Media Links Only - No Discussion

[Angel Who Cares]

Drew Peterson to get police records for trial
November 18, 2009
<snipped>
Monday, Peterson's lawyer demanded the handwritten notes of police field investigators. The Will County State's Attorney's office says, he'll get them today; and it says, not turning them over, was just an oversight.

Until now, defense attorneys have been given only finalized typewritten reports. The defense hopes to find something in the field notes that may exonerate Peterson, or at least give the defense a reason to ask for a mistrial.

Video: Drew Peterson to get police records for trial 0:23
http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=8584de8c-fd51-4807-a8ce-ef3fd5fa8226&src=front

Article:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-peterson-to-get-police-records-nov18,0,6409094.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Murder Behind the Badge: Former detective reveals tales of homicidal cops
November 22, 8:12 AM
<snipped>
Some killed for love, others for money, and still others because of seemingly trivial personality conflicts. Surprisingly to some, males are not alone: female officers have been involved in abuse-of-power cases including murder.

In her shocking true-crime narrative that reads like a thriller former police officer, former detective, and mystery writer Stacy Dittrich tells eighteen stories about cops who kill in Murder Behind the Badge .

Dittrich's book also includes the story of Illinois Police Sergeant currently under indictment for murder, Drew Peterson.

Detective Stacy Dittrich (Mansfield, OH PD-ret.) is an award-winning veteran law enforcement officer specializing in sex crimes, author, and media consultant .

Article:
http://www.examiner.com/x-2684-Law-...mer-detective-reveals-tales-of-homicidal-cops

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Have Casey & Drew developed a certain amount of star power?
November 18, 12:14 PM
<snipped>
Only in America can you become a celebrity when accused of murdering your innocent child or of killing couple of your wives!

These two cases bring a serious question about what happens in America when someone gets a huge amount of exposure from the media due to their alleged actions. There is some point in this process while they may still be a suspect, where they became a celebrity of sorts.

You can&#8217;t get much farther out on the edge than Casey Anthony, or Drew Peterson. Both are accused of murdering someone they were supposed to have loved and protected. But when they come under suspicion they act more like they have just be nominated for some great honor. But hey, why not, there are people around them that treat them that way and feed their over inflated ego.

Article:
http://www.examiner.com/x-14615-Spo...Drew-developed-a-certain-amount-of-star-power

 

[crocus]

Drew Peterson murder case: Will County seeks author's interview recordings
Author says contents already were broadcast or posted on the Web

By Steve Schmadeke Tribune reporter
November 27, 2009

Will County prosecutors are taking the first steps toward forcing the Canadian author of a book about Drew Peterson to turn over audio recordings of his interviews with the ex-police sergeant charged with killing his third wife.

Last November, Illinois state police and prosecutors wanted Derek Armstrong, author of "Drew Peterson Exposed," to testify before a grand jury about his "relationship" with Peterson and turn over recordings of their conversation, according to court documents.
snipped........
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-d....,0,775178.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Drew author not protected
November 26, 2009
<snipped>
Prosecutors want a Canadian publisher who penned a book about Drew Peterson to stop playing reporter.

Derek Armstrong, the operator of Kunati Publishing and the author of the account "Drew Peterson Exposed," invoked journalistic privilege when the state police contacted him about testifying before a grand jury in November 2008.

But prosecutors filed a motion Tuesday claiming Armstrong was no reporter when he was supposedly "spending hundreds of hours interviewing key players" in the Drew Peterson case.

The state's attorney's office wants Armstrong to turn over taped interviews with Peterson, which he had previously refused to do. Charles B. Pelkie, the spokesman for State's Attorney James Glasgow, declined to comment on the motion filed this week.

"Drew Peterson Exposed" was written by Canadian publisher Derek Armstrong.

Article:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/bolingbrooksun/news/1905742,4_1_JO26_PETERSON_S1-091126.article

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Peterson attorneys seek notes of Savio statement
December 4, 2009 3:01 PM
<snipped>
Peterson's defense attorneys are seeking a copy of the notes made by an attorney working for Country Companies insurance. Three letters written by the attorney have already been turned over to the defense team, said Peterson attorney Joel Brodsky.

They are seeking two others as well as notes the attorney made during Savio's August 6, 2003, sworn statement. Brodsky said the documents should not be protected by attorney-client privilege because Country Companies has twice turned them over to prosecutors.

A hearing before Judge White to determine whether hearsay evidence would be allowed during a jury trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 19.

Article:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/...eek-notes-of-savio-statement-to-attorney.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Evidence in Machesney Park Could Be Used in Drew Peterson Murder Trial
New hearings are scheduled for next week regarding evidence in the murder case against Drew Peterson. Peterson is accused of killing his third wife Kathleen Savio. Savio's sister lives in Machesney Park and she spoke with us about that evidence.
Posted: 10:57 PM Dec 4, 2009
<snipped>
Sue Doman says her sister Kathleen told her numerous times that she feared her husband, Drew Peterson, would kill her, and it's those statements that will be the focus of the hearings next week.

Doman says Savio kept a journal about her life with Drew, that could be used as evidence in the case. Th documents total over one hundred pages.

Normally third party claims are hearsay and not admitted as evidence. However, a state law passed back in 2007, nicknamed for this case, allows prosecutors to admit hearsay evidence if attorneys can prove that the defendant killed a witness to prevent testimony. Peterson's attorneys plan to fight that ruling.

Article:
http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/78577877.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Drew's prosecutors baffled
December 10, 2009
<snipped>
Drew Peterson's attorneys filed a mysteriously vague motion last week that has prosecutors scratching their heads.

"We're not certain what he's getting at with that motion," said Charles B. Pelkie, the spokesman for the state's attorney's office.

Pelkie noted that prosecutors were still reviewing the motion of "objection to profer (sic) of expert witnesses" that Peterson's attorneys Joel Brodsky and Andrew Abood filed Friday.

The motion lists five questions the court must ask before admitting expert testimony, such as whether the testimony is relevant or if the witness is qualified to provide it, and "requests that this Court compel the People to ring the bell and answer in the People's favor" with regard to the questions

FYI: Peterson is due back in court Jan. 19, at which time Judge Stephen White will determine what -- if any -- hearsay evidence will be allowed at Peterson's trial.

Article:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/genevasun/news/1931156,4_1_JO10_PETERSON_S1-091210.article

 

[Angel Who Cares]

George D. Lenard Joins Drew Peterson Defense Team
Lenard brings 20-plus years of legal experience to Peterson's team.
December 14, 2009
<snipped>
"We are very pleased that George will be joining our team. He is not only a great lawyer who has won many cases in Will County, he also has an in depth knowledge of the legal practices and procedures in Will County," says Peterson's lead defense attorney Joel A. Brodsky. "His 21 years of experience in criminal defense will make Drew's team stronger."

"There is a tremendous amount of work that we have been doing. At every court appearance, the State's Attorney office has at least 5 or more people appearing on the case. When you add someone like George D. Lenard, you are clearly going for quality as opposed to quantity."

"George has been consulting with the defense team for months," says Andrew Abood, Peterson's other criminal defense lawyer. "Today's appearance in the case simply formalizes that role. The fact that he is located in Joliet will make it easier for us to respond to any issues that might arise that need an immediate response."

Article:
http://www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?z=0&a=1990

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Peterson adds lawyer to team
December 18, 2009
<snipped>
O.J. Simpson hired nine lawyers when he found himself jailed on a murder rap. Drew Peterson is nearly halfway to matching the Juice now that he has added local attorney George Lenard to his legal stable.

And by taking on Peterson, Lenard, a part-time public defender with a private practice, can claim he represents the husbands of the region's two most famous missing mothers, as he started advocated for Craig Stebic in March 2008.

In selecting an additional lawyer, Peterson has not reached out to a stranger. Lenard began working as an assistant state's attorney in 1984 and was still part of that office when Peterson was indicted on charges of official misconduct and failure to report a bribe in June 1985.

"The state's attorney has known George Lenard personally for 25 years," said Charles B. Pelkie, the office's spokesman. "They worked together in the state's attorney's office for 25 years as assistant state's attorneys in the 1980s."

Lenard's hiring has made no impact on the prosecution's strategy, Pelkie said, noting, "Our preparation is moving forward."

Article:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/bolingbrooksun/news/1945573,6_1_NA18_PETERSON_S1-091218.article

 

[fran]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/...want-closed-Peterson-hearing_JO010410.article

Lawyers want closed Peterson hearing

January 5, 2010

Drew Peterson's legal team has asked to bar the public from a potentially explosive hearing to determine what hearsay evidence will be allowed at the former Bolingbrook cop's murder trial.

Local attorney George Lenard, who signed on with the Peterson camp just last month, filed the motion Monday. Lenard failed to return calls for comment, but the motion signals an abrupt change in Peterson's defense strategy, which had been marked by an attraction to the limelight and the airing of everything from secret messages and photographs that supposedly cleared Peterson of guilt to details of his love life and plans to make a 23-year-old local mother his fifth wife.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,full article at link>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



http://cbs2chicago.com/local/drew.peterson.attorney.2.1404571.html

Jan 4, 2010 5:20 pm US/Central

Peterson Attorney Files To Seal Hearsay Evidence


It's the crucial evidence Drew Peterson's legal team doesn't want you to hear. Peterson is accused of killing his third wife, and now the former cop's lawyers are taking a page right out of the R. Kelly defense team's playbook. CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports.

It's a two-page motion that could dramatically affect what the public knows about the most highly publicized murder trial in the history of Will County. It was filed Monday by Drew Peterson's defense team.

"We filed a motion today to seal and close a hearing that's going to start on January 19th to admit hearsay," said Peterson's defense attorney Joel Brodsky.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<more at link>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Drew Peterson attorneys want public barred from hearing on hearsay evidence
Prosecutors will seek to allow certain hearsay evidence to be used against former Bolingbrook police sergeant accused of drowning third wife, Kathleen Savio
January 6, 2010
<snipped>
In "an extreme and unusual" move, Drew Peterson's attorneys want the public barred from a hearing this month at which prosecutors are expected to lay out much of their case against the former Bolingbrook police sergeant charged with killing his third wife.

A motion filed Monday by Joliet attorney George Lenard, a recent addition to Peterson's legal team, argues media coverage of the first-of-its-kind hearing "will likely result" in jurors forming opinions about their client's guilt or innocence before trial.

A hearing on the new motion has not officially been set but is expected before Jan. 19, a state's attorney spokesman said.

Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-peterson-hearing-06-jan06,0,4583014.story
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Video: Peterson Attorney Files To Seal Hearsay Evidence 1/04/10
http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=66143@wbbm.dayport.com

 

[Texas Mist]

Judge refuses to bar public from Peterson hearing

January 8, 2010 1:55 PM

The public will have access to a first-of-its-kind hearing later this month at which prosecutors are expected to lay out much of their case against Drew Peterson, the former Bolingbrook police officer charged with drowning his third wife in 2004.

Peterson's attorneys took the rare step of asking a judge to seal the courtroom for a Jan. 19 hearing required under a new state law on hearsay evidence.

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow and an attorney representing the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press argued this morning that the hearing -- which could last more than two weeks and feature testimony from 60 people -- should be open to the public.

"In the United States of America, we don't do that," Glasgow said of barring the public from court proceedings. "We do it out in the open."

....

In the end, White said in issuing his ruling that he could find no reason to keep the hearing closed.



more here

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/...county-court-joel-brodsky-murder-charges.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Peterson pretrial hearing will be open to public
January 9, 2010
<snipped>
The bid by Drew Peterson's lawyers to bar the public from a landmark hearsay hearing failed Friday, setting the stage for potentially explosive testimony to air in a proceeding that could last longer than a month.

Judge Stephen White rejected the arguments of Peterson's attorneys Joel Brodsky and Andrew Abood that keeping the hearing open might bias potential jurors against their client, who is accused of drowning his wife.

The hearing will determine what, if any, hearsay evidence will be allowed at Peterson's murder trial. Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow countered Peterson's lawyers and called sealing the hearing un-American.

At the upcoming hearing, Peterson could face up to 60 prosecution witnesses -- ranging from a man he allegedly solicited to kill his third wife, Kathleen Savio, to his stepbrother Thomas Morphey, who claims he was asked by Peterson to kill his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, and that he later helped carry her body out of the family home in a blue barrel.

Article:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1981608,CST-NWS-drew09.article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drew Peterson case: Judge to keep 'hearsay' hearings open
Ex-Bolingbrook cop accused of drowning his third wife
January 9, 2010
<snipped>
contamination of the jury pool, a judge said Friday in a high-stakes ruling as attorneys prepare for a first-of-its-kind hearing in the bizarre and complex case against Drew Peterson.

Prosecutors expect to lay out much of their case against Peterson -- a former Bolingbrook police officer charged with drowning his third wife -- at a Jan. 19 hearing required under a new state law on hearsay evidence.

Courts in Illinois rarely have lengthy pretrial hearings, but in this case, Judge Stephen White will preside over what attorneys say will likely be a sprawling monthlong proceeding featuring testimony from 60 witnesses. The unusual hearing adds another layer of intrigue to the already high-profile case.

Kept in isolation and no longer doing jailhouse interviews or playing cards with his attorneys, Peterson has aged markedly over the past seven months. :clap: Brodsky said his spirits remain up and that he is confident Peterson will be found not guilty.
*Much much more at link!

Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-peterson-access-09-jan09,0,1991435.story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judge to allow public access to Drew Peterson hearing
January 8, 2010
<snipped>
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow and an attorney representing the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press argued this morning that the hearing -- which could last more than two weeks and feature testimony from 60 people -- should be open to the public.

"In the United States of America, we don't do that," Glasgow said of barring the public from court proceedings. "We do it out in the open."

Prosecutors want Judge Stephen White to allow hearsay statements from 15 people to be heard by a jury. They must first convince White at the upcoming hearing that a "preponderance of the evidence" shows Peterson killed ex-wife Kathleen Savio.

Seth Stern, a lawyer for the newspapers, said sealing a court proceeding like the one planned for Jan. 19 should only be a "last resort" that is typically only used in cases involving national security.

Article:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-peterson-hearsay-ban-jan10,0,3954188.story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ill. Judge Denies Motion to Close Peterson Hearing
Published: January 8, 2010
Filed at 6:32 p.m. ET
<snipped>
A hearing on evidence that prosecutors claim links former police officer Drew Peterson to the death of his third wife will be open to the public, a judge ruled Friday, dismissing claims by defense attorneys that it could taint potential jurors.

Will County Judge Stephen White said he already warned more than 200 potential jurors to avoid media reports about the case and will send them a letter reminding them of the admonishment.

''We've done everything we can to protect the integrity of the proceedings,'' White said.

A Jan. 19 hearing is scheduled to determine what, if any, hearsay evidence will be allowed at trial. White left open the possibility he could close the hearing for specific evidence or specific witnesses.

An attorney for Peterson, Joel Brodsky, argued that it ''will be impossible for jurors to avoid'' media coverage of the hearing.

But Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said case law was on the prosecution's side. And, he said, ''Nobody can pull a fast one, because everybody is watching.''

Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/08/us/AP-US-Drew-Peterson.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

The Drew Peterson case: 2 wives to have major roles in pretrial hearing into drowning
January 17, 2010
<snipped>
Former Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson is charged with drowning estranged wife Kathleen Savio, but much of the information likely to be presented at a unique pretrial hearing that starts Tuesday will involve the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy.

For Stacy's family, the hearing will provide their first detailed look at what was uncovered during the massive investigation launched after she vanished in 2007. Her disappearance and the exhumation afterward of Savio's body and reclassification of her death as a homicide helped turn the case into national tabloid fodder.

For prosecutors and defense attorneys, the hearing that starts Tuesday and is expected to last a month will be a high-stakes marathon.

Prosecutors must prove by a "preponderance of evidence" that Peterson made Stacy or Kathleen "unavailable" to testify against him. If they succeed, Judge Stephen White has the option, under a new state law championed by State's Attorney James Glasgow, of allowing certain statements to be heard at a jury trial.

It may be a daunting task for Judge White. Prosecutors have turned over lists of hundreds of pieces of evidence in Savio's death and Peterson's disappearance.

There are hundreds of potential witnesses, including two former acquaintances of Peterson who wore wires and also videotaped him, Brodsky has said in court, asking that prosecutors reveal whether they were paid.
*Much more at link!

Video: Judge to allow public access to Drew Peterson hearing 2:48
http://www.chicagotribune.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=435f1437-978b-4664-98ad-419eae9f2346&src=front

Related:
The Peterson investigation
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-071101peterson-photogallery,0,6654063.photogallery

Drew vs. the media
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-071119drewpeterson-photogallery,0,6320659.photogallery

Kathleen Savio
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...een-savio-photogallery,0,5313435.photogallery

Multimedia:
Drew Peterson's indictment (pdf)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-090508-drew-peterson-indictment-pdf,0,7339263.htmlpage

Peterson case timeline
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-peterson_timeline.flash,0,2550643.flash

Stories:
Complete coverage: Drew Peterson news
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-peterson-storylink,0,2338979.storylink

Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-peterson-advance-17-bd-jan17,0,5635078.story
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Peterson Hearing Tests Hearsay Law
State's Attorney wants to make comments admissible
Updated 8:00 AM CST, Sun, Jan 17, 2010
<snipped>
On Tuesday, the family of Stacy Peterson will finally hear the first details about the investigation of her 2007 disappearance.

The pretrial hearing for former Bolingbrook police Sergeant Drew Peterson is regarding the drowning death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, but prosecutors plan to use the opportunity to discuss details about his fourth wife Stacy's disappearance, too.

Will County State's Attorney James Glascow hopes to convince Judge Stephen White that statements made by Stacy and Kathleen should be admissible in court. Under a new state law supported by Glascow, it would allow prosecutors to use hearsay comments by the two women.

Article:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Peterson-Hearing-Tests-Hearsay-Law-81919817.html
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Drew Peterson pre-trial hearing will examine hearsay evidence
Published: 1/17/2010 12:02 AM
<snipped>
In the months before Kathleen Savio's mysterious drowning death, relatives say, the Bolingbrook woman grew "terrified" that her estranged husband would harm her.

Her fears also were captured in writing, such as in a 2002 letter to a prosecutor in which Savio said Drew Peterson "knows how to manipulate the system, and his next step is to take my children away. Or kill me instead."

Such hearsay evidence, which, in effect, allows Savio's words to be heard from beyond the grave are the subject of a landmark court hearing opening Tuesday in Will County.

Peterson, 56, is charged with murdering his third wife, whose body was found in a dry bathtub on March 1, 2004, in the midst of their bitter divorce.

His trial won't begin until later this year, but media members from across the country are expected to converge on the Joliet courthouse for a hearing that may take three weeks with up to 60 witnesses.

The law requires a judge to hold a pretrial hearing to determine whether so-called hearsay evidence - testimony or documents that quote someone secondhand who is not in court - is admissible in murder trials.

Prosecutors must prove whether a "preponderance of evidence" shows those statements are reliable and that the defendant's wrongdoing made the witness unavailable to testify. If not, the evidence cannot be presented to a jury at trial.

Drew Peterson will not testify.

"You're going to see a lot of the state's case, which we'll attack, but not ours to a great extent," Brodsky said. "We don't want to show them our hand. This is not a mini-trial. This is really the state exposing their case and letting us cross-examine their witnesses."
*Much more at link!

Article:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=351508

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Sensational trials predate Drew Peterson
Leopold and Loeb among famous trial in Will County
January 20, 2010
<snipped>
Will County's legal and law enforcement community has gone to great lengths to ready itself for the start of the Drew Peterson hearing this week, expected to be the most publicized hearing in county history.

Bloggers chronicle each twist and turn. Television trucks are expected to compete for space along Jefferson Street outside the courthouse.

While the coverage may be unprecedented, Joliet, a river town as old as Chicago, has seen more sensational and bizarre cases over the last 150 years. Here are a few:

*Info on the below cases at link!
Hickory Creek mystery, 1858
An Arresting Exhibit, 1883
Loeb killing trial, 1936
Will County serial killer, 1983

Judge Stephen White, who is hearing the Peterson case, is a former prosecutor who tried Johnson for the ceramic shop murders.

Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...nty-sensational-trial20100118,0,4209160.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Joliet tackles parking during Peterson hearing
January 18, 2010 11:21 PM
<snipped>
Unless you're gambling, parking in downtown Joliet can be a challenge.

So with a media horde expected to converge on the courthouse Tuesday for the start of a much-anticipated pretrial hearing in the Drew Peterson murder case, the city took action.

It is clearing spaces at a nearby employee lot and leasing them for $250 a week to media outlets whose large TV trucks officials decided would clog traffic outside the courthouse.

"The trial is drawing a huge amount of media attention," city spokeswoman Rebecca Barker said. "All the major network stations (are renting spaces.)"

This is the first time Joliet has charged a special rate for media parking, Barker said. The money -- which could equal thousands of dollars over the course of the monthlong hearing -- will go into the city's general fund.

Article:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/01/joliet-tackles-parking-during-peterson-hearing.html

 

[terminatrixator]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011900330.html
washingtonpost.com > Nation > Wires




Victim to speak `from the grave' in Peterson case


By DON BABWIN
The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 19, 2010; 7:53 AM


JOLIET, Ill. -- Six years after she mysteriously drowned in a bathtub, Kathleen Savio is finally getting her day in court.
Savio essentially will testify from the grave Tuesday, with witnesses expected to tell a judge in Illinois how Savio discussed and wrote about her fears that her husband, former Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson, would kill her.



The hearing is expected to provide the first detailed look at evidence prosecutors contend ties Peterson to Savio's death. It stems from a state law that allows a judge to admit hearsay evidence - testimony from witnesses who recount what they heard from others - in first-degree murder cases if prosecutors can prove a defendant killed a witness to prevent him or her from testifying.



The Illinois Legislature passed the law after authorities named Peterson a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, then exhumed the body of Savio, his third wife, and reopened the investigation into her 2004 death. Though the bill's sponsors were careful never to link the law publicly to Peterson, it has been referred to as "Drew's Law," and his attorneys have long suggested it was passed to put Peterson behind bars.

More at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011900330.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Victim to speak `from the grave' in Peterson case
Tuesday, January 19, 2010; 7:53 AM
<snipped>
Six years after she mysteriously drowned in a bathtub, Kathleen Savio is finally getting her day in court.

Savio essentially will testify from the grave Tuesday, with witnesses expected to tell a judge in Illinois how Savio discussed and wrote about her fears that her husband, former Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson, would kill her.

The hearing is expected to provide the first detailed look at evidence prosecutors contend ties Peterson to Savio's death. It stems from a state law that allows a judge to admit hearsay evidence - testimony from witnesses who recount what they heard from others - in first-degree murder cases if prosecutors can prove a defendant killed a witness to prevent him or her from testifying.

The Illinois Legislature passed the law after authorities named Peterson a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, then exhumed the body of Savio, his third wife, and reopened the investigation into her 2004 death. Though the bill's sponsors were careful never to link the law publicly to Peterson, it has been referred to as "Drew's Law," and his attorneys have long suggested it was passed to put Peterson behind bars.

During the hearing, which is expected to last three weeks, prosecutors will present to Will County Judge Stephen White about 60 witnesses to testify about 15 hearsay statements. White will then decide if the jury can hear any or all of those statements when Peterson stands trial. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering Savio, whose body was found in a dry tub. A trial date hasn't been set.

Other possible witnesses who could be asked to testify about the stormy relationship between Drew Peterson and Savio are his former colleagues. Eighteen times in two years, police were called to the couple's Bolingbrook home to respond to reports of trouble between the two, with Savio telling officers that her husband had beaten her and threatened to kill her. Peterson was never charged. Savio was charged with domestic battery and later was acquitted.

"People should not think this is going to be the trial," Brodsky said.

He said the hearing will help Peterson.

"We think that even in this questioning, a lot of beliefs that people have about what was said and who said them are going to be burst, dashed," he said.
*Much much more info at link!

Article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011900330.html
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PRESS RELEASE
Drew Peterson Attorney Not Just a Pretty Face
As a hearing on hearsay testimony gets underway, Reem Odeh prepares for vital role on Peterson's defense team.
January 19, 2010
<snipped>
As a pivotal hearing on hearsay testimony gets underway today, it will again be Drew Peterson's lead defense attorney Joel Brodsky who will get most of the face time. But it's his partner, a model-turned-attorney, who might be the secret weapon to land an acquittal for the former Bolingbrook police sergeant.

Reem Odeh wants the public to know that beyond her stunning good looks is a hard-nosed attorney who is detail-oriented and brings keen analytical skills to Team Peterson.

"You don't need to be front and center to know you're playing a vital role in a huge criminal case," says Odeh. "Drew knows what I'm doing. The legal team knows my contribution. Yet, most of the public following the case probably have no idea who I am."

She hardly ever talks to the media. And, though present, she rarely addresses the court.

During trial, she will conduct the direct examination of one of Peterson's teenage children who will testify in his father's defense.

"The jury needs to hear what his children say about him," says Odeh. "It's very telling and extremely moving and says a lot about him as a man."

Drew Peterson and his legal team are represented by the PR firm The Publicity Agency. For more information, please visit:
http://www.thepublicityagency.com/

Article:
http://www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?z=0&a=2126
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UPDATED: Drew Peterson pre-trial hearing to begin
January 19, 2010-Updated at 01:52 PM today
<snipped>
The hearing started just before 10 a.m. Peterson walked in looking confident but he was casual. He looked over to the media and gave a smirk. When asked how he was doing, he said he was doing fine, but then he wouldn't say anything else after that.

Peterson's attorneys also walked in Tuesday morning, with an official motion to ban hearsay testimony, which Will County Judge Stephen White will hear today. Peterson was wearing a red-burgundy Polo shirt, khakis and glasses.

The law that is being debated that allows hearsay testimony is known at "Drew's Law." The prosecutors want the judge to allow seven witnesses who will testify today and others to also be able to testify in Peterson's actual trial. Prosecutors hope that the hearsay testimony can prove charges that Peterson murdered his third wife, Savio.

Peterson is also suspected but not charged in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. Today, a witness from Starbucks testified about Starbucks receipts that may link Peterson to the 2007 of disappearance.

Prosecutors say other witnesses claim Drew wanted Stacy to disappear because she was going to talk about Savio's death.

"The question is whether some evidence that a jury may not even think is worth very much, that they may not give any weight to, may or may not be admissible in the actual trial," said Joel Brodsky, Peterson defense attorney. "And while we're gonna get a good look at what the state's case is, you're not gonna see all of the defense's case, because we don't have to, and I don't want to show them all our hand, but they have to show me a good deal of theirs."
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Video: Drew Peterson pre-trial hearing to begin 1:54
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7226392

Video: Drew Peterson pre-trial hearing begins 2:29
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7226986

Story: Drew Peterson case: Timeline of events
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6802968

Article:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7226389

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Testimony &#8216;from the grave&#8217; in Peterson case
Peterson's 3rd wife drowned in bathtub; witnesses will recount her fears
updated 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
<snipped>
Former police officer Drew Peterson threw his wife to the floor one night, grabbed her throat and told her he "could kill her there and then," a one-time co-worker of the wife testified Tuesday at a hearing to determine what evidence can be admitted in Peterson's murder trial.

Issam Karam, who said he worked with Savio at Parkway Imaging in Romeoville in late 2003, testified that Savio told him she had come home one night looking forward to a bath and glass of wine when Peterson threw her to the floor. Savio said the incident occurred after she had changed the locks to the home.

&#8216;He could kill her there and then&#8217;
Karam said Peterson grabbed Savio's throat and had a knife. Savio showed him a bruise on her arm, Karam said.

"(Peterson) said nothing that she could do would make her safe," Karam said. "She could not run or hide. He could kill her there and then."

&#8216;She was afraid of Drew&#8217;
The list of witnesses remains under seal, but Savio's niece, Melissa Doman, said her mother, Anna Doman, is among those who have been called to testify.

"It would be about things my Aunt Kitty (Savio) told my mom about how she was afraid for her life, she said she was afraid of Drew," Melissa Doman said, adding that she has not been called to testify.

There also are court documents that prosecutors are expected to present into evidence, including a 2002 order of protection in which Savio alleges that Peterson knocked her down, ripped off her necklace and left marks on her body.

"He wants me dead, and if he has to, he will burn the house down just to shut me up," she wrote.

Witnesses' credibility under attack
Among the more intriguing possible witnesses are members of the clergy at a Bolingbrook church attended by Stacy Peterson. In the days after her disappearance, there were media reports that she had told a clergyman a couple months earlier that Drew Peterson had confessed to her that he killed Savio and made it look like an accident.

Peterson's attorneys have made it clear that they will attack the credibility of at least some of the witnesses.
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Article:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34933523/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/