California's top court overturns Scott Peterson's death sentence
By MAURA DOLAN STAFF WRITER
AUG. 24, 202010:25 AM UPDATED12:21 PM
SAN FRANCISCO — The California Supreme Court on Monday unanimously overturned the death penalty for Scott Peterson, who was convicted of killing his wife, Laci, and their unborn son in 2002.
In a decision written by Justice Leondra Kruger, the state’s highest court said the death sentence must be removed because the trial judge wrongly discharged prospective jurors who expressed opposition to capital punishment but said they would be willing to impose it.
The court left in place the guilty verdict and said prosecutors could retry Peterson on the penalty if they wished.
“Before the trial began, the trial court made a series of clear and significant errors in jury selection that, under long-standing United States Supreme Court precedent, undermined Peterson’s right to an impartial jury at the penalty phase,” Kruger wrote.
snip
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-24/scott-peterson-death-penalty-overturned
-------------------------------------------------------------
Not too surprised. Seriously, when's the last time somebody was executed in California. I'm surprised it's still on the books.
= new reply since forum marked as read
