As the final witness in the double-murder trial's penalty phase, a frail-looking Jackie Peterson took the stand in the packed Redwood City, Calif., courtroom Wednesday morning and pleaded for her son's life.
"He's been painted as the devil," sobbed Jackie Peterson, who carries a portable oxygen tank to assist in her breathing because of a lung ailment. "He's not that! He's never been that!"
Scott Peterson, 32, was convicted Nov. 12 of murdering of his wife Laci and the 8-month-old fetus she was carrying on around Christmas Eve of 2002.
The former fertilizer salesman faces either life without parole, as his lawyers are arguing for, or the death sentence.
Lead defense attorney Mark Geragos asked Jackie Peterson to describe Scott's formative years. She testified that Scott "was overly cautious" as a child when helping older people cross the street. He also loved dogs, she said, and once rescued a black Labrador. "When the owners came to claim the dog two weeks later, Scott had fallen in love with the dog and the owners let him keep it," his mother said.
"He's always been a nurturing, kind person all through his life," said Scott's mother. "He's an exceptional young man. He's not perfect, but he is a loving, nurturing, gentle person."
In conclusion – before Judge Alfred A. Delucchi told jurors to expect closing arguments and the start of deliberations on Thursday – Jackie said that if Scott were put to death, "We would lose a whole family, both Sharon (Laci's mother) and I. What a waste. It's irreversible."
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