The Fresno Bee
11/01/07 00:00:00
The 5th District Court of Appeal in Fresno on Wednesday affirmed a decision by the Stanislaus County Superior Court that awarded proceeds from a life insurance policy on Laci Peterson to her estate. . . .
In late 2005, Laci Peterson's estate was awarded the proceeds of a $250,000 life insurance policy by Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Roger Beauchesne.
Under state probate law, Scott Peterson could not inherit his slain wife's estate if he was responsible for her killing. Attorneys for Peterson appealed the Stanislaus County court award, saying his guilty verdict on the murder is not final because appeals are pending.
Wednesday's decision comes more than four months after a three-judge panel heard arguments from Pat Harris, an attorney for Peterson, and Adam Stewart, who represented Sharon Rocha, Laci Peterson's mother and the estate's administrator.
It is unclear whether Scott Peterson will appeal the decision.
Messages left for Harris and Stewart were not immediately returned.
