It has been two decades since Scott Peterson was convicted of the murder of his wife and unborn son. Now, his legal team is making a plea to a judge for access to crucial evidence that they believe could prove Peterson's innocence.
Appearing virtually in the same courthouse where he was convicted, Peterson's lawyers from the L.A Innocence Project are seeking access to police reports, audio recordings, and video recordings that they claim could exonerate him. They argue that key pieces of evidence were not properly presented during the original trial.
Peterson maintains his innocence, stating that he was fishing in the San Francisco Bay when his pregnant wife disappeared on Christmas Eve in 2000. Despite his alibi, revelations of an affair and circumstantial evidence led to his conviction in 2004 on two counts of murder.
The L.A Innocence Project, a nonprofit dedicated to overturning wrongful convictions, contends that crucial witnesses were not heard during the trial. They point to sightings of Lacey Peterson alive after Scott's fishing trip and a burned-out van near the Petersons' home that contained traces of blood. Peterson's legal team aims to test the blood to determine if it belonged to Lacey.
If the DNA testing confirms the blood as Lacey's, it could potentially lead to a new trial for Peterson and the possibility of his release. The defense has filed a 142-page motion specifically focused on the DNA evidence.
Prosecutors, however, argue that they provided ample evidence to Peterson's defense team during the original trial. They are skeptical of the new legal maneuvers by the defense.
As the legal battle continues with motions and discovery, the outcome remains uncertain. If the judge rules in favor of the L.A Innocence Project, it could trigger a retrial of one of the most high-profile murder cases in recent memory, introducing a dramatic twist to the longstanding saga.
