Scott Peterson in 2004.Photo:Bart Ah You-Pool/Getty
Bart Ah You-Pool/Getty
A status hearing has been scheduled forScott Peterson, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his pregnant wife over 20 years ago.
The hearing was scheduled a few weeks after the Los Angeles Innocence Project announced they would represent Peterson and are “investigating his claim of actual innocence,“ABC Newsreported.
The status hearing will be held before California Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill, per ABC News.
The hearing is scheduled for March 12, according to a San Mateo County Superior Court representative. The representative tells PEOPLE that Peterson is scheduled to appear via Zoom.
Laci Peterson, 27, waseight months pregnant with their son Connerwhen she vanished on Christmas Eve in 2002, just five years after she and Peterson had married. While Peterson initially aided in her search, it came out that he had been having an affair and became a prime suspect in Laci’s disappearance.
Peterson — who is 51 now — was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in 2004 and sentenced to death row in 2005. He remained there for about 15 years.
The second victory came in October when the California Supreme Court ruled that a lower court should take asecond look at his caseto determine whether his guilty verdict should be overturned.
Laci Peterson and Scott Peterson.ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com
ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com
In court in 2021, Peterson’s death sentence was officially vacated,resentencing him to life in prison. The following year, a San Mateo County Superior Court Judgedenied Peterson’s bid for a new trial.
Now, the L.A. Innocence Project is seeking new evidence in Peterson’s original trial, saying that Peterson’s state and federal constitutional rights were violated, according toABC News.
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Attorneys for the organization are quoting updated witness statements that point to multiple areas of interest, including a December 2002 burglary of a Modesto home across the street from the Petersons. Peterson’s attorneys have previously argued his wife was killed after she witnessed the men breaking into the neighbor’s house during a dog walk while Peterson was on a solo fishing trip Christmas Eve morning.
Peterson’s family has long believed his claim 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 said in 2021. “Scott Peterson is innocent, and we are now trying to reverse that.”
Pat Harris, Scott’s defense attorney, previously told PEOPLE, “We are very excited to have the incredible attorneys at the L.A. Innocence Project lend their considerable expertise to helping prove Scott Peterson’s innocence.”
source: people.com
