Convicted killer Scott Peterson's likelihood for a brand new trial within the murders of his pregnant spouse and unborn son 20 years in the past hinges on whether or not a California juror who helped ship him to jail in 2004 amid worldwide publicity was biased as a result of she was a home violence sufferer.
Although she is recognized in courtroom paperwork solely as Juror seven, Richelle Good used her identify when she co-authored a guide concerning the case with six different jurors. Through the trial, her dyed crimson hair made her recognisable and earned her the nickname "Strawberry Shortcake."
She is anticipated to testify Friday underneath a grant of immunity from prosecution. Her look will come firstly of a weeklong listening to centred on whether or not she lied about her historical past with home violence to get on a jury so she may vote to convict Peterson.
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"This listening to is vital," stated Pat Harris, certainly one of Peterson's attorneys. "That is his likelihood to point out that she did commit misconduct and to have the entire thing thrown out."
Ms Good didn't disclose throughout jury choice that she sought a restraining order whereas pregnant in 2000, saying she "actually fears for her unborn little one" due to threats from her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend. She additionally didn't disclose that her boyfriend beat her in 2001 whereas she was pregnant with one other little one.
Laci Peterson, 27, was killed when she was eight months pregnant with a son, whom the Petersons deliberate to call Conner. Investigators stated that on Christmas Eve 2002, Scott Peterson dumped his spouse's physique from his fishing boat into San Francisco Bay.
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Mr Peterson was ultimately arrested after Amber Frey, a therapeutic massage therapist dwelling in Fresno, advised police they'd begun relationship a month earlier than Laci Peterson's loss of life. She stated he had advised her his spouse was lifeless. Mr Peterson has maintained his innocence all through.
Though the state Supreme Courtroom threw out Peterson's loss of life sentence in December and ordered Superior Courtroom Choose Anne-Christine Massullo to resolve if Ms Good tainted his trial, it stated "there was appreciable different circumstantial proof incriminating Peterson."
If Mr Peterson will get a brand new trial, Mr Harris stated they will current new proof that burglars have been close by on the day Laci Peterson disappeared, that witnesses noticed her alive that day, and that her foetus was "alive for no less than one other 5 to 6 days" based mostly on an examination of the foetal stays.
Nevertheless, prosecutors stated Peterson's attorneys have offered no proof to assist their assertions that he deserves a brand new trial as a result of Good had a "darker motive" to be on the jury "and was in essence a stealth juror."
Relying on Good's testimony on Friday, Mr Peterson's attorneys plan to placed on witnesses together with fellow jurors and co-authors of their guide, "We, the Jury." Additionally they need Individuals journal reporter Johnny Dodd to testify concerning the "extraordinary" 17 letters Ms Good wrote to Mr Peterson after his conviction and the eight letters Mr Peterson wrote to Ms Good.
Two filmmakers who labored on the post-trial tv documentary "The Homicide of Laci Peterson" are to testify that they seen on Ms Good's wall a photograph of a kid sporting pyjamas that stated "little-man."
Justin Falconer, a fellow juror earlier than he was discharged, may testify that Ms Good talked rather a lot about Conner, referring to him as "little man." Mr Peterson's attorneys say he would additionally testify that Ms Good stated she was having monetary issues and that they joked about post-trial guide and film offers.
To have his conviction thrown out, Mr Peterson's attorneys should present Ms Massullo that Ms Good dedicated misconduct and did so "based mostly on a bias towards convicting Scott," Mr Harris stated.
Ms Good answered "no" on a juror questionnaire when she was requested if she had ever been a criminal offense sufferer or concerned in a lawsuit. She stated in a sworn declaration final 12 months that she did not "really feel 'victimised' the way in which the regulation would possibly outline that time period," and did not assume the restraining order was a lawsuit.
Her new lawyer has advised each prosecutors and defence attorneys that she's going to cite her Fifth Modification proper in opposition to self-incrimination till she is granted immunity from any prosecution for perjury.
The lawyer, Geoffrey Carr, stated he insisted on immunity to guard his consumer from issues which might be acknowledged with certainty in final 12 months's sworn assertion however the place she would possibly hedge on the witness stand.
"A lot of the substance of it's right, however not all, and a few of it's a matter of the way you interpret stuff," he advised The Related Press. Typically "the language is extra assertive" within the sworn declaration than it was in actuality.
"I am not anticipating bombshells" or "any surprises about what she's going to say," Mr Carr stated. He stated he is telling Good that "her solely obligation at this level is to inform the stone bloody fact."
Stanislaus County prosecutors are sparring with Peterson's attorneys over the importance of Good's refusal to testify with out immunity.
"A juror's refusal to cooperate in an investigation of her personal misconduct might nicely proof her bias," Peterson's attorneys stated in a courtroom submitting, including that "a witness has lied underneath oath is definitely related to credibility."
However prosecutors stated that "ought to Juror Quantity Seven train her privilege in opposition to self-incrimination ... no inference be drawn as to the witness's credibility."