Crowds cheer as Scott Peterson receives death.

[damienkrauss]

It has been one of the United States’ most compelling murder mysteries, inspiring two books and a television film - and yesterday it concluded with the conviction for murder of its major player.

Scott Peterson, 32, now faces the possibility of the death penalty after killing his pregnant wife and dumping her body in San Francisco Bay in what prosecutors said was a cold-blooded attempt to escape marriage and fatherhood for the life of a bachelor.

Peterson was convicted of one count of first-degree murder for killing his wife, Laci, and one count of second-degree murder for the death of the son she was carrying.

Miles of newsprint and hours of TV footage have been devoted to the case of the salesman from California, in a media frenzy which echoed the OJ Simpson affair.

As the verdict was announced on live television and radio, crowds that had gathered outside the court erupted in cheers.

The Peterson trial had all the ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster - a double murder; a body dumped from a rowing boat out at sea on Christmas eve; a love triangle and a cast with film star looks.

In fact, a TV movie of the alleged crime was broadcast across the US months before the jury even retired to consider its verdicts.

Peterson murdered his wife and their unborn child on or around 24 December, 2002.

The prosecution said he smothered the 27-year-old, also killing the unborn son she had called Connor, so he could be with his blonde mistress, a masseuse named Amber Frey.

The bodies of Laci and her unborn child washed up on a beach four months after she went missing, near to where Peterson had taken a boat out to sea shortly after she went missing.

As suspicion fell on Peterson police convinced his mistress to tape the phone calls she made to him.

He never admitted to the crime during the calls, but Americans railed against the classic love rat who professed his love for Ms Frey while the community in his home town of Modesto was out searching for his missing wife. Ms Frey’s appearance in court to give evidence was a media spectacle, which dominated news coverage for a week in the US.

Peterson was represented by Mark Geragos, the lawyer who until recently was defending the pop star Michael Jackson against child abuse allegations.

Mr Geragos told the jury that Laci was murdered by someone else who framed Peterson.

And Peterson said that he hired the boat to go fishing in San Francisco Bay, not to dump the body.

After five months of evidence the jury spent seven days deliberating their verdicts.

The case had captivated the US because of the many issues it raises - infidelity and the rights of the unborn child - all within a captivating, gruesome tale.

The jury will return to court later in the month when it could agree to the death penalty.

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure he was just convicted and not sentenced yet.