Scott Peterson was resentenced to life in prison on Wednesday, nearly two decades after the California man was convicted of killing his wife Laci and the couple’s unborn child.
Laci Peterson disappeared in 2002 after visiting a salon in Modesto, Calif., near San Francisco. Her remains were found several months later. Peterson was convicted and sentenced to die for the killing, spending more than 15 years on death row in California; however the California Supreme Court overturned the death sentence due to an error made by the original judge. Scott Peterson, now 49 years old, appeared in court in San Mateo County to receive his new sentence.
Scott Peterson’s attorney said he had plans to speak during Wednesday’s hearing, but Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo wouldn’t allow him. Laci Peterson’s mother, Sharon Rocha said in a statement directed at Peterson: “I still feel the grief every day after 19 years. Your evil, self-centered, unforgivable selfish act ended two beautiful souls. And for what reason? There was no reason other than that you just didn’t want them anymore. You didn’t want a baby nor the responsibility of being a father. You’re a coward. And sometimes when I wake up, I cry because they’re so realistic and I know I’ll never see her again.”
Prosecutors argued at his original trial that Scott Peterson killed Laci Peterson and dumped her remains into San Francisco Bay. Laci Peterson was eight months pregnant with the couple’s son, whom they planned to name Conner, when she disappeared. Prosecutors also argued that Scott Peterson, who was having an affair at the time or Laci’s murder, was motivated to kill his wife and child out of concerns for accumulating debts and a desire to be single again.
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