Peterson v. Commonwealth

On August 30, 1982, a jury found Derick Lynn Peterson guilty of capital murder in the commission of robbery while armed with a deadly weapon. In the second phase of the bifurcated trial, the jury fixed his punishment at death. The trial court confirmed the conviction and sentenced Peterson in accordance with the verdict. We have consolidated the mandatory review of the death sentence with Petersons appeal of his conviction and have given the case priority on our docket. Peterson seeks reversal of his conviction and remand for a new trial, or in the alternative, commutation of his sentence to imprisonment for life.