Scott's Mom To Plead For His Life

For Jackie Peterson, Wednesday brings a moment no mother ever expects.

She will be taking the witness stand to plead for the life of her son, Scott, to be spared - with Sharon Rocha, mother of the woman he was convicted of killing, likely to be in the courtroom listening.

Jackie Peterson is one of the final witnesses to be called by Peterson's lawyers as they try to convince the jury not to sentence Scott to death for the murders of his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn child.

Over twenty people have testified for the defense in the penalty phase of the trial.

Tuesday, a friend of Scott's told the court that he sees Scott as generous, caring and a problem-solver, and Scott and Laci seemed to be an "average couple."

CBS Correspondent Manuel Gallegus reports Tuesday's defense witnesses - faces from Peterson's past - included a professor who taught Scott and Laci, a neighbor, a coach, a business associate and a former employer. Their view of Peterson: respectful, hardworking, considerate and not a person who deserves a death sentence. Most of Tuesday's witnesses knew Scott and Laci from San Luis Obispo.

Scott, a former fertilizer salesman, was convicted Nov. 12 of killing his pregnant wife Laci and unborn son on Christmas Eve, 2002. Jurors are expected to begin considering later this week whether he should be executed for the crime. Peterson's defense team has spent the last week calling in dozens of character witnesses. All have testified that Peterson's is a life worth saving.

"For what it's worth, I believe in the death penalty," said Hugh Gerhardt, who coached Peterson's golf team at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. "There are some hombres out there that you just don't want to see the light of day. I don't think that fits Scott."

Gerhardt said Peterson often helped him coach the team. But it went beyond that, he said.

There was an offer to help Gerhardt search for his brother after a snowmobile accident in the mountains, the coach said. There was a job offer when Gerhardt needed work. Peterson, he said, even set up a special dinner for the man and his date at the restaurant where he worked.

"I think he can do productive things," Gerhardt said. "I just kind of hope things go that way."

Abbas Imani told jurors about Peterson as a young man who came to work for him as a waiter at his Morro Bay restaurant.

Peterson's parents Jackie and Lee Peterson had been regular customers. He hired Peterson with a warning that he would not receive special treatment just because his parents were good customers.

"He said, 'Sir, I'm going to make you proud of me,'" Imani said. "And he did."

"I'm not trying to paint a pretty picture of Scott. I'm just trying to be honest."

Imani described a time when Peterson came to him for help putting together a special lunch with his future wife and her mother Sharon Rocha. Peterson wanted everything to be perfect and, by all accounts, it was, he said.

Peterson had a dozen roses for each of the women when they arrived that day.

"He needed the best appetizers because he was meeting Laci's mom," Imani said, recalling the moment. Rocha cried as Imani talked about the dinner.

On the sixth day of the penalty phase of Peterson's murder trial, the friend recalled an incident on the San Luis Obispo ranch where the couple was living, when Peterson broke up a dog fight that led Laci Peterson to begin hitting one of the animals.

"Scotty kind of mellowed everything out and we got the dogs apart," Eric Sherar told jurors. The Petersons lived for about two years on the ranch, which Sherar managed.

He said the Petersons' relationship was that of "an average couple," adding: "I don't ever remember any real bad arguments."

Sherar also testified to Peterson's generosity, saying he often gave Sherar "lots of clothing, probably three or four sweatshirts. He gave my wife this pink ball cap that she liked."

Defense witnesses have already testified Peterson sang to seniors on Sundays, distributed food and clothes in Tijuana and that he was a good friend and loving son.

"I don't believe he's guilty," said his uncle, John Latham. "I would not like to see him die. It would tear our family apart."

Jurors showed no expression, some even looking away or toward the ground as Latham spoke.

Added another uncle, Robert Latham: "I think the verdict was a mistake... I wouldn't want that mistake to be on other people."

Judge Alfred Delucchi has tentatively set Feb. 25th as the sentencing date for Peterson.