Peterson Backers Laud His Virtues

Three defense witnesses testified Friday that Scott Peterson was a man with redeeming qualities who could benefit others in prison if the jury spared his life.

Conception “Coni” Fritz, the mother of one of Scott’s closest childhood friends, recalled him as a “gentle man, a caring, sweet and loving boy, someone I was proud to have as my son’s friend,” during a half-day session of the penalty phase of Peterson’s double-murder trial.

When asked about Peterson’s prospects of spending the rest of his life in jail, she said: “Scott would make a positive contribution by helping those around him. He could be a great mentor and teacher.”

The next witness, her husband, Paul Fritz, supported his wife’s notion that “Scott is a leader.”

Outside court, however, Dean Johnson, a former San Mateo County prosecutor, speculated that Peterson was “not going to be a leader in prison. He’s going to be fighting for survival.”

The final witness Friday, Scott’s half brother Joseph Peterson, fought back tears as he elaborated on his experience growing up with Scott, who is nine years younger.

He testified that he fished with Scott and helped him learn to play tennis and golf. He said he nicknamed him “Trooper” because he persisted in participating in the sometimes roughhouse activities of older children.

A courtroom watcher, former prosecutor Chuck Smith, assessed the testimony: “I think Joseph Peterson has touched people almost more than any other person the jury has heard from regarding the great human tragedy that’s happened here.”

Criminal trial analysts speculated that the point of Friday’s testimony was to demonstrate that there was hope that Peterson could do good things if he were spared the death sentence and sent to prison for life without parole.

Peterson, 32, was convicted last month of killing his wife, Laci, and her unborn fetus.

Laci Peterson disappeared Dec. 24, 2002, about a month after her husband began an affair with Amber Frey, a Fresno massage therapist. The bodies of Laci and her fetus washed ashore four months later, about a mile from where Peterson said he went fishing.

Testimony was scheduled to continue Monday. Judge Alfred A. Delucchi told the jurors Friday that they were likely to start deliberating Peterson’s fate in the middle of next week.

Times correspondent Robert Hollis contributed to this report.