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Peterson Jurors Expected to View Boat

Posted on: Monday, 8 November 2004, 12:00 CST

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Jurors in Scott Peterson's murder trial are expected to view on Monday the 14-foot boat prosecutors allege Peterson used to ferry his wife's body out onto San Francisco Bay.

They have deliberated for two-and-half days without reaching a verdict and enter their third full day Monday.

Panelists were sequestered throughout the weekend in an area hotel where they could only watch sports and movies on television, and could use a computer without access to the Internet.

Judge Alfred A. Delucchi has decided to allow them to deliberate only Monday-Friday. Twenty-one bailiffs have been sworn in to watch over them throughout the process.

On Friday, jurors asked to view evidence, including the boat, a source told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Panelists were expected to view the boat Monday.

Peterson is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Laci, and the fetus she carried. Prosecutors claim Peterson killed Laci around Dec. 24, 2002, then sunk her weighted body in the bay. The remains of Laci and the fetus were discovered a few miles from where Peterson claims to have gone fishing alone the day his wife vanished.

Jurors have two choices should they decide to convict Peterson - first-or second-degree. First-degree convictions, carrying the death penalty of life without parole, would mean jurors believe Peterson planned the killings in advance. Second-degree murder convictions don't require a finding of premeditation, and carry sentences of 15-years-to-life for each count.

On Thursday, jurors asked to review, among other things, photographs taken at the Petersons' home in the days after Laci vanished.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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