Father speaks up for Scott

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2:34 p.m.: REDWOOD CITY - Scott Peterson’s father took the witness stand today and proclaimed his love for his son while trying to prevent him from the being sentenced to death.

“I love him, very much,” Lee Peterson said after gazing at his son for a few moments. “I just have great respect for him.”

Scott Peterson, convicted Nov. 12 of murdering his pregnant wife and unborn son, sat unmoving at the counsel table.

Lee Peterson described himself as “frightened, depressed” and “deeply saddened” that his son was found guilty of murder and now faces a jury that will recommend whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

“Just all the emotions you might associate with losing someone you love and then having your son in this type of jeopardy,” Lee Peterson said. “It’s beyond belief.”

Peterson’s defense began its case this morning in the trial’s penalty phase after prosecutors Tuesday said Peterson deserved to die for murdering his wife, Laci, and the couple’s unborn son, whom they had planned to name Conner.

The prosecution rested in the penalty phase this morning after four of Laci Peterson’s family members, including her mother, testified Tuesday. Sharon Rocha was not in court Wednesday morning after angrily confronting Scott Peterson from the witness stand Tuesday. She was in court after the lunch break.

Defense attorney Pat Harris, rather than lead defense counsel Mark Geragos, gave the opening statement for the penalty phase and questioned Lee Peterson.

The switch was likely done to distance jurors from the attorney whose arguments they rejected during the guilt phase of the trial, legal analysts said.

“Pat Harris is a fresh voice for the defense,” former San Francisco prosecutor James Hammer said. “I think he has the right tone so far.”

Former San Mateo County prosecutor Dean Johnson also hailed the move.

"(For Geragos) to get up now and say, ‘You've rejected me, but …’ would have set the wrong tone for the penalty phase,” Johnson said.

Harris, while saying the defense disagreed with the verdict, urged jurors to now focus on the life-and-death issue facing them.

The defense plans to call witnesses ranging from Peterson’s family to teachers to coaches to former employers in a bid to highlight “what’s good” about him.

“Listen close; this is a life worth saving,” Harris said. “We’re not asking you to let this man go free. Life without parole is not some sort of holiday. Life without parole is a horrible existence.”

Harris called the task facing jurors “an extremely individual decision.” Jurors must unanimously vote for death to come back with that sentence.

“Were talking about the power of life and death,” Harris said. “This is something you’re going to be living with for the rest of your life.”

During five months of trial testimony that detailed everything from what Scott Peterson said he ate for breakfast the day his wife was reported missing to whom he wrote checks to, jurors probably feel they know who he is, Harris said.

“(Over) the next week, I will prove that wrong,” Harris said. “You don’t know who Scott Peterson is. … This is a man who constantly put others first.”

Prosecutors have portrayed Peterson as a self-obsessed adulterer who murdered his pregnant wife to live a jet-set life without the baggage of alimony or child support. They also suggested his parents provided him a ready supply of cash and would do anything to support him.