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Peterson Sentenced to Death

By TChris, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 10:56:12 AM EST
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by TChris

Scott Peterson has been sentenced to death.

Judge Alfred A. Delucchi denied a defense request for a new trial before upholding the jury's recommendation that he be sentenced to death, calling the slayings of Laci and her fetus "cruel, uncaring, heartless and callous."

TalkLeft's coverage of the case is collected here.

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    Peterson Sentenced to Death | 35 comments (35 topical)
    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#1)
    by Whitney on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 11:46:28 AM EST
    WOW!!!! Powerful impact statements! I'm a victim's advocate in Florida and never thought I'd see a more intense victim statement than the one Brenda VanDam gave, but the Rocha's ROCKED!!! They've been pretty quiet and respectful for the last two years, so I'm glad they got the chance to confront Scott and pretty much eviscerate him. I lost a daughter who was murdered by her boyfriend (much different circumstances)and my I asked the Da to NOT seek the death penalty. But they did and they got it. I witnessed it and thought it was barbaric. this was when we used Old Sparky in Fl. I always thought jurors should see an actual electrocution because they wouldn't ever want to sentence someone to death. I then became a psychiatrist and now a victim's advocate. I've since then witnessed 11 executions with the victim's families and lethal injection seems just too peaceful. It's not as difficult to observe, and that's both good and bad. Where I am, Prosecutors generally go with the families wishes, most of the time, and in Florida, that usually death! Anyway, the Petetson's behavior was atrocious but understandable. To call them victims was inappropriate in my opinion. This was the victim's day, Laci and her friends and family.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 12:03:54 PM EST
    Whitney... Good for you! In this way too "politically correct" society, we (well most libs anyway) seem all too concerned for the criminals rigts and tend to forget about the victims. Too bad most of these people aren't there to fight for people like your daughter that had no second chance. I also agree that not only jurors, but the general public should witness executions. After all, if we are going to claim it acts as a deterent, why do it behind closed doors? Show the horror of it and maybe that next potential murderer will think twice?

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 12:33:34 PM EST
    "I'm glad they got the chance to confront Scott and pretty much eviscerate him." Sentencing him to death was not sufficient punishment? He also needed to be "eviscerated"? And this makes you "glad"? Wow.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 12:45:06 PM EST
    b.b., give me some semblance of a working definition of "political correctness". please. i beg of you.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#5)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 12:49:35 PM EST
    He also needed to be "eviscerated"? And this makes you "glad"? Wow. No, rw, he didn't need it, but the Rochas did. And, yes, I am also glad they were able to do so.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#6)
    by cp on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 12:55:26 PM EST
    hmmm, let's see if i have this straight, and stop me when i go astray: 1. no forensic evidence to connect scott peterson to his wife's disappearance and death. 2. no eyewitness evidence connecting scott peterson to his wife's disappearance and death. 3. no actual cause of death determined by the medical examiner. 4. three discredited "theories" of the crime, presented by the prosecution. 5. the jury being allowed to tamper with state's evidence (the boat), while deliberating. as near as i can tell, mr. peterson was convicted for cheating on his pregnant wife. last time i checked, that was not a capital offense, but i could be wrong. so, mr. or ms. psychiatrist, who is the "victim" here again? twelve confirmed idiots convict a guy for cheating on his wife, and sentence him to death for the same offense, and you think this is a good thing? what state are you licensed in, exactly? where did you get your degree, the "baby doc school of psychiatry" in port au prince?

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#7)
    by Patrick on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 12:57:23 PM EST
    Those opposed to the death penalty can take some comfort in knowing that California rarely executes anyone sentenced to death, it is no deterrent here for that reason. I heard on a Sacramento radio station this morning, that there is a man on death row who is pleading for his sentence to be carried out, but the state won't do it. If we support assisted suicide (Or at least a person's right to choose) why should we not let this man have his sentence carried out?

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#8)
    by Johnny on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 12:59:57 PM EST
    I gotta go with cp on this one. I might add that the media tried and convicted Scott before he was even arraigned. That ticks me off. Every picture was of a beaming, pregnant Laci, and a scowling, scheming, brooding Scott. Ban the media from reporting on any case until after the trial is done. His appeals may go well for him though.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:13:48 PM EST
    why should we not let this man have his sentence carried out?
    Not for nothing Patrick, but the death row inmate you mentioned could very easily execute himself with a bedsheet. He wants to die, but wants the state to do the dirty work? That's lame. I have no moral stance against the death penalty, I just think in our system it is inevitable that an innocent man will be put to death. To me, that is unacceptable. For heinous murderers, life in jail is far worse punishment. I know I'd rather die than spend life in prison. The deterrent factor is non-existent, IMO. With all the things swimming in a murderer's mind during the act, what will happen if caught is way down the list.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:18:28 PM EST
    Don't worry bleeding hearts...chances are Scott will die of old age (the leading cause of deaths on death row) before the great (LIBERAL) state of California offs him! They are too concerned about not pissing off any illegal aliens at the moment.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#11)
    by scarshapedstar on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:34:10 PM EST
    "To call them victims was inappropriate in my opinion. This was the victim's day, Laci and her friends and family." I'm sure they'll be happy for the rest of their lives. "I also agree that not only jurors, but the general public should witness executions. After all, if we are going to claim it acts as a deterent, why do it behind closed doors? Show the horror of it and maybe that next potential murderer will think twice?" Yes, public terror is a worthy goal, Comrade Stalin.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#12)
    by Patrick on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:34:12 PM EST
    Kdog, For heinous murderers, life in jail is far worse punishment. I know I'd rather die than spend life in prison. Perhaps for you it would be, but there are people out there, and on death row, who do not think that way. Entire criminal enterprises are run from prisons, inside the prison and out.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:35:50 PM EST
    dadler... give me some semblance of a working definition of "political correctness". Well.... not sure what the 'legal' definition is... but my definition would be not saying (or doing) anything that might piss anybody else off.... even though it may be true. It's not kosher to refer to any ethnic group by their name... (opps..did I say kosher...sorry if I offend any jewish people out there)

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:42:16 PM EST
    Peterson = Death Sarah Johnson = Guilty on all counts Great day for Justice! Oh wait, verdict in Blake case at 5:30 EST Trifecta???

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:42:32 PM EST
    cp... hmmm, let's see if i have this straight, and stop me when i go astray: OK...stop right there. If you weren't on the Jury...you have no clue what they saw or didn't see!

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#16)
    by Whitney on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:45:41 PM EST
    CP, Peterson was convicted by a jury of his peers who heard ALL the evidence and he had a million dollar attorney representing him who the judge bent over backwards to accomodate! It's our system, like it or not. I think it works pretty good. Just because you don't like the verdict or don't agree with it, doesn't mean it's not fair or righteous. I've lived in Israel, Pakistan and the USA. We got it good here!

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#17)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:45:43 PM EST
    Entire criminal enterprises are run from prisons, inside the prison and out.
    Fair point. But not enough for me to justify the inevitability of an innocent man being murdered by the state.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 01:48:05 PM EST
    scareshapedstar... Yes, public terror is a worthy goal, Comrade Stalin. I'm only saying if they claim it's a deterent, make it so & stop doing it behind closed doors. Let the potential criminals know the stakes going in... that's all. The only public terror here is knowing that when people are murdered...thousands of bleeding hearts like you jump to the killer's defense.... now that's scary!

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 02:37:46 PM EST
    Aw, they acquitted him. Bummer, hey Liza?

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#20)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 02:53:05 PM EST
    It is clear that, even with the best of safeguards, innocent persons may be executed, and that is a horror. It is also clear, even with the best of safeguards, that innocent people will be murdered by unexecuted murderers. Some murderers who are not executed will murder prison guards and/or other prisoners, and/or will excape or be paroled and murder civilians outside prison. The choice is clear: either the possibility of an innocent person being executed if there is a death penalty, or the certainty of innocents murdered without a death penalty.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#21)
    by glanton on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 02:56:21 PM EST
    Of course, even with the death penalty you still have "the certainty of innocents murdered," but it doesn't really sound as effective that way, does it sarcastic? Never have I seen numbers that the death penalty operates as a deterrant in any meaningful way. There are other arguments for the death penalty that I can buy much more easily than that one.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#22)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 03:12:03 PM EST
    Of course, even with the death penalty you still have "the certainty of innocents murdered," but it doesn't really sound as effective that way, does it sarcastic? Well, just for the sake of discussion, let's say that you're right. How many innocents have been executed vs. how many innocents have been murdered by convicted murderers? I made no claims about the death penalty being a deterrant, I'm not sure why you brought it up.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#24)
    by glanton on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 03:50:00 PM EST
    sarcastic: I brought up the deterrance thing as an addendum to my response to you, given that your primary concern, quite reasonably, seems to be minimizing murder victims. As to your rebuttal, I can only say that there's something extra sinister, in my view, about a state putting an innocent person to death. Really I don't know where I am on the death penalty, like PPJ I waver, but innocent executions represent the very bottom worst of what a government can do to its subjects.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#25)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 04:08:13 PM EST
    glanton, I too decry an innocent being executed by the state. We are talking about the absolute end of life. To me, all innocent murders are equally reprehensible regardless of my emotional reponse to the cause of death. My concern is, as you pointed out, that the fewest number of innocents get murdered.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:21:00 PM EST
    et al - The issue with Peterson for me is real simple. It is circumstantial. Do I believe he is guilty? Yes. Do I "know" he is guilty? No. LWOP, yes. The big needle? No. Of course the fear of many who do believe him guilty, is that five years from now, he will be released because of some "technicality." Funny, one side is worryimng about a wrongful execution. The other is worrying about a wrongful release. I am a social liberal. And I know I am because I know that a wrongful release is better than a wrongful execution.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#27)
    by John Mann on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:29:05 PM EST
    In an America as barbaric as that of George W. Bush, it's not surprising to hear cheers of joy and unbridled gloating over the death sentence handed Scott Peterson, a man convicted on the flimsiest of evidence. In the Robert Blake and OJ Simpson cases, the jury said, "Well, there's no one else who could be a suspect, and by golly, there's plenty of evidence against them - but since these guys are big stars, we'll let them go." In the Peterson case, the jury apparently said to itself, "Well there's no real evidence that this guy did it, but we can't think of anyone else it could have been, so we'll sentence him to death and then get on tv and tell everyone how wonderful we are." If ever there were an execution that could sell millions of pay-per-view tickets, this one is it - and the misfits who gloat about it can sit there drooling in front of their television sets when the needle goes in.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:41:43 PM EST
    BB knows s/he is limited to four comments a day. His excess chatter will be deleted. Whitney, you are on the wrong site if you are here to support the Rochas' victim impact statements. This is a site that supports the rights of those accused of crime. Not that you aren't welcome to hang around, but I just wanted to make that clear. As to Robert Blake and the trifecta, Liza, only a mentally and morally challenged person would harbor such thoughts in my constitutionally protected view.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#29)
    by John Mann on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:45:12 PM EST
    TL said: "As to Robert Blake and the trifecta, Liza, only a mentally and morally challenged person would harbor such thoughts in my constitutionally protected view." Well friggin said, Jeralyn.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#30)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:48:03 PM EST
    They love it - if only they could lap up the blood. Anyone who wants to do the research will find that the states with the most executions are always near the top in homicide rates - check it out. Of course it could just be that those states consider violence(including executions)a more honorable,manly way to settle differences - its another rock-solid-old fashioned-value.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#31)
    by cp on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 07:41:28 PM EST
    whitney, i beg to differ with you. i'm willing to bet real money that i read, saw and heard the bulk of what constituted the state's evidence against mr. peterson. given the 24/7 coverage of the case, had there been a "smoking gun" directly, or even very closely, indirectly linking mr. peterson to the disappearance and death of his wife, i would have heard about it. i challenge you to prove otherwise. further, comments by the jurors, subsequent to the trial's conclusion, lend even more support to my position, with regard to the flimsy nature of both the state's case, and what passed for deliberations by the jury. a prosecutor may well be able to get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich, but he shouldn't be able get one to convict it, absent some compelling evidence. in the scott peterson case, there was none. mr. peterson was convicted because his pretty, young wife was pregnant, and he was a pig. the pictures of her and the fetus' dead bodies was the single most compelling piece of evidence presented by the state. that's what swayed several members of the jury, in their own words. a jury of their peers convicted many people, who have subsequently been exonerated, by dna evidence. so much for the infallability of a jury of my peers.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#32)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 01:41:27 PM EST
    And I know I am because I know that a wrongful release is better than a wrongful execution
    . Amen to that.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#33)
    by cp on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 03:39:07 PM EST
    mark, not for too much longer. at the rate things are going, w will be the next impeached president, and for something far more important than lying about a bj in the oval office. as for us "lefties", give me a break, moron. to require actual evidence of a person's guilt is neither a left or right desire, merely that of one who expects fairness. idiot. whitney, sorry about your daughter, though that has nothing whatever to do with this thread. it's clear from your posts, that event has left you embittered and angry, willing to kill anyone accused of a horrible crime, whether or not the state actually proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they are guilty. actually, in the peterson case, the state couldn't even prove that laci peterson died at the hands of another. in other words, they couldn't even prove a crime had been committed, much less that her husband was responsible. but, you haven't the guts to do it yourself, you prefer the state to act on your behalf. psychiatrist, heal thy self.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#34)
    by Patrick on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 03:52:50 PM EST
    actually, in the peterson case, the state couldn't even prove that laci peterson died at the hands of another. in other words, they couldn't even prove a crime had been committed, much less that her husband was responsible. What a load of bunk. Doesn't the fact that he was CONVICTED, tell you this? Obviously it was proven to the jury, and in this country that's who you have to prove it to. Not some commenter on a leftwing blog.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#35)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 07:39:24 PM EST
    If ever there were an execution that could sell millions of pay-per-view tickets, this one is it - and the misfits who gloat about it can sit there drooling in front of their television sets when the needle goes in. Great summation John. Sadly, we're now the minority (misfits) for opposing mindless mob vengeance. Americans are a group of sheep being led over a cliff by blind sheepdogs (the media) at the behest of the wolves. Our trials and our prisons are celebrated bloodsports, watched by people seeking to reaffirm their egos and add meaning to their directionless material lives.

    Re: Peterson Sentenced to Death (none / 0) (#36)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 04:21:51 AM EST
    The electric chair in the USA, a beheading in Saudi Arabia, a stoneing in Nigeria... What's the difference? The end result is still the same...

    Peterson Sentenced to Death | 35 comments (35 topical)