As convicted murderer Scott Peterson grows one step closer to getting a new trial, the family of his slain wife is forced to relive their nightmare. The family strongly opposes Peterson’s bid for a new trial.
Peterson, now 48, was convicted of killing his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Connor, in 2005. He was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to die. His death sentence was overturned last year, and he is currently serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.
But now, Peterson is gearing up for the possibility of a new trial. A California judge ruled Wednesday that she anticipates a hearing early next year to determine if he will get a new trial. The ruling centers around possible juror misconduct.
The problem in question is whether or not a juror lied about her experiences with domestic violence. The juror in question denies that she was influenced by her own background with domestic abuse. But the defense maintains Peterson was not given a fair trial.
“Everyone is stressed about the possibility of a new trial,” a source close to the family tells PEOPLE. “There’s no closure. The nightmare continues day after day. It has been painful every single day since Christmas Eve, 2002.”
The source also told the outlet that Laci’s mother is “devastated” over her daughter’s death and recent court decisions. They do not want Peterson to get a new trial. Laci’s family believes the right man is in prison for her murder and that for them, the case is solved.
“We believe very strongly that the right person is in prison,” said the source. “There is no murderer at large. Scott Peterson was convicted and put in jail. This case was solved.”
Laci, 27, was eight months pregnant when she went missing on Christmas Eve in 2002. Investigators believe that Peterson dumped his pregnant wife’s body off his fishing boat into the San Francisco Bay. The bodies were recovered from the Bay four months after they went missing.
