Man who killed wife faces death

A salesman who murdered his heavily-pregnant wife and dumped her body in San Francisco Bay was sentenced to death following a trial which gripped the United States.

Scott Peterson was unanimously sentenced yesterday after he was convicted of murdering his wife Laci and unborn son Connor to be with his mistress.

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

A TV movie about the case was shown across the US months before the jury had retired to consider its verdict.

Hundreds had gathered outside the courtroom in Redwood City, California, and there were cheers when the sentence was announced.

Peterson was convicted of the first degree murder of Laci and the second degree murder of Connor.

On 25 February the judge will rule on whether the sentence should be upheld. The judge has the option to reduce the sentence to life in prison.