Scott Peterson Sentenced to Death

[Chernabog]

Peterson Judge Sentences Him to Death

7 minutes ago Top Stories - AP

By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press Writer

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - A judge formally sentenced Scott Peterson (news - web sites) to death Wednesday after family members got into a shouting match and Laci Peterson (news - web sites)'s mother sobbed as she called her son-in-law "an evil murderer."

Judge Alfred A. Delucchi allowed only Laci's family members to speak at the hearing after indicating he believed the death penalty was warranted.


Peterson's father yelled from the audience as Laci's brother, Brent Rocha, spoke to the court, saying "Laci and Conner are the true victims here."


"What a liar!" Lee Peterson said before the judge admonished him and he stormed out of the courtroom. Jackie Peterson, Scott Peterson's mother, also interrupted Rocha but her voice was inaudible.


Scott Peterson, 32, was invited to make a statement. After several minutes of discussion with his attorneys, he declined.


Delucchi denied a defense request for a new trial before upholding the jury's recommendation that Peterson be sentenced to death.


"The court is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, Scott Lee Peterson, is guilty of first-degree murder" and second degree, Delucchi said, adding that he found the killings "were cruel, uncaring, heartless and callous."


Peterson, shackled at the waist and wearing a dark suit, showed no emotion throughout the hearing.


Peterson will be sent to death row at San Quentin State Prison within 48 hours, said San Mateo County Sheriff's Lt. Lisa Williams. The infamous lockup overlooks the same bay where Laci Peterson's body was discarded.


Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, sobbed and trembled from a podium as she lashed out at her former son-in-law. Scott Peterson stared back at her without emotion.


"You decided to throw Laci and Conner away, dispose of them like they were just a piece of garbage," she said. "You were wrong; dead wrong."


Dabbing at her eyes with tissues, she called him "an evil murderer."


"The fact that you no longer wanted Laci did not give you the right to murder her," Sharon Rocha said. "She was my daughter ... I trusted you, and you betrayed me ... You betrayed everybody."


Peterson was convicted in November of first-degree murder in the killing of Laci and second-degree murder for the slaying of her fetus. A jury recommended the death penalty a month later.


Rocha spoke to Scott Peterson directly.


"I would hope that you regret the choices that you made. Maybe you don't," Rocha said. "Did you really hate Laci and Conner that much or did you just dislike yourself?"


Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, tried to get the judge to allow Peterson's parents, Jackie and Lee Peterson, to speak, on the basis that they were related to Conner.



But the judge said the hearing was an opportunity for Laci's relatives to speak only. He ordered Scott Peterson to pay $10,000 restitution for funeral expenses and an additional $5,000, though the reason for that amount was unexplained.

Very poetic about the prison overlooking the bay... what a bastard.

[Scrooge McSam]

This post is in no way meant to defend Scott Peterson, because I don't...

but (there's always a "but", isn't there?)

This is very curious to me.

Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, tried to get the judge to allow Peterson's parents, Jackie and Lee Peterson, to speak, on the basis that they were related to Conner.

But the judge said the hearing was an opportunity for Laci's relatives to speak only.

Is that so? Hmmm Peterson was tried for the murder of his wife AND his unborn son. It makes no sense to me for the judge to say comments will only be allowed if they're from the Rochas, as if Lacy was the only victim.

The state decided earlier that there were in fact 2 victims. And one of those victims was related to the Petersons.

[scaeagles]

Speculation only, of course.....

I wonder if the judge is an abortion advocate. I do not know what was within his purview regarding the charges, but it could be that he is unwilling personally to recognize the unborn child as a victim, and therefore would not allow Scott's parents to testify.

I wonder if this ruling will result in charges brought up by a prospective father against a woman who aborts his child. While a different issue completely, either an unborn child can be murdered or an unborn child cannot. A conviction for murdering an unborn child would certainly lay ground for such a case. Food for thought.

Certainly cause for appeal, as if they weren't automatic anyway.

[Gn2Dlnd]

The judge probably correctly assumed that, since the grandparents had never met their grandchild, they probably had no intention of speaking about him, but, instead, would use that time to defend their son.

[SacTown Chronic]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Speculation only, of course.....

I wonder if the judge is an abortion advocate. I do not know what was within his purview regarding the charges, but it could be that he is unwilling personally to recognize the unborn child as a victim, and therefore would not allow Scott's parents to testify.

If that were the issue, I'm sure the judge would have found a way to overthrow the death penalty sentence. The death penalty in California requires murder with special circumstances. In this case the special circumstance was the planning and murder of two people. The murder of Laci alone would not have been enough cause for sentencing Scott to death.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

While a different issue completely, either an unborn child can be murdered or an unborn child cannot.

Funny, would you use the same argument against the death penalty (i.e., either a person can be murdered or not). At which, point, of course, you start to think, "But the death penalty isn't murder, blah blah blah". But, of course, that's my point. EVEN if there's agreement that an unborn child is a life, the termination of a life does not equal murder every time. You can't make a sweeping generalization like that. Context matters. State executioners aren't arrested for murder, soldeirs in battle aren't arrested for murder, doctors pulling the plug on brain-dead patients aren't arrested for murder. It just ain't that simple.

I DON'T want to get into an abortion discussion. That's kinda my point. While tangentially related, it's not a simple conclusion of, "he was convicted of murdering the unborn child, therefor abortion is murder." Totally different context.

[Ponine]

Originally Posted by Gn2Dlnd

The judge probably correctly assumed that, since the grandparents had never met their grandchild, they probably had no intention of speaking about him, but, instead, would use that time to defend their son.

Now see, thats exactly what I was thinking..

[mhrc4]

ill make a nice and easy post, not all philisophical....

im glad hes getting what he deserved.

[CoasterMatt]

Maybe they should put the execution on pay per view, help pay off the state's deficit...

Too bad it won't happen for another 10-20 years...

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

Maybe they should put the execution on pay per view, help pay off the state's deficit...

Too bad it won't happen for another 10-20 years...