The Los Angeles Innocence Project is behind convicted killer Scott Peterson, arguing in legal papers that new evidence will show 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 new hope Thursday when the legal organization confirmed to the outlet that it had taken over his case.
He was convicted in 2004 of killing his wife and their unborn child after Laci’s body was found the previous year.
Attorneys for the Innocent Project argued in a recent court filing that “new evidence now supports Mr. Peterson’s long-standing claims of innocence and raises many questions about who kidnapped and killed Laci and Conner Peterson,” ABC News reported Thursday.
Attorneys are now looking for numerous items they were unable to find after combing through her trial files including evidence from a December 2002 burglary investigation across the street from the couple’s residence, a missing watch worn by Laci Peterson and a van fire in the area around the time the expectant mother disappeared. as well as documents tied to witness interviews, the outlet reported.
The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office responded to the nonprofit’s request for information late last year, claiming the project’s arguments did not pass muster, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Scott Peterson was imprisoned for two decades for killing his wife and unborn child. AP
The DA’s special prosecutor, Birgit Fladager, alleged that the project deliberately withheld information about the release effort.
“The fact that you have chosen to withhold items you claim to have that support some of your claims is troubling,” he reportedly wrote.
Peterson, 51, has always insisted he is innocent of the murder.
Laci Peterson’s body was found in 2003. AP
His attorney, Pat Harris, told the Los Angeles Times in a statement that he was thrilled the LA Innocence Project was “lending their expertise to help investigate Scott Peterson’s innocence.”
A juror told ABC News Thursday he supports a new review of the case.
“If they think they’re going to find something different, that sheds light on something new, I fully support it,” said Mike Belmessieri, adding he thinks about the case every day.
A California judge denied Peterson’s bid for a new trial in 2022 after he argued one juror’s bias tainted the rest of the jury when deciding.
The juror, Richelle Nice, intentionally concealed her own domestic abuse case during jury selection, her attorney argued, but the judge found no wrongdoing on her part.
Peterson was found guilty at his trial in 2004. AP
Peterson was initially sentenced to death but the sentence was overturned and he was instead sentenced to life in prison.
The Innocence Project provides pro-bono legal assistance to inmates convicted of crimes in Central and Southern California.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
