SAN DIEGO — Convicted killer Scott Peterson appeared in court Tuesday in the Bay Area for the latest hearing in his bid for a new trial. The Los Angeles Innocence Project has made a motion for new DNA testing on evidence in the case.
Appearing remotely from prison, Peterson spoke briefly to answer a couple of questions from the judge in San Mateo County Superior Court.
Peterson was convicted of the 2002 killing of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and the couple's unborn son, Connor. Their bodies were found months later in San Francisco Bay.
Defense attorneys now claim a burglary at a neighbor’s home may be related to Laci's disappearance. And, they want new DNA testing on a mattress inside a burned-out van found one mile from Peterson's house in Modesto, the day after Laci went missing on Christmas Eve 2002.
“Mr. Peterson has two objectives. One is to get the discovery and the DNA testing that we're requesting as soon as we possibly can. The second objective is to protect the integrity of our investigation that is ongoing,” said defense attorney Paula Mitchell in court.
The California Supreme Court overturned Peterson's death sentence in 2020. Later, he was re-sentenced to life in prison without parole.
“Ultimately the defense is going to make a motion for a new trial. So, they're laying the groundwork right now,” said civil rights attorney Paula Canny, who is not associated with Peterson’s case.
Canny told reporters outside San Mateo court that the prosecution may order its own DNA testing on the evidence, rather than wait for a court order to compel it. “That, to me, is the most practical thing, just do the DNA testing. And then depending on those results there will be other motions,” Canny said.
A hearing is set for May 29 on the motion for new DNA testing.
Peterson grew up in San Diego and attended the University of San Diego High School. He was arrested in 2003 near Torrey Pines golf course. Peterson had dyed his hair blonde and police found $15,000 in cash inside the car he was driving.
WATCH RELATED: LA Innocence Project takes up Scott Peterson case two decades post-murder conviction