DES MOINES – A Greene man convicted of the first degree murder of his wife lost his appeal last week.
Thomas Petersen appealed his judgment and sentence for the first degree murder of his wife, Judy Petersen, 36, on June 4th, 2011. Petersen contended that the record lacked sufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding of guilt and several evidentiary rulings required reversal.
The court found that Thomas Petersen lived in a home with his wife, their two children, and his wife’s teenage son from a prior relationship. Petersen and his wife began arguing on June 4, 2011, and he ultimately stabbed or cut her 129 times with three knives. When Petersen’s stepson returned home, he discovered bent and blood- soaked knives, a pile of Petersen’s bloodied clothing, and his mother lying in a pool of blood. He attempted to resuscitate her without success.
The following day, authorities learned that Petersen was in South Dakota with his young son. They engaged him in a high-speed chase and eventually apprehended him.
Court records indicate that Petersen does not deny that he was the person who stabbed his wife to death. His sole defense is one of intoxication. He contends he consumed at least eighteen beers before the stabbing and his inebriation prevented him from forming malice aforethought and specific intent.
The court ruled that a reasonable juror could have found there was sufficient evidence of guilt based on Petersen’s use of three deadly weapons, the multiple stabbings, and Petersen’s subsequent flight. The court ruled that a reasonable juror also could have considered Petersen’s own testimony about the events surrounding the stabbing and the deliberation that testimony revealed.
“In sum,” the court declared, “substantial evidence supports the jury’s finding of guilt.”
keloland.com
