Scott Peterson murder convictions to be re-examined in county superior court
REDWOOD CITY, CA - DECEMBER 9: Scott Peterson (L) sits in the courtroom at the San Mateo Superior Courthouse with his attorney Pat Harris (R) during defense closing arguments in the penalty phase of Peterson's trial December 9, 2004 in Redwood City,
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Scott Peterson, whose death penalty was overturned in August for the 2005 murder conviction of his pregant wife, is now getting his case sent back to San Mateo County Superior Court to be re-examined.
The California Supreme Court's decision on Wednesday, to determine if Peterson should receive a new trial, appears to be centered around a juror, Richelle Nice, who failed to disclose she got a restraining order against a woman who harassed her while she was pregnant, the Chronicle reports.
The court said the juror committed "prejudicial misconduct" by failing to disclose she'd been involved with other legal proceedings in which she feared for her unborn child.
Peterson's wife and unborn child, vanished in 2002. Their bodies washed ashore months later in San Francisco Bay.