| Peterson Judge Sentences Him to Death By Jason Dearen - STAFF WRITER March 16, 2005 After a judge affirmed Scott Peterson's death sentence this morning for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci, her family stood at a podium and confronted the Modesto man in volcanic attacks that wrung tears and wails from the packed courtroom. Laci's brother, Brent Rocha, said he never liked Peterson and believed almost immediately after Laci's disappearance that Scott was responsible. |
| "There was always this arrogance about you ... but I never thought it would end up in murder!" Rocha said. Peterson, his face ghost- white, looked back at him, shaking his head slowly back and forth. "You didn't have the mental strength to support your family," Rocha said through clenched teeth, adding that Peterson had once confided in him that he was worried about his ability to provide for his family. As Rocha went on, Peterson's father suddenly erupted vocally from his seat in the gallery. |
| Peterson's mother, Jackie Peterson, then left the courtroom with a bailiff. Thirteen of the jurors and alternates who sat through the nearly 6-month trial sat in the jury box, staring down Peterson. Peterson, dressed in a suit and shackled in chains, writhed in his seat as Laci's family continued. Laci's sister Amy Rocha, Brent's wife Rose Rocha, her father Dennis Rocha and stepfather Ron Grantski followed Brent to the podium. "You deserve to burn in hell," Dennis Rocha exclaimed. |
| Delucchi asked Peterson if he wanted to make a statement. Peterson discussed it with his attorneys, and declined. "When you walk into the execution room, take a look out the window at Brooks Island and you'll know Laci and Conner are watching," Brent Rocha said. |
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| Wailing filled the courtroom.
Jurors stared at Peterson, some hugging each other and sobbing uncontrollably. After Rocha finished, Judge Alfred Delucchi read Peterson his order that he be sentenced to death. Delucchi called the murder "cruel, uncaring, heartless and callous." Peterson will be transferred to San Quentin State Prison sometime within the next 10 days. Peterson's case will automatically be appealed to the California Supreme Court, beginning an legal process that likely will take decades. |
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| Sharon Rocha, Laci's mother, spoke last. Staring nails at Peterson, she told him he is pure evil. "I know you're nothing but an empty, hollow shell ... you have no soul," she said. Sharon said she wanted Peterson to think often about what Laci was thinking as he killed her. She said she hoped the words would haunt him as he sits in his prison cell. In a role play, as she wept, Sharon Rocha said, "Scott, why are you killing me? What are you doing? Don't you know how much I loved you? ... You're my husband, my partner, my best friend. Scott, I wanna live, I don't wanna die!" |
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| LACI & CONNER Justice has been Served |
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| "You're a liar!~" Lee Peterson screamed as Judge Alfred Delucchi asked him to keep quiet. Peterson voluntarily left with his pastor in tow. Rocha continued, saying that he had bought a gun weeks after his sister's disappearance, and that he had planned to kill Peterson. "But I chose not to kill you myself so you would have to sweat and wait it out," Rocha said. "You slept next to her for weeks, knowing you were going to kill her. You ate the food she cooked for you, knowing you were going to kill her," he said. |
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| LEE |
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