mvpel, I don't think you are correct in the matter of the diamond ring being community property.
I live in a community property state and this is what I have been told.
Anything that you brought into the marriage is your own personal property. Also any gifts that may be given to one or the other of the couples is their own personal property. Such as a grandmother gave Laci a gift of something (at the moment I don't remember what it was). When a person marries the other person gives the bride or groom (A GIFT) of a wedding ring. This then is personal property and belongs to that persons estate.
Community Property is whatever is purchased for the mutual benefit of both after the marriage.
In the absense of a Will the Community Property would be divided in half, and 1/2 of the community property plus the deceased's personal property would go to the next of kin.
If you have a Will, most married couples have Community and Personal Property "With right to survivorship to the living spouce.
If this is what Scott and Laci had, in the case of Scott being convicted of killing Laci, this part of the Will would be null and void. He cannot profit from her death.
His half of the Community Property is still his and he can keep any proceeds from his half even if convicted. He Just cannot have any of Laci's half of the Community Property or any of her Personal Property.
California Probate Code §28. "Community property" means:
(a) Community property heretofore or hereafter acquired during marriage by a married person while domiciled in this state. (b) All personal property wherever situated, and all real property situated in this state, heretofore or hereafter acquired during the marriage by a married person while domiciled elsewhere, that is community property, or a substantially equivalent type of marital property, under the laws of the place where the acquiring spouse was domiciled at the time of its acquisition.
(c) All personal property wherever situated, and all real property situated in this state, heretofore or hereafter acquired during the marriage by a married person in exchange for real or personal property, wherever situated, that is community property, or a substantially equivalent type of marital property, under the laws of the place where the acquiring spouse was domiciled at the time the property so exchanged was acquired.