Steve Savicki
03-16-2005, 05:20 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050316/us_nm/crime_peterson_dc_4
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Reuters) - A California judge on Wednesday sentenced former fertilizer salesman Scott Peterson to death for the murder of his wife and unborn son in a case that attracted nationwide attention.
Superior Court Judge Alfred Delucchi sentenced Peterson after calling him "cruel, uncaring, heartless and callous."
Earlier, the family of his wife, Laci, condemned the prisoner emotionally, prompting Scott Peterson's parents to leave the courtroom.
"Now, Scott Peterson, I say this to you: you deserve to burn in hell for all eternity," Laci Peterson's mother Sharon Rocha told Peterson during her victim-impact testimony. "You deserve to be put to death as soon as possible."
After a half-year trial, a jury in November convicted Peterson, of Modesto, California, of killing his pregnant, 27-year-old wife and their unborn son on Christmas Eve 2002.
The case, with revelations of Peterson's extramarital trysts, deception and cold-blooded murder, generated saturation cable and local television coverage as well as related books.
Peterson, 32, showed little emotion on Wednesday, a cool composure he maintained throughout the trial. At one point he shook his head from side to side to indicate "no" when his mother-in-law said he had murdered Laci Peterson.
The judge also rejected a defense request for a new trial.
Reporters, attorneys, members of the jury and law enforcement officials fought back tears as family members openly sobbed during the 80-minute proceedings.
At one point Sharon Rocha told Peterson what she imagined were the dying thoughts of her daughter and grandson.
"Scott, I want to live, I don't want to die. You deserve to die, Scott," Rocha said. "I think of Conner saying: 'Daddy, why are you killing mommy and me, daddy, please don't kill us. I promise I won't take her away from you. Daddy, please don't, stop."'
Prosecutors say Peterson murdered his eight-months pregnant wife and dumped her body into the San Francisco Bay to maintain his independent lifestyle. The badly mutilated bodies washed up months later, prompting police to arrest Peterson.
"You're stupid to believe that murder was the only way out of marriage," Rocha told Peterson.
At one point, Scott Peterson's father shouted out "you're a liar" as one of Laci Peterson's brothers addressed the court. The judge, who did not allow Scott Peterson's family to give a witness impact statement, warned that anyone shouting out would be removed from the courtroom.
Authorities will transfer Peterson within 10 days to the state's only death row at San Quentin Prison, north of San Francisco, where he will join 643 others awaiting execution.
The lengthy appeals process in California means it could take two decades before prison officials strap Peterson to a cot to administer a fatal combination of chemicals.
I think Laci's mother was a little to dramatic with her imagination, but nevertheless, she lost her daughter and grandson, so she is entitled to those feelings.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Reuters) - A California judge on Wednesday sentenced former fertilizer salesman Scott Peterson to death for the murder of his wife and unborn son in a case that attracted nationwide attention.
Superior Court Judge Alfred Delucchi sentenced Peterson after calling him "cruel, uncaring, heartless and callous."
Earlier, the family of his wife, Laci, condemned the prisoner emotionally, prompting Scott Peterson's parents to leave the courtroom.
"Now, Scott Peterson, I say this to you: you deserve to burn in hell for all eternity," Laci Peterson's mother Sharon Rocha told Peterson during her victim-impact testimony. "You deserve to be put to death as soon as possible."
After a half-year trial, a jury in November convicted Peterson, of Modesto, California, of killing his pregnant, 27-year-old wife and their unborn son on Christmas Eve 2002.
The case, with revelations of Peterson's extramarital trysts, deception and cold-blooded murder, generated saturation cable and local television coverage as well as related books.
Peterson, 32, showed little emotion on Wednesday, a cool composure he maintained throughout the trial. At one point he shook his head from side to side to indicate "no" when his mother-in-law said he had murdered Laci Peterson.
The judge also rejected a defense request for a new trial.
Reporters, attorneys, members of the jury and law enforcement officials fought back tears as family members openly sobbed during the 80-minute proceedings.
At one point Sharon Rocha told Peterson what she imagined were the dying thoughts of her daughter and grandson.
"Scott, I want to live, I don't want to die. You deserve to die, Scott," Rocha said. "I think of Conner saying: 'Daddy, why are you killing mommy and me, daddy, please don't kill us. I promise I won't take her away from you. Daddy, please don't, stop."'
Prosecutors say Peterson murdered his eight-months pregnant wife and dumped her body into the San Francisco Bay to maintain his independent lifestyle. The badly mutilated bodies washed up months later, prompting police to arrest Peterson.
"You're stupid to believe that murder was the only way out of marriage," Rocha told Peterson.
At one point, Scott Peterson's father shouted out "you're a liar" as one of Laci Peterson's brothers addressed the court. The judge, who did not allow Scott Peterson's family to give a witness impact statement, warned that anyone shouting out would be removed from the courtroom.
Authorities will transfer Peterson within 10 days to the state's only death row at San Quentin Prison, north of San Francisco, where he will join 643 others awaiting execution.
The lengthy appeals process in California means it could take two decades before prison officials strap Peterson to a cot to administer a fatal combination of chemicals.
I think Laci's mother was a little to dramatic with her imagination, but nevertheless, she lost her daughter and grandson, so she is entitled to those feelings.