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Special Reports - The Peterson Case - Peterson: Trial Updates

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004

Defense requests new jury for penalty phase

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4:24 p.m.: REDWOOD CITY -- Scott Peterson's attorney submitted a formal request this afternoon to move the penalty phase of his capital murder trial, which would also require picking a new jury.

Details of the motion were not immediately available.

Los Angeles attorney Mark Geragos, citing pervasive publicity, persuaded a judge in January to move the high-interest trial from Stanislaus County to San Mateo County, but was unsuccessful in a subsequent bid to move it again to Los Angeles. Jury selection in Redwood City stretched nearly three months.

After a five-month trial, Peterson on Friday was declared guilty of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner, on or just before Christmas Eve 2002.

Judge Alfred Delucchi had scheduled the penalty phase to begin Monday in Redwood City. Sentencing options are execution or life in prison without the possibility of parole.