Peterson Trial: Penalty Deliberations Start Tomorrow

Jurors won´t be allowed to consider the feelings of Scott Peterson´s family when they decide if he should be sentenced to death or to life in prison.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos had argued that since the fetus Laci Peterson was carrying was to be a grandson to both the victim´s and the defendant´s parents, jury instructions should allow panelists to consider the affect a death sentence would have on Peterson´s family.

But in a ruling yesterday, Alfred A. Delucchi said sympathy for the defendant´s family is not a matter the jury can consider in a capital case.

When testimony resumes today, four or five witnesses are expected to be called by Peterson´s defense team.

Judge Delucchi has told jurors they should expect to begin deliberations tomorrow.