Media Links Only - No Discussion

[Angel Who Cares]

Drew Peterson's Hearsay Hearing Wraps Up
Updated: Friday, 19 Feb 2010, 9:41 PM CST
Published : Friday, 19 Feb 2010, 1:03 PM CST
<snipped>
Drew Peterson&#8217;s fate is now in the hands of a Will County judge. After four weeks of testimony, and more than four hours of closing arguments, the hearing to determine what evidence will be allowed at Peterson&#8217;s trial wrapped up Friday night.

Peterson is charged with killing his third wife Kathleen Savio. He is the only suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife Stacy. During closing arguments prosecutor John Conner said Stacy was dead, and that Peterson killed her. It&#8217;s the first time the State&#8217;s Attorney&#8217;s office has made that allegation publicly.

Conner said all the evidence makes Peterson's story about Stacy her running off with another man, and leaving her kids, simply implausible. Prosecutors told the judge the 15 hearsay statements the two women made to others, about Peterson's threats to kill them and make it look like an accident, corroborated one another. Conner told the judge, "Mr. Peterson's wives were two for two in predicting their own murders." Both sides seemed relieved the hearing is finally over.

&#8220;My trial team, we&#8217;ve been working the last eight weeks, seven days a week, it&#8217;s been really grueling,&#8221; Glasgow said. &#8220;I think that three quarters of what was presented in this courtroom, this hearing, will not ever, be told to a jury. A trial would take a week, week and a half, after a jury was picked, the evidence would be quite narrow,&#8221; said Joel Brodsky, Peterson&#8217;s lead attorney.

Peterson is the only suspect in Stacy's disappearance. He's awaiting trial for the murder of Savio. Stacy's family is hopeful there will be a conviction. &#8220;It think it was the pure volume of the testimonies that gave it strength, so its not just each individual ones, its the sheer volume of all the people who were saying the same thing of what happened to these two women,&#8221; said Pamela Bosco, a spokesman for Stacy Peterson&#8217;s family.

Next Tuesday judge Stephen White will set a trial date, expected to be late spring, or early summer.

*2-Videos Included In Article!

Article:
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/drew_peterson/final-witness-testifies-peterson-hearing

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Video: FOX News~Judgment Day in Peterson Pre-Trial?
Will judge allow testimony from the grave in upcoming murder trial?
http://xml.truveo.com/rd?i=36028862...7f55e26d3120:419fb5cf62504c6beef6cb4250b1fab9

Video: Peterson Hearsay Ruling Might Be Kept Secret 2:46
http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=68039@wbbm.dayport.com

Video: Final Witness Testifies in Peterson Case 2:00
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/1316489

Video: Defense Witness Says Savio&#8217;s Death Not Homicide 1:46
http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=68178@wbbm.dayport.com

*Funny Song about Drew Peterson!
Drew Peterson - Don't Come Around Here
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qufQb76kvQ[/ame]

Video: Thomas Glasgow discusses Drew Peterson Hearsay Hearing on ABC 7 News Chicago
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FolbFYoKzPQ[/ame]

Video: Thomas Glasgow discusses Drew Peterson on "The Talk" with Marion Brooks on NBC 5 Chicago
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdcOAwmArQM[/ame]

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Prosecutors: Drew's wives are '2-for-2'
February 19, 2010
<snipped>
For a month, Drew Peterson listened to family, former friends and ex-in-laws talk about him allegedly stalking and abusing three of his four wives. He heard stories about his supposed plots to kill two of the women he married and then cover up the crimes. Now it is all over, and Peterson can return to the peace of his jail cell for a while.

Even with the lack of criminal charges, Prosecutors tried over the course of the month-long hearing to prove Peterson killed Stacy to keep her from testifying against him in the Savio case. If they succeed, relatively new state legislation will let them get as many as 14 hearsay statements made by Stacy and Savio admitted at Peterson's murder trial.

Peterson's attorney have questioned the constitutionality of the state law. In the closing arguments they made Friday, they also attacked the reliability of the witnesses who repeated the hearsay statements and, in Savio's case, went after the original source.

Witnesses testified to Stacy expressed similar fears. As Assistant State's Attorney John Connor put it, "Mr. Peterson's wives are 2-for-2 in predicting their own murders." 'It was a homicide'

Judge White is keeping his decision about the hearsay statements under seal until a jury is selected. He said he will set a date for Peterson's trial Tuesday.
*Much more at link!

Article:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/...,Peterson-prosecutor-hearing-JO021910.article

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Pitfall in state&#8217;s case against Drew Peterson
Judge airs concerns about absence of divorce filing, considered a major part of prosecution&#8217;s case
February 21, 2010
<snipped>
In the middle of the prosecution's closing arguments in a landmark hearsay hearing last week, two of Drew Peterson's attorneys glanced sideways at each other and tried to suppress small smiles. The judge had just signaled a potential problem with the state's case, and everyone in the courtroom knew it.

In order to have Stacy Peterson's alleged statements about her husband's involvement in his third wife's death admitted at trial, the prosecution must show, among other things, that Drew Peterson killed Stacy to prevent her from testifying in a legal proceeding.

Will County Assistant State's Attorney John Connor accused Peterson of murdering Stacy in October 2007 to avoid a financially devastating divorce. However, Stacy had not actually filed for divorce &#8212; a fact critical enough to the prosecution's burden of proof that Judge Stephen White interrupted closing arguments to point it out. "There was no (divorce) case," White told Connor. "You must show that's the intent to silence her."

Connor argued that Peterson wanted to kill Stacy, his fourth and much younger wife, before she could file for divorce and make his life difficult, like third wife Kathleen Savio had. Prosecutors have painted Peterson as a violent man who would have done anything to protect his police pension &#8212; a claim they supported with dozens of witnesses. "His life was going to get a lot more difficult if she filed for divorce," Connor argued. White shook his head.

In an effort to address the judge's concerns about the nonexistent divorce proceeding, State's Attorney James Glasgow told White if the troubled marriage wasn't impetus enough for Peterson to kill Stacy, the fear she would tell police about his deadly secret was. "Let the divorce go," Glasgow said during rebuttal. "This (case) is the one" with the intent to silence.

If White decides the preponderance of evidence does not show Peterson killed Stacy to silence her in a legal proceeding, witnesses including the pastor, a classmate and a potential boyfriend could be barred from testifying.
*Much more at link!

Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-drew-peterson-case-0221-20100220,0,1261167.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

COURT | They knew he'd try to kill them, prosecutor insists
Drew Peterson's wives '2 for 2' on murders
February 20, 2010
<snipped>
Drew Peterson killed his third wife to avoid a financially disastrous divorce settlement, then murdered his fourth wife to keep her silent about his previous wife's slaying, Will County prosecutors argued today. Each woman earlier had expressed fears to family and friends that Peterson would kill her if she crossed him, prosecutors said at the end of a critical pre-trial hearing for the former Bolingbrook cop.

Prosecutors are trying to win a judge's permission to use indirect hearsay statements allegedly made by Savio and Stacy Peterson against Drew Peterson, 56, later this year when he stands trial for Savio's death.

In October 2007, he killed Stacy Peterson and disposed of her body because she also was threatening divorce and knew he had killed Savio, prosecutors contended. "He couldn't let her out of his sight because she knew he killed Kathleen Savio," State's Attorney James Glasgow said.

Despite the lengthy hearing, defense attorneys said prosecutors hadn't even shown the 40-year-old Savio was murdered or that Drew Peterson was involved in her death--or Stacy's disappearance. "They didn't prove Drew is guilty of Stacy's disappearance or Kathleen's death," said Brodsky, who said he was confident the hearsay evidence sought by prosecutors would be excluded from Peterson's upcoming trial. "We're going to have a good outcome," Brodsky said. "We're all more confident than ever."

The hearing highlighted the "very strong" evidence authorities have compiled against Drew Peterson, said a spokesman for Stacy Peterson's family. "I think they had a very strong case all along," said Pam Bosco.
*More at link!

Article:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2059958,CST-NWS-drew20.article

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Peterson, Courts Await Ruling On 'Drew's Law'
February 20, 2010
<snipped>
In Illinois, a former police officer has been at the center of a murder mystery for years. Drew Peterson stands accused of killing his third wife, and he's a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife.

Now, an exception to typical judicial proceedings dubbed "Drew's law," could allow jurors to hear the words of Peterson's dead and missing wives in court. A crucial pretrial hearing has ended and a judge will now rule on the controversial issue of hearsay evidence.

Man At The Center Of The Controversy
Peterson has courted the media throughout the investigations. He discussed the case as he made the rounds on national television shows such as CNN's Larry King Live and NBC's Today Show.

Unconstitutional?
"It's unconstitutional and also a violation of an ex post facto," says Brodsky. "A law that's passed in 2008 cannot affect the prosecution of an alleged crime that took place in 2004."

Brodsky presented one witness during the hearing, a pathologist who said Kathleen Savio's death was an accident. Brodsky and some legal analysts also argue that a judge deciding to allow hearsay in Peterson's trial is like finding a defendant guilty before a trial even begins. Whatever the ruling, it's expected the state's so-called "Drew's law" will be challenged.
*Much more at link!

Audio: Listen to the Story 4:23
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123895647

Article:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123895647&ps=cprs

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Prosecutor: 'Hideous' Peterson used choke hold on wife
Ex-police sergeant to stand trial in death of third wife
February 20, 2010
<snipped>
Drew Peterson, the former Bolingbrook police sergeant, likely killed his 23-year-old wife Stacy using a chokehold in their bedroom on the Sunday morning family and friends first noticed she disappeared, Will County's top prosecutor said Friday.

In his closing argument, defense attorney Andrew Abood said prosecutors failed to show Savio's death, initially ruled accidental, was a murder or to link Peterson to her home at the time she died Abood said even if Judge Stephen White believes witnesses whose hearsay statements prosecutors hope to use, Savio herself had a history of lying.

He said a deposition Savio gave in 2003 for an insurance claim she filed alleging Peterson stole her wedding ring and jewelry contradicted her statements to several people that Peterson had threatened her the year before and told her he could kill her and make her death look accidental. Savio testified at the deposition that Peterson told her, "I could never hurt you," Abood said.

Video: Will Hearsay Evidence Be Allowed In Upcoming trial? 2:13
http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/?watchId=f7451e96-1a9e-4c36-a0ac-78092a4561ab

Article:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-peterson-savio-feb20,0,6411107.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Hearsay hearing for Drew Peterson comes to an end
Posted: Saturday, 20 February 2010 8:14AM
<snipped>
Will County Judge Stephen White gave no hint as to how he would rule, saying only as he took it under advisement that the ruling would remain sealed until the jury is selected to hear the case.

A trial date will be set during a brief status hearing before Judge White Tuesday. Prosecutors and Judge White want to schedule a date in May, but Peterson's defense team indicated they intend to seek a date in June.

State's Attorney James Glasgow and assistant John Conner portrayed Peterson as a cold-blooded killer who took the life of Kathleen Savio in 2004 to save himself from financial ruin in a divorce settlement, and who killed his fourth wife Stacy 3-1/2 years later because she knew too much about Savio's death.

In turn, defense attorneys argued that the case against Peterson is built on a foundation of lies, that the witnesses and their testimony are at best unreliable and that someone other than Peterson had the motive and the opportunity to kill Savio Feb. 29, 2004.

Defense attorney Andrew Abood said the real killer was Savio's boyfriend Steve Maniaci, who had a tiff with her just before her death. But Glasgow said in his argument that the quarrel was minor, and that a lot of circumstantial evidence points to Peterson.

Lead defense attorney Joel Brodsky said outside of court he believed the defense team had done a "fantastic, credible, really great job" in showing that Peterson played no role in Savio's death or Stacy Peterson's disappearance.
*More at link!

Article:
http://www.wbbm780.com/Hearsay-Hearing-For-Drew-Peterson-Ends/6404027

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Drew Peterson misses sons
February 21, 2010
<snipped>
An attorney for accused wife-murderer Drew Peterson &#8212; who has gotten quite a beating from dozens of witnesses in pretrial court hearings &#8212; claims his client is having a hard time not being able to see his sons.

To wit: &#8220;Amazingly, his two teenage sons are doing well,&#8221; said attorney Walter Maksym, who works on the financial side of Peterson&#8217;s case. Peterson&#8217;s chief attorney is Joel Brodsky.

Translation: &#8220;Both of his sons are in high school; one is a top wrestler, and the other is in the high school band,&#8221; Maksym said. &#8220;They are both excelling, and [Peterson] can&#8217;t see them. It&#8217;s been sort of hard on him that way.&#8221;

Jail update: &#8220;He&#8217;s in isolation, and he can&#8217;t see anybody. He watches a little TV. I wanted to get him some books, but the only books he can have, have to come directly sealed from a publisher. You&#8217;d think the guy was in Stalag 17 or something. They&#8217;re treating him like he&#8217;s Hannibal Lecter.&#8221; :floorlaugh:

Article:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/2060483,michael-sneed-022110.article

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Former FNC Producer Who 'Helped' with Kathleen Savio's Autopsy Responds
Feb 22, 2010 03:07 PM
<snipped>
Steph Watts, who was a producer for Fox News' "On the Record," has responded via TVNewser to recent media reports of his involvement in the investigation into the death of Drew Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio.

As we reported Friday, Dr. Michael Baden, the medical examiner who had performed Savio's autopsy, stated during cross-examination that Watts had assisted him in performing the autopsy.

"During the autopsy, which lasted approximately 3 hours, I took extensive notes and shot video," Watts writes to TVNewser. "I never had any physical contact with the body of Kathleen Savio, nor participated in 'performing' the autopsy in any way."

Watts insists neither he nor his news organization exerted any influence over the autopsy: "There is no magic wizard behind the FOX News curtain, pulling strings to influence the findings by one of the country's finest Forensic Pathologists."

His full response:
It's been interesting watching the media report the story of my alleged participation in the autopsy of former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio. For all of you who preferred to regurgitate inaccuracies, and didn't take the time to simply call to check the facts, here they are: It was through my work on Greta's show, that we uncovered documents leading us to facts that questioned the original classification of Kathleen Savio's death as an accident, and exposed egregious errors by the Bolingbrook Police Department, the original coroner and coroner's jury. Dr. Michael Baden agreed that the findings indicated Savio's death was a homicide. After reviewing the same documents, the State Attorney's office decided to exhume the body of Kathleen Savio and perform a second autopsy. The family of Kathleen Savio, weary of the State Attorney's office, discussed with me having an additional private autopsy done, but knew they could never afford such an expensive endeavor. I took their interest to Dr. Michael Baden, and he volunteered his time. I was already in Chicago covering the case, and accompanied Dr. Baden on every endeavor while he was in town. I asked permission of the family to be in the room with Dr. Baden while the autopsy was performed, and they agreed. I agreed with the Savio family that I would only film Dr. Baden, and no images of the body would ever be filmed or aired. The family knew Dr. Baden would be reporting his findings, whichever way they concluded. During the autopsy, which lasted approximately 3 hours, I took extensive notes and shot video. I never had any physical contact with the body of Kathleen Savio, nor participated in "performing" the autopsy in any way. There were a least 6 Illinois State Police troopers in the room at any given time, and the entire experience was handled with the utmost respect to the Savio family, and most importantly to Kathleen. There is no magic wizard behind the FOX News curtain, pulling strings to influence the findings by one of the country's finest Forensic Pathologists. In conclusion, if Drew Peterson's defense attorney is basing his case on the fact that I was in the autopsy room of a woman his client likely murdered, I would suggest he size Peterson up for a few more of those fancy orange jumpsuits he seems to like so much.

Article:
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser...h_kathleen_savios_autopsy_responds_152800.asp

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Will Drew Peterson Be Condemned From the Grave?
Judge to Decide if Hearsay Evidence About Peterson's Two Wives Can Be Used in Trial
Feb. 22, 2010
<snipped>
Drew Peterson is facing words from the grave that could send him to jail for the rest of his life. The prosecution's case against Peterson is being constructed around Savio -- in an unprecedented attempt to use hearsay evidence from the dead. "It is being built on the words, the alleged words, the unproven words of a dead person being conveyed through her friends, relatives and acquaintances," said Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky.

The hearing centered on a 2008 Illinois state law, dubbed "Drew's Law," which allows for hearsay evidence in first-degree murder cases if prosecutors can show a defendant killed a victim to prevent him or her from testifying.

Witnesses: Kathleen Savio Feared Drew Peterson
When asked about his relationship with Savio, Peterson called it "very comical" and "witty," but later admitted it was tempestuous -- and that police were called to their house on 18 separate occasions. "I was a smart ***. She'd get mad at me for something. She'd be going off on a rampage and instead of calming her down, I'd look at her and go, 'Let me talk to Kathy now. I can't do this.' It would set her off even worse," he told Bashir.

Defense Calls Hearsay Evidence a 'Lynch Mob Effect'
"Why is it that so many people from varied backgrounds&#8230; all seem to be saying that his wives told them that he was likely to kill them?" said Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodksy. "I think it's almost like, call it a mob effect, a lynch mob effect. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon because they want a result." "Things are never that consistent," Brodsky said, "So when you have this, what I call eerie consistency, I think it really gives rise to lessening the credibility rather than strengthening it." The defense maintains that Drew Peterson cannot be convicted of murder on the basis of hearsay. When asked if the trial was akin to a modern-day Salem witch hunt, Brodksy agreed: "There's no question about it&#8230; They believe he is the devil and they want to see the devil brought down. But trust me, Drew Peterson is not the devil."

Prosecutors would not speak to us because of a standing gag order, but they're relying on the words of the dead to condemn Drew Peterson. If Judge Stephen White decides to dismiss hearsay evidence in the case, Susan Doman said she would be heartbroken. In her eyes, Peterson is a man capable of murder. "In my heart, he has killed her," she said. "I believe that he is a man of great secrets."
*Much More At Link!

WATCH: Will Peterson Be Condemned From the Grave?
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/grave--9916305

Related:
WATCH: Attorney: Peterson's Personality 'Unique'
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7612823

WATCH: Drew Peterson's Stepdaughter Speaks
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video?id=8752654

WATCH: Was Stacy Peterson Found?
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7642622

WATCH: Drew Peterson's Fifth Engagement
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6766370

Article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Law...say-evidence-determine-guilt/story?id=9908667

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Peterson trial date set
February 23, 2010
<snipped>
The date is set for the murder trial of Drew Peterson. Jury selection will begin Monday, June 14th.

The decision comes after a month long pre-trial hearing, on whether hearsay evidence will be allowed at his trial.

Video: Peterson Trial Date Revealed Today 2:19
http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/?watchId=0c58b261-e51e-4f3b-b931-efb18b6ef8f3

Video: Peterson Trial Date Revealed Today 0:23
http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/?watchId=e7154f96-ddd0-4c26-8e01-e2d4e44cf929

Article:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-peterson-trial-date-revealed-feb23,0,626989.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

June 14 trial date set for Drew Peterson in Savio death
Jury selection to start then in ex-Bolingbrook cop's murder case
February 23, 2010
<snipped>
Drew Peterson will stand trial beginning June 14 for murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, a Will County judge ordered today.

Judge Stephen White ordered jury selection to begin that day for the 56-year-old former Bolingbrook cop, who's charged with drowning Savio in her bathtub during their bitter divorce.

Still to be decided: whether the judge will allow the jury to hear that hearsay evidence &#8212; statements that other witnesses say were made by Savio and Stacy Peterson.

Article:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/peterson/2065446,drew-peterson-trial-date-set-022310.article

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Date set in Peterson murder trial
Updated at 04:16 PM today
<snipped>
Tuesday morning, a Will County judge announced the trial will start on Monday, June 14.

Peterson and his attorneys are happy with the trial date and say it gives them time to get ready.

"We look forward to the case proceeding to trial. We're gonna present a vigorous defense, and we look forward to a verdict in our favor," said George Lenard, Peterson's defense attorney.

Article:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7292991

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Missing 4th wife may be big part of Peterson trial
Tuesday, February 23, 2010; 4:13 PM
<snipped>
As Drew Peterson heads to trial in the death of his third wife, it's clear that prosecutors hope to make their case by trying to prove he also killed his missing fourth wife, even though he has never been charged in her disappearance.

Will County Judge Stephen White still must rule on whether he'll allow such hearsay - or secondhand - evidence at Peterson's upcoming trial on charges of killing Savio, whose body was found in a bathtub in 2004. On Tuesday, White said jury selection will begin June 14. Prosecutors have not said how much they would tell jurors about Stacy Peterson, but an extraordinary pretrial hearing revealed just how closely the circumstantial evidence against Drew Peterson in Savio's slaying is tied to Stacy Peterson's disappearance.

Stacy Peterson's disappearance also figures in another cornerstone of the prosecutors' case: that Drew Peterson had the ability to kill Savio, not leave any evidence, and even make her death look like an accident. "This is not somebody who just watched CSI," Assistant State's Attorney John Connor told White on the last day of the hearing in which prosecutors detailed Peterson's law enforcement career, including his experience as an evidence technician. "This is somebody who's been CSI."

Even if the judge does not initially allow anyone to testify about Stacy Peterson's disappearance, the cases are so intertwined that there is always a chance a single question by one of Peterson's attorneys could change that. "When you're doing cross examination you've got to be damn sure you don't do something that trips into the other case," said Erickson. "If there's one phrase trial judges love it's, 'Counsel, you opened the door.'"

Article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR2010022303596.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Peterson trial date set, but no decision yet on hearsay
When judge rules on whether to allow hearsay statements, decision will be sealed until after jury selection
6:47 p.m. CST, February 23, 2010
<snipped>
Judge Stephen White said jury selection would begin June 14. In August, he brought in the pool of some 240 jurors, who filled out questionnaires and were admonished to shun media coverage of the case. White's decision on whether any of 13 remaining hearsay statements prosecutors want admitted at trial under a new state law can be heard will be filed under seal. It will become public after jury selection is over, White said last week.

During closing arguments in the hearsay hearing last week, prosecutors revealed the importance they place on what they say was an accidentally answered four-minute phone call from Stacy's cell phone to Peterson's cell phone the night Stacy was reported missing. "This is a miracle, judge," Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said of the alleged mistake during closing arguments last week. "We probably wouldn't be standing here if it didn't happen."

Peterson's stepbrother Thomas Morphey testified that Peterson dropped him off at Remington Lakes park in Bolingbrook that night, handing Morphey Drew Peterson's cell phone and telling him not to answer it. Glasgow said two calls rang unanswered, but a 9:07 p.m. call was accidentally picked up by Morphey, who by then had placed the phone in his coat pocket. Prosecutors allege Peterson, who was trying to frame a Shorewood man, was then forced to concoct a story about what his wife said.

Defense attorney Joel Brodsky said the call only bolsters his client's version of what happened. He said there was no evidence presented that Morphey, who only remembered the phone ringing twice, accidentally answered the call. "It's almost like an admission that they don't have a case to me," said Brodsky, who said White's ruling could push back the trial date. "If it goes very strongly towards the defense we may not have a jury trial in June (as prosecutors appeal)." If the four-minute call from Peterson's wife is real, "their whole case about Stacy falls apart," Brodsky said. "They have to come up with this nutty pocket dial to keep their case."

Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-drew-peterson-0224-20100223,0,7782561.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

*Added for easy reference for everyone!

Witnesses and hearsay statements that a judge is considering whether to allow in Drew Peterson&#8217;s trial
7:53 p.m. CST, February 23, 2010
<snipped>
1. Kathleen Savio's letter to then-Will County Assistant State's Attorney Elizabeth Fragale complaining of Drew Peterson's abuse, including an alleged July 2002 attack when he put a knife to her throat.

2. Kristin Anderson testified that Savio told of her fears that Peterson would kill her while her family briefly rented Savio's basement in 2003.

3. Mary Parks, Savio's Joliet Junior College classmate, testified she saw red marks on Savio's neck that Savio attributed to Peterson in 2003.

4. Issam Karam, a Savio co-worker, testified Savio told him Peterson came into her home and held a knife to her throat.

5. Susan Doman, Savio's sister, gave lengthy testimony about her sister's fears that Peterson would kill her.

6. Savio's sister Anna Doman testified that shortly before she died, Savio asked Doman to care for her children if she died, saying Peterson wanted to kill her.

7. Savio's handwritten statement attached to a Bolingbrook police report on the July 2002 incident.

8. Six audio excerpts from a June 13, 2003, taped conversation Savio had with an insurance company over a claim she put in for allegedly stolen jewelry.

9. Savio's Aug. 6, 2003, statement to the insurance company

10. Harry Smith, Savio's divorce attorney, testified Stacy contacted him about divorcing Peterson shortly before she vanished.

11. Scott Rossetto, Stacy's friend, testified she told him Peterson coached her as an alibi witness in Savio's death.

12. The Rev. Neil Schori, pastor, testified Stacy told him Peterson returned home dressed completely in black and carrying a bag of women's clothing in the late morning on the day Savio's body was found. Stacy also told him Peterson coached her to provide his alibi.

13. Michael Miles, Stacy's Joliet Junior College classmate, testified Stacy told him before Savio's 2004 death that Peterson wanted to kill his ex-wife but that Stacy talked him out of it.

Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-drew-peterson-box-0224-20100223,0,6711015.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

High profile trials of Blago and Peterson will overlap
2/24/10
<snipped>
Two major criminal cases are set for trial in the Chicago area at the same time later this year. Both will be making headlines this June. One is for former Governor Rod Blagojevich set to begin June 3, the other is for accused killer Drew Peterson whose trial date was set Tuesday for June 14.

So, what happens when two high profile cases occur at the same time? Former Assistant U-S Attorney Patrick Collins says two mini-circuses will be happening all at once.

He says both Peterson and Blagojevich have been painted in a sinister fashion, and both have been presumed guilty to a degree because of the extensive publicity they've already received.

Blagojevich faces corruption charges including trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama. Peterson goes on trial for the drowning murder of his third wife Kathleen Savio, and is a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife Stacy Peterson.

Collins also sees a potential problem especially when it comes to protecting the jury and what they should know in their own case. He says a juror in the Blagojevich case could see how a judge in the Peterson case treats a similar matter and makes an analogy that may or may not be appropriate.

Video: Peterson And Blagojevich Trials Share Similarities 2:55
http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/?watchId=cb613efa-de6d-478b-b4c7-2dbf8fa53c12

Video: Terry Sullivan: Peterson And Blagojevich Trials 2:47
http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/?watchId=8d056a82-a62c-410f-889a-29cf752fdb46

Article:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-blago-peterson-trials-feb23,0,3357516.story

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Attorney: Drew Peterson Faces 'A Lynch Mob' with Hearsay Testimony
Lawyer says new state law allowing hearsay to be admitted in murder trial is unfair to Drew Peterson.
February 23, 2010
<snipped>
The attorney representing accused killer and former Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson calls his client a victim of "a lynch mob."

"Everybody wants to jump on the bandwagon," Joel Brodsky told ABC's 'Nightline.' He said recent hearsay statements from the family of Peterson's deceased third wife, Kathleen Savio, do not afford his client a fair trial.

"It's being built on the unproven words of a dead person being conveyed through her family," said Brodsky, who argues hearsay should not be used as evidence in a murder trial.

The trial is set to begin mid June.

Drew Peterson on Nightline - Joel Brodsky on Drew's Law - Hearsay Law - Stacy Peterson
ABC's Nightline interviews accused killer Drew Peterson and his attorney, Joel Brodsky. Aired Feb. 22, 2010.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-agYVK-HP34[/ame]

Article:
http://www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?z=0&a=2285

 

[Angel Who Cares]

ABC Nightline: Drew Peterson; Brian Ross and Toyota; Ringo Starr's favorites. Mon, Feb 22, 2010 ~ 21:50
[ame="http://www.hulu.com/watch/129713/abc-nightline-mon-feb-22-2010"]Hulu - ABC Nightline: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 - Watch the full episode now.@@AMEPARAM@@http://www.hulu.com/embed/h9DKVL9H6v8Aj0_6YHhFKw@@AMEPARAM@@h9DKVL9H6v8Aj0_6YHhFKw[/ame]

ABC Nightline: From Beyond the Grave Excerpt 2/22/10 (09:12)
[ame="http://www.hulu.com/watch/129706/abc-nightline-from-beyond-the-grave"]Hulu - ABC Nightline: From Beyond the Grave@@AMEPARAM@@http://www.hulu.com/embed/Mg4qPDaqu0PgDnKk7bcJjA@@AMEPARAM@@Mg4qPDaqu0PgDnKk7bcJjA[/ame]