A California judge on Tuesday set three new dates in court for Scott Peterson, the man imprisoned for killing his pregnant wife, who is now working with the Los Angeles Innocence Project to clear his name nearly 20 years after his original conviction.
Peterson is expected to appear in court on April 16, May 29 and July 15. The first hearing will deal with a motion to seal documents, while the second will revolve around new DNA testing and the third will address post-conviction discovery.
Peterson was initially sentenced to death for killing his wife Laci and her unborn child but the sentence was overturned in 2021, due to jury bias. He was subsequently resentenced to life without parole. Prosecutors allege that Peterson killed his eight months pregnant wife on Christmas Eve, before dumping her body in a river.
Now the LA Innocence Project is arguing that Laci could've actually witnessed burglars breaking into a neighbor's house. The group has theorized that the burglars then broke into the Peterson home and then kidnapped and killed Laci.
The non-profit first filed motions on behalf of Peterson in January "to order further discovery of evidence and allow new DNA testing to support our investigation into Mr. Peterson's claim of actual innocence," said director Paula Mitchell, according to the Associated Press.
The Innocence Project is seeking new DNA testing that could link the burglars to the tarps and other evidence uncovered when Laci's body was discovered. They have also asked for police materials - including audio and video recordings - connected to the initial burglary investigation.
