The Los Angeles Innocence Project, who is representing Scott Peterson, has recently filed a motion in court requesting DNA testing in the murder case of Laci Peterson and Conner Peterson. However, the district attorney in Stanislaus County, California, has now filed opposing paperwork, objecting to the defense team’s request.
The District Attorney’s office has responded to the defense’s request for DNA testing in a comprehensive 300-page filing. In this filing, the DA’s office addresses each of the 14 items the defense is seeking testing for. They explain that these items have already undergone testing, have been subject to litigation, are unrelated to the case, or do not meet the burden for retesting.
Last month, Scott Peterson, who was found guilty of murdering his wife and unborn son two decades ago, made a virtual appearance in court. This came after the Los Angeles Innocence Project submitted three motions in the murder case, one of which aimed to obtain evidence from the original trial.
Laci Peterson, a 27-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant, went missing on Christmas Eve in 2002. In April 2003, her body was discovered in San Francisco Bay.
Scott Peterson, who is now 51 years old, faced serious charges when he was arrested for first-degree murder in the death of his wife and second-degree murder in the death of their unborn son. The court convicted him in 2004 and handed down a death sentence in 2005. However, his sentence was later changed to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to court documents filed in January, attorneys from the LA Innocence Project argue that Scott Peterson’s state and federal constitutional rights were violated. They claim that there is newly discovered evidence that supports Peterson’s claim of actual innocence.
The LA Innocence Project is currently pursuing DNA testing for over a dozen pieces of evidence, including items related to the burglary and van fire. On May 29, there will be a discussion regarding a motion that seeks a court order to conduct DNA testing on the evidence.
Scott Peterson is currently serving a life sentence at Mule Creek State Prison in San Mateo County.
Scott Peterson, who has consistently proclaimed his innocence, was denied a new trial in December 2022 after pleading not guilty.
In a recent development, court documents reveal that the California Supreme Court overturned Scott Peterson’s death sentence in 2020. The decision was based on the finding that his jury had not been adequately screened for bias against the death penalty during the penalty phase. This ruling highlights the significance of ensuring a fair and impartial jury selection process in capital punishment cases.
In December 2021, he received a new sentence of life in prison without the chance for parole. As a result, he was transferred from San Quentin State Prison to Mule Creek State Prison in October 2022.
The LA Innocence Project is offering pro bono legal assistance to individuals who are imprisoned in Central and Southern California and may have been unjustly convicted. In a recent statement, they confirmed their representation of Scott Peterson and their ongoing investigation into his claim of actual innocence.
Scott Peterson’s lawyer, Pat Harris, expressed his excitement about the involvement of the highly skilled attorneys at the LA Innocence Project in the ongoing efforts to prove Scott’s innocence.