REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - A juror in the Scott Peterson trial has been offered immunity before testifying at a hearing that could determine whether a new trial is granted, authorities said.Richelle Nice was Juror 7 in the trial that ended with Peterson's conviction for killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son.
However, Peterson's attorney said Nice was guilty of juror misconduct because she failed to reveal during the jury selection that she had been beaten by a boyfriend while she was pregnant.
He said Peterson deserves a new trial.The offer to Nice will come before she testifies at a Feb. 25 evidentiary hearing, Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager announced Monday.Peterson's lawyers want to overturn his murder conviction on grounds of bias and misconduct.
They contend that Nice lied on a jury questionnaire when she denied having been the victim of a crime or involved in a lawsuit.ALSO: SF police excessive force case that caused fight between DA, chief beginsAttorneys say Nice did not reveal during jury selection that she had been beaten by a boyfriend while pregnant in 2001.