Scott Peterson, who was convicted of killing his pregnant wife Laci Peterson and their unborn baby, was sentenced again Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his death in 2002.
A judge sentenced him to 15 years to life in prison for the death of the unborn baby, Conner. The sentences will run at the same time, the judge said.
Peterson, 49, spent more than 15 years on death row in California after being convicted of the murders. His sentence was overturned last year by the state Supreme Court after jurors who personally disagreed with the death penalty were found to be removed from office, according to NBC affiliate KCRA-TV of Sacramento.
He was booked into a San Mateo County jail before his sentencing, the county Superior Court told the news station.
Before being sentenced, Laci Peterson’s mother, sister, and brother addressed the court.
Sharon Rocha described in detail the last time she saw and spoke with her daughter before her murder.
“I haven’t seen any regret or regret in you. I know you’re going to say you have no regrets because you’re innocent, but you haven’t shown any pain or regret for any of them,” he said. said. “I still feel the pain every day after 19 years.”
Rocha called Peterson a “coward” and told him to admit to killing his wife and fetus.
“Whatever happens, whatever happens in the future, there are two things that will never change, Laci and Conner will always be dead and you will always be their murderer.”
Laci Peterson’s brother, Brent Rocha, said the deaths have “devastated and traumatized” the family. Her sister, Amy Rocha, burst into tears reading her victim impact statement.
“You’ve broken all of our hearts by taking Laci and Conner’s lives,” he said. “It breaks my heart that he has never met my family, his family … There have been so many special occasions that Laci and Conner should have been here. It makes me sick to be here today in front of you again.”
“Even though the death penalty has been lifted, you will continue to be punished in this life and after,” he concluded.
Laci Peterson, 27, was eight months pregnant with her son, Conner, when she was murdered in December 2002, five years after she and Peterson were married.
Prosecutors said he dumped his wife’s body at the Berkeley Marina on Christmas Eve and then tried to cover up the crime by making it appear that Laci Peterson was missing, according to online court records. Later, his body washed ashore.
A jury convicted Peterson of murder in 2004 for the deaths of Laci Peterson and her unborn child. He was sentenced the following year.
Peterson has tried to overturn his conviction, and his lawyers claim that a juror known as Jury 7 was not truthful and concealed details of his personal life that would have presented a conflict.
Juror Richelle Nice is charged with “harmful misconduct” because she did not disclose that she was a victim of domestic violence and had requested a restraining order in 2000 for fear that her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend would harm Nice’s unborn baby. .
Nice, who is the co-author of a book on the case with other jurors, has denied that she was influenced by her own experiences with domestic abuse.
If Peterson is granted a new trial, his attorney has said he will present new evidence that reinforces his claim that Laci Peterson was killed when she ran into a robbery.
A hearing on the jury’s misconduct allegations is scheduled for late February, according to KCRA-TV.
The Associated Press contributed.