DA Seeks Death Penalty In Peterson Murder Case(!)

KNBC4 ^

[Partisan Hack]

MODESTO, Calif. -- Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton announced late Friday he will seek the death penalty against Scott Peterson, who was arrested last week on charges of murdering his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son.

Brazelton made the announcement in a statement issued shortly after he met with family members of Laci Peterson.

Peterson, 30, was being held without bail on charges that he murdered his 27-year-old wife and the unborn son they had planned to name Conner.

The corpses of the two washed ashore in San Francisco Bay last week about three miles from where Peterson said he was fishing on Christmas Eve when his wife -- who was eight months pregnant -- vanished.

Peterson, a former fertilizer salesman, pleaded innocent at his arraignment Monday, declaring "I am not guilty" before an audience that included his in-laws and parents. He appeared to be holding back tears as he was ushered from the courtroom in ankle chains and handcuffs.

For months, Peterson had said he played no role in his wife's disappearance and he took part in numerous searches as hundreds of volunteers joined police to spread out across California, looking in creeks, canals and reservoirs.

[annyokie]

TG! If the mf lives to see his trial I for one will be shocked.

[Partisan Hack]

Ping

[cyncooper]

OK, I'll bite. Why the exclamation point?

There was no question it would be sought. (Or did I miss something?)

[tiamat]

Let's here it for the DA!

Tia

[runningbear]

bttt....

[Partisan Hack]

It's California. I didn't think the pursuit of the death penalty would happen. I'm thrilled they're going for it!

[rolling_stone]

they will get a stronger prosecution jury with the death penalty IMO..

[cyncooper]

You're right, of course--California. The good guys in Modestohave all seemed pretty straight up, so good for them.

[BunnySlippers]

How so? He is segregated from the general prison population. There is no indication that they will integrate him.

[BunnySlippers]

We have zillions of people on Death Row. They just stay there forever. We still convict people and condemn them to Death Row ... we just don't exxecute.

[annyokie]

Stuff happens. I have a cousin who is a guard at the prison in Corchoran (where Robert Downey was) and was assured that "things happen". He has to shower and gets an hour of exercise, so we'll see.

[Partisan Hack]

Phil Hendrie (KFI640, Los Angeles) is doing a schtick where his "caller" says that no women should be allowed on the jury because they will "fall in love" with him and hang the deliberation.

Of course it's a joke but since the Menendez trial, I'm sure anything is possible.

[Partisan Hack]

KNBC also said that Scott is already getting "groupie" mail.

I just can't take it.

[runningbear]

you mean this?
....come here pretty boy, coo cooing.. lol...

[Scothia]

they will get a stronger prosecution jury with the death penalty IMO..

The first serious error in the OJ Simpson case was not going for the death penalty. This allowed the jury to be stacked with softy-lefty types who'd never vote for death. I'm glad this prosecutor is more savvy and gutsier.

[rolling_stone]

the second mistake was the venue....

[Servant of the Nine]

This is Kalifornia.
This is the town that elected Gary Condiditt.

All it takes is one lint head tree hugger to decide he is too sweet looking to do such a thing to deadlock the jury.

So9

[ysoitanly]

I wish I could share your enthusiasm - and absolutely no offense intended. I live here in California, and yes, we are one of the few states that still has the death penalty. BUT - being California, this case will take YEARS to go to trial, and this dipstick now has a public defender at our expense. If he gets the death penalty sentence, which I am almost certain he will, he will cost us $100,000 a year to be on death row while filing appeal after appeal, studying law, and then finally finding God. He'll watch his TV in a private cell provided for 'his protection', since the code of inmates calls for his demise. The best he can hope for is to raise money through a reality show with OJ and Robert Blake called: "The Hunt for the Real Killer Continues'."

[Alissa]

It's California. I didn't think the pursuit of the death penalty would happen. I'm thrilled they're going for it!

You must remember this is Modesto. San Francisco doesn't give a damn unless the victim is gay or homeless. LA doesn't give a damn unless it's a celebrity. The rest of the coast doesn't give a damn because they're too involved in one kind or another meditation/spiritual enrichment so they are oblivious to the news!

Lived there, been there. I know them. Even have relatives there.