Peterson preliminary hearing to begin Wednesday
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Laci Peterson was last seen alive on December 24; her husband, Scott, has pleaded innocent of murdering her and their unborn son.
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A preliminary hearing for Scott Peterson, accused of killing his wife and unborn son, is due to begin in Modesto, California.
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MODESTO, California (CNN) -- A preliminary hearing is expected to begin Wednesday to determine whether Scott Peterson should be tried in the deaths of his pregnant wife and their unborn child.
Peterson is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Laci Peterson and their unborn son, whom they planned to name Conner. Scott Peterson, who turns 31 on Friday, has pleaded innocent to the crimes. He could face the death penalty if convicted of the two murders.
Prosecutors will have an opportunity to lay out at least some of the evidence they may have against Peterson, who has remained in jail without bail since his arrest April 18.
Prosecutors contend he killed his wife in their home and transported her body in his boat, later dumping her in San Francisco Bay. Her remains and her child's remains were found washed ashore on April 5, just 5 miles from where Peterson said he was fishing Christmas Eve, the night his wife was last seen.
The hearing is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. EST).
A judge on Friday postponed the hearing date for Peterson by a day -- the fourth time his court date had been changed.
Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Al Girolami, who's overseeing Peterson's case, agreed to the delay because of a defense attorney's conflict with another trial.
Also Friday, Girolami learned that the defense and prosecution had exchanged witness lists as ordered and agreed to allow Peterson to wear civilian clothing -- and not a jail jumpsuit -- during the trial.
Girolami also ordered both the defense and the prosecution to provide the court with a detailed list of any witnesses they may have for the exclusion list -- those witnesses who will not be permitted in the courtroom prior to their testimony in the preliminary hearing.
The preliminary hearing initially was slated for September, then moved to October 20. Those changes were also made because of scheduling conflicts with defense attorneys.
