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Author Topic: Drew Peterson arrested/indicted for murder 3rd wife Kathleen Savio #1(GUILTY)  (Read 310831 times)
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grace-land
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« Reply #420 on: August 01, 2012, 04:09:10 PM »

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/01/13071161-judge-in-drew-peterson-case-adjourns-court-early-no-decision-on-mistrial

Judge in Drew Peterson case adjourns court early; no decision on mistrial
2 hours ago (August 1, 2012)

The judge presiding over the Drew Peterson murder trial ended court early Wednesday to give defense attorneys time to consider whether they still want to pursue a mistrial after a question to a witness from prosecutors prompted jurors to be escorted out the courtroom, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Judge Edward Burmilla had asked Peterson's defense team to consider the testimony of Thomas Pontarelli be stricken from the record as a compromise instead of declaring a mistrial.
 ::snipping2::
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MuffyBee
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« Reply #421 on: August 01, 2012, 07:01:02 PM »

http://twitter.com/vinniepolitan

3h Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
No ruling yet in #DrewPeterson motion... Everyone going home... Be back tomorrow...

4h Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
Judge wants to strike #DrewPeterson neighbor testimony instead of granting a mistrial...but has not ruled yet...

6h Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson atty ask for a mistrial after neighbor says he found a 38 bullet on his driveway. Prosecution can't prove DP left bullet there

6h Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson neighbor says he was intimidated by DP and found a 38 bullet on his driveway

7h Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
...So from the begining #DrewPeterson thought he would be a suspect in his wife's death... According to his neighbor

7h Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson neighbor: They just found my ex-wife dead in the bathroom, and people are going to think I did it.

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
@Light_Life_Love ...NO CAMERAs permitted by Judge...

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
Joel Brodsky... #DrewPeterson atty during first day of trial... http://yfrog.com/obj3ntckj
 
31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson atty describes a fight between wives 3 and 4 and calls Kathleen Savio a "madwoman" ...

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson atty describing the messy breakup between DP and Kathleen Savio... Saying KS made up stories about DP...
31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
Objections and sidebars during #DrewPeterson atty opening... Accused of testifying during open by prosecution... The legal war continues...

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson atty Joel Brodsky starts his open... Introduces defense team... Compares them to a baseball team..
Expand
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31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson prosecutor: "this not a case where you'll have DNA, fingerprints, or a videotaped confession" . . .

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson prosecutor: within an hour original investigators said accident...

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
#DrewPeterson attys object and ask for mistrial after prosecutors say DP tried to hire someone to kill Kathleen Savio... Motion denied

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
Openings beginning NOW... #DrewPeterson

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
Pre-opening legal arguments in #DrewPeterson courtroom regarding prosecutions use of controversial hearsay statements

31 Jul Vinnie Politan ‏@VinniePolitan
Openings moments away in #DrewPeterson case. Peterson in gray suit and in chains... As he enters courtroom.
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« Reply #422 on: August 01, 2012, 07:14:27 PM »

http://abcnews.go.com/US/drew-peterson-judge-considers-declaring-mistrial/story?id=16905316
Drew Peterson Trial Continues Despite Calls for Mistrial
August 1, 2012

Drew Peterson's murder trial resumed today after the judge considered and then denied a defense request to declare a mistrial.

Judge Edward Burmilia called a recess this morning after the prosecution, in questioning Peterson's former neighbor, introduced controversial evidence. Peterson, 58, is accused of killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in 2004.

Thomas Pontarelli, who lived down the street from the home Peterson and Savio once shared, said during questioning that Peterson had intimidated Savio in the months before her death while the couple was going through a bitter divorce.

He then said that Savio once found a bullet in her driveway, a statement that drew loud objections by the defense and a scolding by Burmilia.

"Are you going to be able to demonstrate the defendant put the bullet on the driveway as a means of intimidation?" Burmilia said immediately after the prosecution's witness mentioned the bullet.

Burmilia and defense attorneys agreed that the mention of the bullet had not been discussed in pre-trial hearings and would taint the jury's perception of Peterson. Burmilia then called for a recess to decide whether the prosecution had warranted a mistrial, but ruled instead this afternoon that the "low-blow" by the prosecution would result in Pontarelli's entire testimony being stricken from the court record.
The defense could keep the cross-examination with Pontarelli on the record if they wanted to, he said.

Drew Peterson Trial: Opening Arguments Set to Begin Watch Video
Prosecutors said they had no intention of misleading the jury and that they were just trying to show that Peterson's wife as well as neighbors may have been intimidated by Peterson.

It was the second time in the two day old trial that defense lawyers have asked for a mistrial.
More...

Video at Link
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grace-land
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« Reply #423 on: August 01, 2012, 08:23:32 PM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-crime-petersonbre8701s0-20120801,0,6612197.story

Drew Peterson lawyers to decide on pursuing mistrial request
5:42 p.m. CDT, August 1, 2012

JOLIET, Illinois (Reuters) - Defense attorneys will decide by Thursday morning whether to pursue a request for a mistrial for former Chicago-area police officer Drew Peterson, who is charged with killing his third wife.

The defense asked for a mistrial on Wednesday, saying the prosecution had improperly introduced evidence.

It was the second mistrial request in as many days in the murder trial before Will County Judge Edward Burmila. Defense lawyers want the charges against Peterson dropped and the judge to declare he cannot be retried on them.

Burmila said he was loath to declare a mistrial, and asked Peterson's lawyers if they would accept striking all or part of testimony given on Tuesday by Peterson's former next-door neighbor, Thomas Pontarelli. Defense attorneys said they would give their decision in the morning.
 ::snipping2::

Burmila questioned prosecutor Kathleen Patton on the bullet testimony. Patton said prosecutors had sought to show jurors that Pontarelli and Peterson were not friends. Peterson has denied putting the bullet in the driveway.

The judge on Tuesday denied a defense request for a mistrial after Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow told jurors in an opening statement that a man Peterson worked with at a cable television installation company had said under oath that Peterson offered him $25,000 to find a hit man to kill Savio.

Burmila ruled that prosecutors could not use testimony from the man.

The testimony of family, friends and associates is key to the prosecution case against Peterson because there is little physical evidence tying him to Savio's death.
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jamcakes
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« Reply #424 on: August 01, 2012, 10:02:16 PM »

Drew Peterson lawyers to decide on pursuing mistrial request

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/01/us-usa-crime-peterson-idUSBRE8701S020120801

JOLIET, Illinois | Wed Aug 1, 2012 6:39pm EDT

(Reuters) - Defense attorneys will decide by Thursday morning whether to pursue a request for a mistrial for former Chicago-area police officer Drew Peterson, who is charged with killing his third wife.

The defense asked for a mistrial on Wednesday, saying the prosecution had improperly introduced evidence.

It was the second mistrial request in as many days in the murder trial before Will County Judge Edward Burmila. Defense lawyers want the charges against Peterson dropped and the judge to declare he cannot be retried on them.

Burmila said he was loath to declare a mistrial, and asked Peterson's lawyers if they would accept striking all or part of testimony given on Tuesday by Peterson's former next-door neighbor, Thomas Pontarelli. Defense attorneys said they would give their decision in the morning.

Pontarelli testified that he found a .38-caliber cartridge nose-up on his driveway in 2002, which he believed Peterson had placed there to intimidate him.

Defense attorneys said that because there was no proof Peterson put the bullet there, prosecutors should not have elicited the testimony.

The judge said eliciting the testimony was a "low blow."

Peterson is charged with the murder of third wife Kathleen Savio, who was found dead in a dry bathtub in 2004. Her death initially was ruled an accident. But when Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared in 2007, suspicions were raised and the Savio death was ruled a homicide. Stacy Peterson has never been found and is presumed dead.

The Peterson case has drawn national attention and was the subject of a Lifetime television network movie "Untouchable" starring Rob Lowe as Drew Peterson. His first and second wives have remarried.

Pontarelli testified on Tuesday he was intimidated by Peterson, who had learned that Pontarelli had helped Peterson's estranged wife, Savio, move things out of her house.

Peterson also had suspected Pontarelli had changed the locks on Savio's front door, although he had not changed the locks, Pontarelli testified.

 ::snipping2::

Defense attorney Steve Greenberg objected when Pontarelli testified about finding the cartridge, saying prosecutors were introducing "prior bad acts" and attempting to "dirty up Mr. Peterson."

Burmila questioned prosecutor Kathleen Patton on the bullet testimony. Patton said prosecutors had sought to show jurors that Pontarelli and Peterson were not friends. Peterson has denied putting the bullet in the driveway.

The judge on Tuesday denied a defense request for a mistrial after Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow told jurors in an opening statement that a man Peterson worked with at a cable television installation company had said under oath that Peterson offered him $25,000 to find a hit man to kill Savio.

Burmila ruled that prosecutors could not use testimony from the man.

The testimony of family, friends and associates is key to the prosecution case against Peterson because there is little physical evidence tying him to Savio's death.
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« Reply #425 on: August 02, 2012, 08:31:21 AM »

I sincerely hope that in the prosecutors zeal to convict Peterson they don't blow this whole thing.
I think he is guilty, but the prosecutors aren't doing a good job IMO
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grace-land
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« Reply #426 on: August 02, 2012, 10:50:51 AM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-twitter-20120731,0,5381027.htmlstory

Tweets from the Drew Peterson trial

agrimm34 less than a minute ago
#DrewPeterson lawyers to judge: Prosecution intentionally trying to "goad" defense into motion for mistrial. "They want to start over."

agrimm34 5 minutes ago
Court in session: #DrewPeterson attorneys renew motion for mistrial.
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grace-land
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« Reply #427 on: August 02, 2012, 11:03:56 AM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-twitter-20120731,0,5381027.htmlstory

Tweets from the Drew Peterson trial

agrimm34  6 minutes ago
Get more detailed updates on #DrewPeterson case at the Chicago Tribune's blog at http://t.co/tL6JJkWN Lawyers now arguing mistrial motion
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grace-land
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« Reply #428 on: August 02, 2012, 11:15:36 AM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-twitter-20120731,0,5381027.htmlstory

Judge Ed Burmila rules: No mistrial, jury to be instructed to ignore disputed testimony.
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grace-land
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« Reply #429 on: August 02, 2012, 11:29:25 AM »

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8759091

Judge denies mistrial, neighbor's testimony stays in Drew Peterson murder trial
Updated at 10:07 AM today

August 2, 2012 (JOLIET, Ill.) (WLS) -- Judge Edward Burmila denied a motion for mistrial by the defense in the Drew Peterson murder trial on Thursday morning.

Defense attorneys for Drew Peterson asked again Thursday for a mistrial in the murder case.

Peterson is charged in the 2004 murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

"It's going to be an unfair trial if you let this go on," a defense attorney said Thursday to the judge in the Drew Peterson murder trial.

The defense had originally asked for that mistrial on Wednesday, but the judge held off on making that decision, giving the defense time to think about another option- striking testimony from that witness. On Thursday, they reiterated their desire for a mistrial.

 "They are trying to show everyone is afraid of Mr. Peterson," a defense attorney said Thursday. "What evidence do they have that he did something? ... They want everyone to think he's a bad man."

The state said they did not try to "mislead the jury" and called asking for a mistrial "absurd" on Thursday. A prosecutor said, "...State is entitled for a fair trial just like the defendant, we are asking you to deny motion for mistrial we are ready to proceed today."
 ::snipping2::
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grace-land
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« Reply #430 on: August 02, 2012, 11:43:42 AM »

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Judge-Denies-Motion-for-Mistrial-In-Peterson-Case-164739566.html

Judge Denies Motion for Mistrial In Peterson Case
 
"The defendant's ability to have a fair trial is not extinguished," judge says
Thursday, Aug 2, 2012  |  Updated 10:21 AM CDT

A judge has denied a motion for a mistrial in the high-profile murder case against Drew Peterson, a former Bolingbrook police sergeant accused of killing his third wife.
 
Judge Edward Burmila made the decision Thursday despite arguments over a suggestion made a day earlier by prosecutors' second witness that Peterson could have left a .38-caliber bullet in his driveway as an intimidation tactic.
 
Burmila on Wednesday offered to strike the tainted testimony as a compromise to the defense's call for a mistrial, but Peterson attorney Steve Greenberg called the testimony "purposeful misconduct." Greenberg said he questioned Peterson's right to a fair trial even if the testimony was eliminated.
 
"So far we have a jury that thinks everyone is afraid of Mr. Peterson," Greenberg said Thursday in court. "How is that fair to Mr. Peterson?"
 
Burmila disputed that, saying "the defendant's ability to have a fair trial is not extinguished."
 ::snipping2::

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/feature/drew-peterson-murder-trial/Judge-Denies-Motion-for-Mistrial-In-Peterson-Case-164739566.html#ixzz22P4dvNN3
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grace-land
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« Reply #431 on: August 02, 2012, 11:51:47 AM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-twitter-20120731,0,5381027.htmlstory

Pontarelli stmt in dispute: DP accused me of changing locks. I said I didn't, butgot his message...I found a .38-caliber bullet on driveway.

agrimm34 11 minutes ago
#DrewPeterson jury returns. Judge: State asked question she knew would draw an inadmiss. response. You cannot consider "bullet" statement

agrimm34 8 minutes ago
Now on stand in #DrewPeterson trial: Firefighter/paramedic Louis Oleskiewicz. First responder when Savio body found in bathtub.

agrimm34 about a minute ago
Paramedic report: Savio "cold to touch"; hair "matted, damp"; on her side in bathtub when he arrived

agrimm342 2 minutes ago
Judge Ed Burmila rules: No mistrial, jury to be instructed to ignore disputed testimony.

agrimm34 3 minutes ago
Tom Pontarelli time on stand ended by judge's sanction. State to call 3 paramedics called to Kathy Savio's hse when body found #DrewPeterson
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grace-land
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« Reply #432 on: August 02, 2012, 12:14:39 PM »

http://abcnews.go.com/US/drew-peterson-denied-mistrial-time-prosecution-errors/story?id=16913017

Drew Peterson Denied Mistrial Again After Prosecution's Missteps
JOLIET, Ill. Aug. 2, 2012

 ::snipping2::
The defense asked for a mistrial immediately following the testimony about the bullet, but Burmila returned a decision in the afternoon denying the mistrial. Instead, he said he would strike the neighbor's testimony from the court record and allow the defense to keep the cross-examination testimony on the record if they chose. He gave the attorneys Wednesday afternoon to think about it.
 ::snipping2::
 
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jamcakes
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« Reply #433 on: August 02, 2012, 12:47:00 PM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-trial-updates-decision-expected-today-on-mistrial-20120802,0,1805576.story

Drew Peterson trial updates: Paramedic testifies about Savio's death

    Related
    Tweets from the Drew Peterson trial Tweets from the Drew Peterson trial
    Photos: Drew Peterson trial Photos: Drew Peterson trial
    Mistrial decision day Mistrial decision day
    Peterson timeline and archives Peterson timeline and archives
    Photos: The Drew Peterson investigation Photos: The Drew Peterson investigation
    See more stories »

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By Matthew Walberg, Steve Schmadeke and Andy Grimm Tribune reporters

11:33 a.m. CDT, August 2, 2012

Continual coverage of the trial of Drew Peterson for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

11:25 a.m. Paramedic testifies about scene of death

Under questioning from prosecutors, a paramedic called to the scene after Savio's body was discovered said he thought it was odd that there was no bath rug on the floor or large towels in the bathroom.

"It did not appear that she was getting ready to take a bath," said Bolingbrook paramedic Louis Oleskiewicz said. "At home, if I don't put that stuff down on the floor and my wife's socks get wet, she gets mad."

11:05 a.m. Testimony focuses on towel

As the trial resumed, testimony focused on a towel seen in a photograph of Kathleen Savio's body. The defense contends Savio died after falling in the tub, while prosecutors say the death was staged to look like an accident.

Defense attorney Steven Greenberg asked Bolingbrook paramedic Louis Oleskiewicz if the pink towel seen in the photo looked like one a person would use to dry off after a bath or shower.

"It wouldn't work for me," Oleskiewicz said. "It's too small. The pink towel looks like a hand towel."

Oleskiewicz said that, on the night Savio's body was discovered, he had to lean over the tub to check Savio for signs of life and didn't notice a rubber mat in the tub or a bathrug on the floor outside the tub.

"So you didn't see anything in that tub that would keep a person from slipping?" Greenberg asked.

"Not that I remember seeing," the paramedic replied.

Oleskiewicz said he told state police investigators that "Sgt. Peterson appeared sad at the death of his wife and his eyes were red."

In other testimony, Oleskiewicz said his report noted that paramedics found Zoloft, Celebrex and Sudafed in Savio's home and that Savio had a heart murmur.

10:35 a.m. Jurors urged to be 'dispassionate'

Before the first witness took the stand this morning, Judge Edward Bermila instructed jurors to disregard any testimony from a neighbor, Thomas Pontarelli, regarding a bullet in his driveway or that he "got the message" from Drew Peterson.

He appeared to admonish prosecutors before the jury, saying the stricken testimony was purposely drawn out by prosecutors.

"During her redirect examination of Mr. Pontarelli, (Asst. State's Atty.) Kathleen Patton asked a question which she knew would draw an inadmissable response," the judge said.

He said the state was prohibited from further questioning Pontarelli, and told jurors that the state's attorney job is "not that it shall win at all costs, but that justice be done."

He told jurors they could consider the rest of Pontarelli's testimony and reminded them to remain "dispassionate" in their judgment of the case.

10:20 a.m. Disputed testimony to be stricken

Instead of a mistrial being declared and jurors sent home, they will be instructed to disregard testimony from a neighbor, Thomas Pontarelli, about a bullet found on his driveway.

Under questioning from prosecutors Wednesday, Pontarelli said he was "intimidated" by Drew Peterson during a contentious period in Peterson's divorce from Kathleen Savio.

"We had a conversation where he was accusing me of changing the locks. I said I didn't, but I got his message yesterday," Pontarelli testified. "He asked what was that. I said I found a .38-caliber bullet on my driveway."

Prosecutors later told the judge they could not prove Peterson left the bullet there, prompting Burmila to call it a "low blow."

Defense attorney Steven Greenberg argued that the statement was part of a pattern of prosecutors attempting to bias jurors with evidence that was not admissible, including a remark during the first minutes of State's Attorney James Glasgow's opening statement on Tuesday.

Glasgow had mentioned that Peterson offered $25,000 to an acquaintance, an apparent reference to an allegation that Peterson was trying to hire a hit man.

Greenberg said prosecutors were intentionally trying to "goad" the defense into seeking a mistrial after a series of setbacks during the first two days of the trial.

"They intentionally did this and why? ... Because they didn't get the hitman evidence in," Greenberg said. "They didn't get other evidence in. They want to start over.

"We are not creating this situation," he said. "They are trying to goad us into it."

10:15 a.m. Worries about bias against Peterson

In arguing for a mistrial, defense attorney Steven Greenberg said prosecutors would continue to try to get banned evidence and testimony before the jury, and that continued objections from the defesne would bias the jury against Drew Peterson.

"The jury's perception is, 'What are they trying to keep us from hearing?" Greenberg contended.

Greenberg expressed shock at the state's argument that the previous judge in the case, Stephen White, had allowed them to introduce evidence for one purpose, even though he had barred it for other reasons.

"This is one of those 'wow' moments where someone gets up here and says the rules of evidence don't apply to them," Greenberg said.

10:05 a.m. Judge says Peterson can still get fair trial

In denying the defense motion for a mistrial, Judge Edward Burmila ruled that "the defendant's ability to receive a fair trial has not been extinguished at this time" by disputed testimony from a neighbor.

He said a "curative instruction" to the jury -- instructing them to disregard the testimony -- should resolve the issue.

Burmila also found that prosecutors did not elicit the testimony with the intent to cause a mistrial.

9:57 a.m. Judge denies motion for mistrial

Judge Edward Burmila denied a defense motion for a mistrial, saying he did not believe missteps by the prosecution warranted such action.

Instead, jurors will be instructed to disregard testimony from a neighbor,Thomas Pontarelli, about a bullet he found in his driveway. Under questioning by prosecutors Wednesday, Pontarelli said he felt intimidated.

But prosecutors admitted to Burmila that they could not prove Peterson left the bullet there.

9:50 a.m. 'They intentionally did this'

As the trial resumed this morning, defense attorney Steve Greenberg again asked for a "mistrial with prejudice," a ruling that could lead to the case against the former Bolingbrook police sergeant being dropped.

Greenberg argued that prosecutors purposely introduced improper testimony from a neighbor to goad the defense team into seeking a mistrial. The neighbor, Thomas Pontarelli, testified he felt intimidated when he found a bullet in his driveway.

"They intentionally did this," Greenberg said. "They didn't get other evidence in and they want to start over."

8:45 a.m. Peterson jokes about handcuffs

Drew Peterson arrived in court around 8:45 a.m., dressed in a gray suit, and joked with deputies that his pants were falling down.

When defense attorney Joel Brodsky asked how his handcuffs fit as they were being unlocked, Peterson smiled and said, "I asked for some fur ones."

8:30 a.m. Doubts about a mistrial

As he arrived at the Will County courthouse this morning, defense attorney Steven Greenberg said he did not believe there would be a mistrial over the improper questioning of a witness.

"Probably not," he said. "But that doesn't mean we're not going to try."

Greenberg said he believes prosecutors are trying to derail the trial.

"We think this was calculated," Greenberg said. "The prosecution wants to goad us into a mistrial so they can start over and they can recover from their mistakes."

State's Atty. James Glasgow scoffed at the charge. "Absolutely false," he said as he walked into the courthouse with the prosecution team.

6:55 a.m. Decision on mistrial expected today

The third day of Drew Peterson's murder trial is expected to open today with a renewed call for a mistrial from his defense team, as the highly publicized case again faces a possible derailment over statements by prosecutors.

Defense attorneys called for a mistrial on Wednesday after prosecutors questioned Peterson neighbor Thomas Pontarelli about a 2004 incident in which he found a .38-caliber bullet on his driveway. Peterson attorney Steven Greenberg argued that the testimony was meant to imply the shell had been left as a threat from the former Bolingbrook police sergeant, on trial for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

Pontarelli said he discovered the bullet after Peterson, in the midst of an acrimonious divorce from Savio, had told Pontarelli not to help Savio.

"We had a conversation where he was accusing me of changing the locks. I said I didn't, but I got his message yesterday," Pontarelli testified. "He asked what was that. I said I found a .38-caliber bullet on my driveway."

The defense immediately objected and, after a recess, asked the judge for a mistrial.

It was the second mistrial motion from Peterson's attorneys in the first two days of testimony in a trial that has seen numerous — and mostly successful -- defense objections over evidence, despite years of evidentiary hearings that preceded the start of the trial.

An animated Judge Edward Burmila glared at the prosecution table as he agreed with the defense that the statements would bias jurors, but he offered an alternative to a mistrial: Instructing jurors to ignore all of Pontarelli's testimony.

 ::snipping2::

If the trial continues, prosecutors have said they intend to call two locksmiths who let Pontarelli and his wife, Mary, their son Nick and Peterson into Savio's house the evening her body was discovered in her bathtub. A Bolingbrook paramedic who responded to the house also is set to testify.
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« Reply #434 on: August 02, 2012, 01:51:42 PM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-trial-updates-decision-expected-today-on-mistrial-20120802,0,1805576.story

Drew Peterson trial updates: Locksmith talks about night Savio found
12:25 p.m. CDT, August 2, 2012

Continual coverage of the trial of Drew Peterson for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:20 p.m. 'I got the heck out of Dodge'

Robert Akin Jr., a locksmith, said he was called to open the door of Kathleen Savio's home on the evening her body was found.

The deadbolt was not locked, but the door handle was, he said. Drew Peterson waited at the door with him. "chit chatting," while neighbors went inside the home.

"There was like, a commotion, a scream," Akin said. "I was standing in front of Drew and he looked at me and said, 'I gotta go.' I got the heck out of Dodge, I just kind of went and sat in my truck for a little bit."

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., the trial broke for lunch. It will resume at 1:15 p.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:12 p.m. Locksmith talks about night Savio found

Early this afternoon locksmith Robert Akin was on the witness stand. He opened the door to Kathleen Savio's home the night her body was found in 2004.
 
Akin owns a locksmith business in Bolingbrook and has worked with officers in the Bolingbrook Police Department, including Drew Peterson, on well-being checks and other tasks.
 ::snipping2::
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Nut44x4
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RIP Grumpy Cat :( I will miss you.


« Reply #435 on: August 02, 2012, 04:16:34 PM »

TY 4 updates grace and jam
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« Reply #436 on: August 02, 2012, 05:01:32 PM »

You're welcome, Nut44x4!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-twitter-20120731,0,5381027.htmlstory

Tweets from the Drew Peterson trial

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« Reply #437 on: August 02, 2012, 05:10:31 PM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-trial-updates-decision-expected-today-on-mistrial-20120802,0,1805576.story?page=1

Drew Peterson trial updates: Divorce lawyer won't testify for now
3:10 p.m. CDT, August 2, 2012

3:10 p.m. Divorce lawyer won't testify for now

After a lengthy debate over what Kathleen Savio's divorce attorney Harry Smith would be allowed to testify about, prosecutors have decided not to call him at this time.

Instead, they called Lt. Michael R. Newton of the Bolingbrook Fire Department, who was on the fire truck that responded to Savio’s home the night in 2004 that her body was discovered.

Newton testified that when he went upstairs to Savio’s bedroom, Drew Peterson told him: “This is my ex-wife, treat the scene with respect.”

"He did seem upset," Newton later testified under cross-examination.

He also testified that he is “100 percent certain” he did not place a blue towel -- caught in a crime scene photo -- on the tub’s edge.

Other witnesses have testified they didn’t see the towel when they found Savio’s body.

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2:45 p.m. Prosecutors to call Savio divorce attorney
Robert Akin Jr., who made jurors laugh when he said, “Hey, nice tie” while identifying “Sgt. Peterson,” is off the stand after 30 minutes of cross-examination by defense attorney Joel Brodsky.
 
Prosecutors say they plan to call Harry Smith, who was Kathleen Savio's divorce attorney and was also consulted for a divorce by Stacy Peterson.

Assistant State's Attorney John Connor is asking the judge to consider allowing them to question Smith about certain aspects of Drew Peterson's divorce settlement as well as an incident in which Savio got into a fight with Stacy Peterson and was quickly tossed to the ground and subdued by Drew Peterson.

Burmila said Smith can testify generally about the divorce, but not about what he expected the outcome of the trial to be.

"Mr. Smith will not be able to testify as to what he expected the evidence to be or what the outcome would be," he said.

Connor asked the judge to let him ask Smith about the financial issues in the divorce, which he called a "burning question" in the murder trial.

"The jury has to consider the financial motive in this divorce. They have to understand all the different possibilities that were available...and the limits he was facing in terms of his financial future."

Burmila wasn't convinced.

How is the state going to demonstrate that the absence of Ms. Savio will effect the outcome?" he said. "Once they were divorced, the defendant's pension became a marital asset and whether or not Ms. Savio was going to get the pension was completely up to the judge."

Connor responded it was a "legal fiction" that the estate, which was being run by Peterson's uncle, would protect her interests. "She cannot protect her own interests, using the knowledge she has, while she's in the grave," Connor said.

"Just because that makes logical sense, doesn't mean it makes legal sense," Burmila said. "There's not going to be a whiff of a motive here - either you're going to be able to demonstrate it, or you're not."
 ::snipping2::
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grace-land
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« Reply #438 on: August 02, 2012, 05:27:41 PM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-twitter-20120731,0,5381027.htmlstory

Tweets from the Drew Peterson trial

agrimm34  15 minutes ago
End of testimony for today at #DrewPeterson trial.

Towel is in lower left corner of this sketch, made from a photo of the scene of Kathy Savio's bathroom.

agrimm3419 minutes ago
RT @GMarshall_Jr: Evidence photo of Savio's body and blue towel #DrewPeterson http://t.co/6tsrk0QV

agrimm3420 minutes ago
The Blue Towel: Mystery linen is tubside in pic of scene. But neighbors who discovered body, paramedics don't recall it there #Drewpeterson

agrimm3427 minutes ago
Berkery also says he did not place the mysterious blue towel in Kathy Savio's bathroom.agrimm3430 minutes agoOn the stand: Bolingbrook paramedic Tim Berkery, last of the first-responders at Kathy Savio's house on night body was found. #DrewPeterson

agrimm3431 minutes ago
Re-direct: But you don't know that #DrewPeterson was gone? Johnson: No.

agrimm3432 minutes ago
Johnson cross: Blue towel was put there after you left? Yes. When you left, #DrewPeterson was gone? Yes.

agrimm3435 minutes ago
Johnson said he did not place towel in Kathy Savio's bathroom, either. #DrewPeterson told firefighters to treat scene with respect.

agrimm3437 minutes ago
Newton testimony done. Prosecution calls paramedic Michael Johnson, who also was at Kathy Savio's house the night body found. #DrewPeterson

agrimm3441 minutes ago
Newton said he did not place mysterious towel on floor in Savio bathroom.agrimm3443 minutes agoBFD Lt. Michael Newton on cross by def. atty Joel Brodsky: Peterson "did seem upset" the night Kathy Savio's body was found.
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grace-land
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« Reply #439 on: August 03, 2012, 11:41:03 AM »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-drew-peterson-trial-updates-kathleen-savio-stacey-mistrial-20120803,0,1019573.story?page=2&track=rss

9:45 a.m. CDT, August 3, 2012
Continual coverage of the trial of Drew Peterson for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio

9 a.m. Witnesses today include Savio's sister
The witness list for today includes Anna Doman, Kathleen Savio's sister, and Robert Deel, an Illinois State Police evidence technician.

Deel initially investigated Savio's death in 2004 and concluded that she died in a freak bathtub accident. Prosecutors now say she was murdered and her death staged to look like an accident.

Doman is one of several witnesses who have testified in prior hearings about statements made by Savio.

Outside the courthouse, Peterson attorney Joel Brodsky would not comment on specific witnesses, but said the defense team would strenuously object to any attempt to introduce hearsay statements.
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7 a.m. Will divorce attorney take the stand?
Prosecutors have told the defense they plan to call at least four witnesses today, including a locksmith who previously testified he took a call from Peterson the night Kathleen Savio was found dead in a bathtub in her Bolingbrook home in 2004.

Christopher Wolzen testified during a pretrial hearing that he was on call that night, but Peterson asked him for the cell phone of Robert Akin Jr., a longtime friend of Peterson’s who owns Larry’s Lock Service in Bolingbrook.

Akin testified Thursday that he unlocked Savio’s front door for Peterson but didn’t charge him.

It’s unclear if prosecutors will also attempt to call Harry Smith, Savio’s divorce attorney, today.

Judge Edward Burmila said Thursday he would restrict Smith’s testimony only to some basic details of issues left to be settled in Peterson’s divorce.

At one point, the judge asked prosecutors if they wanted to do an offer of proof – a hearing before the judge outside the presence of jurors where prosecutors would present all the questions they planned to ask and then request that the judge allow them.
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6:45 a.m. Peterson trial enters fourth day
Drew Peterson's murder trial enters its fourth day today after prosecutors avoided a mistrial but suffered other apparent setbacks, including one that led them to delay calling a key witness.

The prosecutors, who allege that Peterson drowned his third wife, Kathleen Savio, seemed unfazed by the developments. But defense attorneys were pleased with how the trial was unfolding.

"They haven't laid a glove on us," defense attorney Joel Brodsky said of prosecutors.

On Wednesday, Judge Edward Burmila halted the trial and considered the highly unusual step of ordering a mistrial after Savio's neighbor testified that he believed Peterson tried to send him a message by leaving a bullet on his driveway. The judge then instructed jurors Thursday to ignore the testimony, which he said was improperly elicited by the prosecution.

"The (judge's) instruction says that the state did something they shouldn't do, and they're getting spanked," defense attorney Steve Greenberg said.

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said the judge "made the correct call" by declining to declare a mistrial and defended his office's conduct in the trial. "The reputation of our office, I'll put against any state's attorney's office in the state of Illinois," he said.

Prosecutors had planned Thursday to call Wheaton divorce attorney Harry Smith, who handled Savio's divorce and was consulted by Stacy Peterson before she vanished.

Smith's testimony, which has been extensively battled over in pretrial motions, is a key part of prosecutors' argument that Drew Peterson drowned Savio in her bathtub to avoid a trial in their divorce case over how their property would be divided.

Burmila told prosecutors that Smith would be allowed to testify only about what issues remained to be settled in the divorce, not give his opinion on any aspect of how it would affect assets such as Peterson's pension.

He also seemed to question whether the divorce proceedings had any legal relevance to the murder trial. "How is the state going to demonstrate that the absence of Ms. Savio will affect the outcome (of the divorce proceedings)?" he said.

Prosecutors delayed calling Smith, instead calling three Bolingbrook firefighters who responded to Savio's home after she was found dead in her bathtub.

"We're confident we'll get the testimony that's necessary from Harry Smith," Glasgow said. "There are some issues the court has some concerns about, and we'll deal with those."
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