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'Nightmare over': Laci Peterson's family relieved after killer Scott Peterson DENIED new trial bid

Judge Anne-Christine Massullo said there was no evidence of misconduct by juror Richelle Nice during jury selection and denied Peterson's bid for a new trial

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: The family of slain Laci Peterson is relieved after a judge denied her husband and convicted murderer Scott Peterson's bid for a new trial on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. "It's a tremendous relief to everyone who loved Laci," a source, who is in contact with her family, told PEOPLE. "Everyone was so worried that they were going to have to go through the pain of a trial again, and no one wanted to deal with that," the source added. 

It has been nearly 20 years since Scott Peterson slayed his pregnant wife Laci and their unborn child they named Conner on Christmas Eve in 2002. Scott was arrested as a prime suspect after his mistress Amber Frey came forward and tipped the police of his confession to the crime. Four months later, Laci's body was found in San Francisco Bay, just a mile away from where her unborn baby's body was found. Scott was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in both deaths and was sentenced to death.

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In 2020, Scott was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole due to jury misconduct. In the new trial, defense attorneys claimed a juror in the case called Richelle Nice intentionally concealed her own domestic violence case during jury selection and that she may have been a pro-prosecution stealth juror. However, after months of litigation, Judge Anne-Christine Massullo, the same judge who commuted the death sentence to life in prison, said there was no evidence of misconduct by Nice during jury selection and denied his trial. Scott will continue to spend his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.

"This is the best news we could've gotten," the family source said, adding, "It really felt like next year was going to be very difficult, reliving the whole thing yet again. Now that's not going to happen. This was the best Christmas gift ever."

Netizens were also cheerful after news broke out that Scott was denied a new trial. A user celebrating Laci's victory wrote on Twitter, "Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Sorry not sorry! Celebrating the fact that Truth and Justice prevailed today! #scottpeterson #lacipeterson." "An early Christmas gift for the Rocha family. The holiday has to already be so hard," wrote another user.

"Such a riveting case. I wish we one day will find out exactly what he did that day. Even if it's on his deathbed," read a tweet. One user simply shared a gif. "Glad for Lacey's family the Rocha's, 18 year trial nightmare over. My heart goes out to them for everything they've been though. #scottpeterson," wrote a user. 

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