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Judge will decide if Scott Peterson gets new trial by end of year

Final arguments underway in Scott Peterson's bid for new trial
Final arguments underway in Scott Peterson's bid for new trial 00:41

SAN MATEO — A judge will decide by the end of the year if convicted killer Scott Peterson will get a new trial.

Peterson's defense team says a biased juror denied him a fair trial back in 2004. 

The original trial ended with him being convicted of murdering his wife, Laci, and their unborn son.  

However, back in 2020, the California Supreme Court overturned Peterson's death sentence, and a judge was tasked with deciding if he received a fair trial. 

Final arguments concluded Thursday in Scott Peterson's bid for a new trial. The court heard from Peterson's attorney, Cliff Gardner, and attorney for "the People," Davis Harris. 

Laci's family was present in the courtroom, as well as Peterson's family. His sister-in-law Janie Peterson spoke to the media after the hearing concluded and said Peterson was "hopeful" about what's next. 

San Mateo Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo will have 90 days to rule after both sides return memorandum's of decision, which has to be submitted by Sept. 16, at the latest. 

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