Innocence Project takes on one of America’s most high-profile murder case

The Los Angeles Innocence Project agreed to look into one of the most widely publicized murder cases in the U.S., that of Scott Peterson, NBC reports. In 2004, Peterson was convicted of the murders of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn child.

Although he was initially sentenced to death, this sentence was overturned in 2020 by the California Supreme Court.

The Los Angeles Innocence Project has taken up the case of Scott Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife Laci Peterson.

The nonprofit organization is seeking new evidence in Peterson’s original trial. https://t.co/FkBcKiqCDh

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 19, 2024

Peterson’s attorneys, members of the Los Angeles Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to exonerating the wrongfully convicted, have filed legal papers alleging violations of federal and state constitutional rights. They refer to newly discovered evidence that they think strengthens the claim of Peterson’s innocence.

In this case, which captivated America, Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife in a historic, high-profile trial. Laci Peterson, 27, was eight months pregnant when she mysteriously disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002. The bodies of Laci and her unborn child were found in San Francisco Bay several months later, in April 2003.

The Los Angeles Innocence Project pointed out that its review of the evidence presented at Peterson’s first trial highlighted the absence of several pieces of information crucial to the defense in the case files.

In particular, substantial discrepancies between the police reports and the court records used during the trial were highlighted. New information was revealed, including details of a burglary in the Petersons’ neighborhood, a van fire on the day Laci disappeared in 2002, and documents relating to interviews with key witnesses.

These elements could help determine responsibility for the tragic death of Laci and her unborn child.

Scott Peterson was denied a new trial following allegations of misconduct by a jury member during the original trial.

The decision came more than a year after the California Supreme Court instructed the Superior Court judge to consider whether the juror’s misconduct had compromised the fairness of Peterson’s trial.