A California district attorney filed a notice in court Friday indicating she no longer plans to seek a new death sentence against Scott Peterson, who was
Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife, Laci, and unborn son, Conner, in 2005. A California district attorney filed a notice in court Friday indicating she no longer plans to seek a new death sentence against Scott Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, in 2005 during a high-profile trial. The filing was first reported by The Modesto Bee, which described the move as “an about-face.” The court document said prosecutors decided to change course after consulting with Laci Peterson’s family. According to the Bee, “The decision means Scott Peterson’s sentence would remain life without the possibility of parole.” The outlet reported, “It was reverted to that in August when the California Supreme Court overturned his death sentence for the murder of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner, because it said the trial judge erred by excluding potential jurors opposed to the death penalty.” Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager said in her filing that Laci’s family has “no doubt” Scott killed his wife and unborn son but opted to drop efforts to restore the death penalty because “this process is simply too painful to endure once again.
