Witnesses: Jury Wrongly Convicted Peterson

foxnews.com ^ | Tuesday, December 07, 2004 | AP

[crushelits]

Witnesses: Jury Wrongly Convicted Peterson

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — In tearful testimony, Scott Peterson's (search) family and friends pleaded with jurors to spare his life, contending that he was mistakenly convicted of killing his pregnant wife, Laci.

Defense witnesses have already testified that Peterson sang to seniors on Sundays, distributed food and clothes in Tijuana and that he was a good friend and loving son.

On the fifth day of the trial's penalty phase, Peterson's relatives questioned the jury's verdict.

"I don't believe he's guilty," said his uncle, John Lathamke to see him die. It would tear our family apart."

But jurors showed no expression, some even looking away or toward the ground as Latham spoke.

Testimony in the seven-month-old trial's penalty phase was set to continue Tuesday and run into the next day before closing arguments. Jurors were expected to begin deliberating Thursday whether to sentence Peterson to life without parole or the death penalty.

Peterson was convicted Nov. 12 of one count of first-degree murder in the death of his pregnant wife, Laci, and one count of second-degree murder for the killing of her fetus.

Prosecutors say he smothered or strangled Laci Peterson (search) in their Modesto home on or around Christmas Eve 2002, then dumped her body into San Francisco Bay. The remains of the victims were discovered about four months later a few miles from where Peterson claims to have been fishing alone the day his wife vanished.

[.38sw]

It was the homeless satanists living under the bridge who killed Laci and Connor. They drove her to the bay in their tan van with the BBQ sauce stains.

[Oreo Kookey]

Defense witnesses have already testified that Peterson sang to seniors on Sundays, distributed food and clothes in Tijuana and that he was a good friend and loving son.

Oh my, if this is true, we must all be wrong. He couldn't possibly be a killer. Have killers ever before been Mr. Nice-guys, doers of good and really nice deeds, good friends and loving sons?

I believe the answer is a resounding YES!

[Mr. Jeeves]

If convicted I hope he gets old sparky.

California only allows Mr. Needle. The gas chamber still works, but ACLU types sued because it was "inhumane". The condemned can still choose it as an option, though. ;)

[Sacajaweau]

Not only that, they had to make weights, hide from the marina surveillance which was almost immediately present, hide from the workers at the marina, bypass the check-in, change Laci's clothes and buy a boat, too.

Then they had to put the jewelry on the dresser.......

[TommyDale]

I think he should be forced to suffer "Old Sparky" that sometimes malfunctions, necessitating several painful attempts. I would like to see the shooting flames out his eye sockets. It may not be the most humane method, but his crime wasn't exactly humane either. It is certainly proper justice.

[Sacajaweau]

Yup, sang to seniors on Sunday and Amber on Mondays.

[Vinomori]

Anyone ever been on a lake in the same sixe boat as Peterson and tried throwing 100lbs of dead weight overboard?? Cant do it, without tyhe boat tipping.

.....SO you're saying someone ELSE took her out there same day as Scott went "fishing" and dumped her in from a huge boat, perhaps an ocean liner? Of course you can roll a 100 pound body bag from his little boat to the water, you just have to be careful, and he was careful.

[kenth]

It only took four more posts to get a kneejerk reaction to mine.

[OldFriend]

David Westerfield was innocent too. Never mind that he was about to tell the police where the body was in exchange for not death penalty.

As for OJ......his son did it.....right???????

[dmz]

One kneejerk deserves another.

[silent_jonny]

I think he should be forced to suffer "Old Sparky" that sometimes malfunctions, necessitating several painful attempts.

I'm reminded of that unpleasant "dry sponge" scene in The Green Mile.

[exnavychick]

Laci was eight months pregnant...I guarantee it was more than 100lbs even without cement blocks.

[najida]

And you saw Elvis yesterday, didn't ya?

[Reeses]

Anyone ever been on a lake in the same sixe boat as Peterson and tried throwing 100lbs of dead weight overboard?? Cant do it, without tyhe boat tipping.

A small 10 horsepower outboard motor weighs 150lbs. A fisherman drops the motor off the stern and tips it back in all the time. The boat does not tip over.

[Sacajaweau]

No, it's the opposite....You throw the weights over first and then the body...pretty easy really....(Have had several boats of the same size)

[Riddick]

This article is a load of crap. It should have headlined " Peterson Family and friends Plead for Mercy for Felon Convicted of Multiple Murders". The existing headline leads one to think witnesses in the trial were pleading for him.

Poor decision on the part of the editor or more slanting the view?

[MattinNJ]

I saw a special on San Quentin's death row. I'm not sure if that is where he is going but I am sure it's someplace equally ....unpleasant. That murdering S.O.B. will be begging for death in 5 minutes.

[Sacajaweau]

If he had gotten away with it....you can bet your booties that all these "unbelieving" family members would be watching their backs....wondering what he was going to do next.

And then there's the question: "Would you like to date a good looking bachelor "with no support payments and lotsa money", named Scott Peterson?". I'm sure Scott, with all his phony doings would attend a "widow/widowers" group to line up another victim.

Somewhere, I believe there is something in his past which points to this. I'd guess that the secret lies with his parents.

[Howlin]

it's standard procedure by the state-appointed attorneys to trash the defendent's attorney in an attempt to overthrow the conviction.

Well, it won't be hard to find something to trash.

This has been the most shockingly poorly defended case I've ever seen.