Convicted Killer Scott Peterson’s Death Penalty Reversed (2)

Convicted wife and child killer Scott Peterson had his death penalty sentence reversed Monday by a unanimous California Supreme Court, which cited errors in jury selection.

Justices in a 7-0 ruling upheld Peterson’s conviction for first-degree murder in the death of Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant when she disappeared just before Christmas 2002. Peterson’s conviction for second-degree murder in the death of their son, who a doctor testified would have survived outside the womb, also was upheld.

The trial court erroneously dismissed many prospective jurors because of written questionnaire responses expressing opposition to the death penalty, “even though ...