SCOTT PETERSON WAS CONVICTED OF MURDERING HIS PREGNANT WIFE IN 2004 AND SENTENCED TO DEATH - HIS DEATH SENTENCE WAS OVERTURNED - COULD HE GET A NEW TRIAL?

"48 Hours" Investigates in "Scott Peterson: Case in Question"

Saturday, May 1

Scott Peterson, who nearly two decades ago made international headlines for being convicted of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, was back in a California courtroom this week because his death penalty conviction has been overturned. Peterson will get a new trial as to his sentence, but his supporters are pushing for a completely new trial saying they have new exonerating evidence. Could he get a new trial?

Correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti and 48 HOURS investigate the disappearance Laci Peterson and the latest in the murder case against her husband in "Scott Peterson: Case in Question" to be broadcast Saturday, May 1 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

"This was a perfect true-crime case," says Jack Leonard, senior editor of investigations at the Los Angeles Times. "It had mystery, murder, sex, media obsession."

The case rocked the nation. Laci Peterson, 27, vanished on Christmas Eve 2002 from Modesto, Calif. She was eight months pregnant. Scott Peterson told police that morning he drove 90 miles to a marina because he wanted to go fishing in his new boat. He told police when he returned there was no sign of his wife. Her stepfather reported her missing that evening. Her body, and that of the couple's unborn baby, Connor, were found in April 2003 on the shores of the San Francisco Bay near where Scott had said he had gone fishing. Investigators initially focused on Peterson without calling him a suspect. The story took a turn when it was revealed that Scott Peterson also had a girlfriend, Amber Frey.

"Twenty years later, this case still holds a lot of interest," says Leonard, a CBS News consultant, "mostly because it remains an enduring mystery."

Peterson was convicted of killing his wife in 2004 and sentenced to death. Now, there's a new twist. California's highest court overturned his death sentence last summer, and his attorneys are arguing he should get a new trial.

"Scott did not get a fair trial," says Peterson's sister-in-law, Janey Peterson.

Janey Peterson maintains police did not look hard enough at others or consider a connection to Laci's death and a burglary that happened across the street from the Peterson's home.

"The wrong person's in prison," Janey Peterson says. "And that's what this is about."

Jon Buehler, one of the original detectives on the case, disagrees. He tells 48 HOURS there is nothing that has emerged in the case that would make him change his view that Scott Peterson got a fair trial and is the one who killed Laci.

As for Peterson's supporters' view that someone else killed Laci, "Well, I guess it's possible," says Buehler. "But, you know, there's still people that believe the Earth is flat, too."

Will Peterson get a completely new trial?

48 HOURS: "Scott Peterson: Case in Question" is produced by Chuck Stevenson. Michelle Fanucci is the development producer along with Ryan Smith. Emily Wichick is the field producer. Lauren Turner Dunn is the associate producer. Richard Barber is the producer-editor. Phil Tangel is the editor. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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