Scott Peterson juror Richelle Nice could testify in exchange for immunity offer as wife killer seeks new trial

California prosecutors will supply immunity to Juror No. 7 within the 2004 homicide trial of Scott Peterson because the convicted wife killer seeks to have his case overturned.

Peterson was convicted of killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, then dumping them within the San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve in 2002. They washed up individually months later. 

Richelle Good is predicted to testify at a Feb. 25 listening to as a part of Peterson’s attraction. His legal professionals accuse her of mendacity on a jury questionnaire forward of the high-profile trial, alleging she had an ax to grind as a lady who had additionally confronted home violence whereas pregnant.

Prosecutors will grant her immunity so she will testify freely with out the chance of self-incrimination, Stanislaus County District Legal professional Birgit Fladager introduced Monday. With out immunity, Good mentioned she would invoke her Fifth Modification proper to stay silent.

“We’re happy to know that Ms Good can be granted immunity,” Pat Harris, an lawyer for Peterson, informed Fox Information Tuesday. “We sincerely hope that Ms. Good will inform the total fact, and we consider that she’s going to.”

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“It’s the protection’s final likelihood of getting the conviction thrown out now that they’ve exhausted all appeals and collateral assaults primarily based on the details,” mentioned Neama Rahmani, a Los Angeles-based lawyer and former federal prosecutor. “They’ve already succeeded on getting the demise penalty overturned, so a brand new trial can be an enormous setback for Laci, Conner, and justice for his or her murders.”

Peterson initially obtained a demise sentence in 2005 – however in December a resentencing modified that to life with out parole.

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In her jury questionnaire, Good denied having been the sufferer of against the law or having been concerned in a previous lawsuit, in line with Peterson’s protection crew. However they are saying she hid the truth that she had been crushed whereas pregnant by a boyfriend in 2001 and that one other event, pregnant with a distinct youngster, she obtained a restraining order towards a boyfriend’s ex – which Peterson’s legal professionals say quantities to a kind of lawsuit.

Peterson’s legal professionals contend that Good’s standing as a home violence survivor biased her within the case and that she purposely tried to get onto the jury.

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“I don’t assume you may make a cogent argument that anyone who’s pregnant and has been the sufferer of violence can go right into a trial and on the very least not really feel some bias in the direction of a circumstance the place a sufferer is a pregnant girl who principally had violence happen,” Harris informed reporters Monday after a listening to.

Good has denied their claims.

“I didn’t deceive get on this trial to fry Scott,” she informed the Modesto Bee in 2017.

The truth that prosecutors will supply immunity might imply that they consider she didn’t perjure herself and that Peterson’s conviction will stand, Rahmani mentioned.

“Studying the tea leaves, it’s a signal that the prosecution believes Good gained’t present testimony that can overturn Peterson’s conviction,” he mentioned. “The state doesn’t should grant her immunity.”

Nevertheless, if she admits to mendacity, the courtroom may have an opportunity to resolve whether or not she might have been truthful and neutral, Rahmani added.

Peterson’s destiny rests on that likelihood.

The Related Press contributed to this report.