Innocence Undertaking Takes Scott Peterson’s Case, Says New Proof ‘Helps’ Declare He Did not Kill Spouse Laci

Laci Peterson was eight months pregnant with their son Conner when she vanished on Christmas Eve in 2002

Scott Peterson‘s conviction within the 2002 homicide of his pregnant spouse Laci Peterson and their unborn son is now being investigated by the Los Angeles Innocence Undertaking.

The nonprofit group, recognized for his or her work to exonerate wrongly convicted and incarcerated people, advised PEOPLE in an announcement that they characterize Scott now and are “investigating his declare of precise innocence.”

Laci Peterson, 27, was eight months pregnant with their son Conner when she vanished on Christmas Eve in 2002, simply 5 years after she and Scott had married. Whereas Scott initially helped search for her, it quickly got here out that he had been having an affair and he was made the prime suspect.

4 months later, Laci’s physique was present in San Francisco Bay, only a mile away from the place her unborn child’s physique was discovered.

Scott — who’s 51 now — was convicted of two counts of first-degree homicide in 2004 and sentenced to dying row in 2005. He remained there for about 15 years.

However in 2020, Scott scored two main authorized victories in 2020. The primary victory was in August, when he was given the prospect to face a brand new penalty part trial after his dying penalty sentence was overturned by California Supreme Courtroom, who cited jury choice errors by the trial decide. The second victory got here in October, when the California Supreme Courtroom dominated {that a} decrease court docket ought to take a second look at his case to find out whether or not his responsible verdict must be overturned.

In court docket in 2021, Scott’s dying sentence was formally vacated, resentencing him to life in prison. The next 12 months, a San Mateo County Superior Courtroom Choose denied Peterson’s bid for a new trial.

Now, the L.A. Innocence Undertaking is looking for new proof in Scott’s unique trial, saying that Peterson’s state and federal constitutional rights had been violated, in accordance with ABC News.

Filings entered on Wednesday and first obtained by the outlet say that “new proof now helps Mr. Peterson’s longstanding declare of innocence and raises many questions into who kidnapped and killed Laci and Conner Peterson.”

Attorneys for the group are quoting up to date witness statements which level to a number of areas of curiosity together with a December 2002 housebreaking of a Modesto residence throughout the road from the Petersons. Scott’s attorneys have beforehand argued his spouse was killed after she witnessed the lads breaking into the neighbor’s home throughout a canine stroll whereas Scott was on a solo fishing journey Christmas Eve morning.

The Innocence Undertaking are additionally hoping to conduct new DNA testing on a blood-stained mattress discovered on Dec. 25 in a burned out orange van found close by. The investigation, they are saying, will decide if the merchandise contained Laci’s blood, which could possibly be argued hyperlinks her again to the burglars.

Different proof being sought out by the Innocence Undertaking, in accordance with the filings obtained by ABC Information, embody dozens of things unable to be discovered “after an intensive search” of trial recordsdata from his prior counsel.

Scott’s household has lengthy believed his declare of innocence and supported his efforts for freedom. “There is no forensic evidence, there is no timeline to this crime,” his sister-in-law Janey Peterson mentioned in 2021. “Scott Peterson is harmless, and we at the moment are making an attempt to reverse that.”

Pat Harris, Scott’s protection legal professional, tells PEOPLE: “We’re very excited to have the unbelievable attorneys on the L.A. Innocence Undertaking lend their appreciable experience to serving to show Scott Peter’s Innocence.”

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Learn the unique article on People.