Judge Delucchi, who presides over the Scott Peterson case, announced that he would give the jury the option to convict on a lesser, second-degree murder charge. As opposed a first-degree murder conviction which carries the death penalty sentence, second-degree murder convictions carry a 15-year sentence.

Do you think the judge did this because he feels Scott is guilty, and doesn't want a hung jury? In my opinion, a 15-year sentence could be as bad or worse than a death penalty sentence because the treatment he would most likely receive from other inmates wouldn't be so kind…

I know Court TV has updates during the day on this trial, but I'm usually at work so I don't really get a chance to catch them. I did hear though that they're giving their anchor, Catherine Crier, two timeslots (5pm-6pm & 8pm-9pm) to talk about that day's events during closings which start 11/1. Hopefully we'll see justice served!

Kimberly

Remember that unless the jury is permitted to consider a lesser charge, the only choices they have are GUILTY or NOT GUILTY for the more serious charge of 1st Degree Murder. If the prosecution hasn't presented strong enough evidence to meet the requirements to be convicted under the more serious charge, there is a strong risk of a jury coming back with a NOT GUILTY verdict. By permitting the jury to consider a lesser charge, it allows a broader choice of legal requirements to be met.