A California judge has rejected Scott Peterson's latest attempt to introduce new evidence in his appeal for a new trial in the 2002 murder of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, Conner. The ruling, issued by San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill, found that the evidence presented by Peterson's legal team from the Los Angeles Innocence Project was not new but merely reiterated previously contested theories. The defense had argued that witness testimony suggested Laci was seen alive after her disappearance and that a nearby burglary could be linked to her death. Prosecutors countered that the burglary occurred after Laci had already vanished.
Peterson, now 53, was convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder in Laci's death and second-degree murder for the death of their fetus. He was initially sentenced to death but was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2021. The Innocence Project, which began representing Peterson in 2024, plans to appeal the judge's decision. The organization has conducted extensive research and interviews, asserting that new evidence supports Peterson's innocence.
In addition to this appeal, Peterson has a separate petition pending before the California Supreme Court, alleging juror misconduct in his original trial. The court had previously denied most of Peterson's requests for new DNA testing, except for a piece of duct tape found on Laci's pants. Peterson was arrested in 2003 near the Mexico border after attempting to flee with a bleached hair, a new goatee, and a fake identity.