prosecution left considerable gaps in there case. No weapon, no place of death, a poor choice of motives. Hardly a winning case.

These people let emotions instead of common sense rule there choice.

 

[daddy]

These people let emotions instead of common sense rule there choice.

I have to disagree Cosmo...it was just the oppisite. It was a case of common sense prevailing. And, as Neutron stated, circumstancial evidence Is allowed under the Constitution, especially a preponderance of it.


Neutron...I agree with your statement 100%...I am not big on the death penalty, but when you kill a child, that to me warrants the penalty.

peace out,
daddy

 

[Cosmo_ac]

No weapon, no place, and no time. These are huge gaps in a case. The defence was also not allowed to present evidence. Not to meantion two jurors were recently replaced, right before the trial was concluded for no given reason. Frankly, i have to question the guilty verdict.

Someone meantioned that he was refering to his wife in past tense, but so was her family.

 

[Majestic]

Im not real big on the death penalty. I've always been an advocate of "an eye for an eye" BUT personally, I dont know that he'll live to see the death penalty IF he gets it. I think the boys in the big house may see a rich, spoiled manboy who murdered his wife and unborn son, when most of the prisoners have wives they wish they could be with and children they wish they could watch grow up. I think someone will knock him off in prison. Sure would save us taxpayers some money.

Majestic

 

[nemisis5323]

I'd rather him suffer for the rest of his life in prison than let him off easy and strap him to the chair. If someone wronged me like that I'd want him to live as long as he can, and let natural order in the prisons do the rest. Sometimes there are far worse fates than death, he'll learn that soon enough.