Drew Peterson trial update murder trial closing arguments

Drew Peterson trial update

Drew Peterson trial brief recap

The Drew Peterson trial has captured national interest.

Peterson, a former Bolingbrook Police Department Sergeant, stands accused of first degree murder for murdering his ex-wide Kathleen Savio.

Kathleen Savio

Savio’s death was initially ruled an accidental drowning until Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy Peterson disappeared.

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After Stacy Peterson’s “disappearance”, Kathleen Savio’s body was exhumed and the cause of death was changed to a homicide.

During the five week trial, the prosecution has called more than 30 witnesses in an attempt to prove to the jury that Drew Peterson should be found guilty of murdering  Savio because he staged the crime scene to make her death look like an accident.

There was also “hearsay” testimony from a number of witnesses including doctors, lawyers, friends and family who testified that Kathleen Savio was afraid of her ex-husband and that he had  threatened her.

Others testified that Stacy Peterson knew that her husband had murdered Savio and was afraid of him a well.  And then she disappeared.

Forensics experts testified for the prosecution that the position of Savio’s toes are unnatural indicating that she did not simply fall in her bathtub

Drew and Stacy Peterson

Although no direct was presented, mounds of circumstantial evidence was.

The defense, of course, has refuted the evidence of with their own forensic pathologist expert witnesses and want the jury to believe that Savio simply fell , lost consciousness and drowned.

The defense did suffer a major blow when their next to last witness, Harry Smith, an attorney who was hired by Stacy Peterson said quite emphatically that Drew Peterson was guilty of murder.

Drew Peterson trial update closing arguments begin

Both sides have rested their case and now the closing arguments begin.

The prosecution has their turn first to present their closing arguments led by attorney Chris Koch. and then Peterson’s defense team, has their turn. Closing arguments for the defense will be lead by Joe Lopez

Since the burden of proof is on the state, the prosecution is then able to readdress any issues brought u by the defense’s closing.

Although closing arguments can go for hours and even days, US News reports that each side has been given an allotted amount of time of one hour and 45 minutes to present their closing remarks

Drew Peterson Trial Update closing arguments

Closing arguments in the Drew Peterson murder trial took place today and took up the bulk of the day.

People started lining up at the court to get a seat on Monday and by Tuesday at 9:30am, according to the Chicago Post the courtroom and overflow area were filled to capacity

Although Drew Peterson is a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife Stacy Peterson, that information is not allowed to be used in the closing arguments.

Prosecutor Chris Koch told the jurors in his one hour and 10 minute closing , “It is clear that this man murdered Kathleen Savio”. He pointed out all the injuries that Savio had sustained and said it was “not possible” that those injuries resulted from a single fall in the bathtub.

He implored the jurors to use common sense and reminded them of key information such as Drew Peterson arriving home and washing women’s clothing.  He also talked about the forensic evidence and attacked the expert witnesses that the defense had called who said that Savio received her numerous injuries from a fall.

He also pointed out that Peterson, then a Police Sergeant, didn’t even have his gun drawn when his neighbor screamed after discovering Savio’s body because he knew she was dead.

It appears his arguments were laid out well and on target.

Jose Lopez presented the closing arguments for the defense and talked about patriotism, the importance of jury service and most importantly that a person is presumed innocent.

He said that the state hasn’t proved anything.

In a likely effort to counteract the very damaging testimony of divorce attorney Harold Smith, Lopez said that the defense didn’t hide anything from the jurors which is why they called Smith .

He also attacked Savio’s sister in his closing saying that she made up her testimony about threats that Peterson allegedly made because she didn’t say anything right after Savio was found.

Lopez attacked Stacy Peterson’s Pastor’s testimony and the divorce attorney’s testimony as well as a college friend of Savio’s.

He also said all of the hearsay testimony is meaningless unless it was a homicide and that the state cannot prove that it was.

After he rested, it was the prosecutions turn and James Glasgow offered up the rebuttal. He point by point refuted the information that was presented by Lopez and said that when all of the evidence is combined, scientific, circumstantial and statementsi n connection with the case that it proves very clearly that Peterson murdered Savio.

Jurors did not start deliberating today due to how long the closing arguments took. The will return to court on Wednesday morning, receive their instructions and then  deliberations in the Drew Peterson trial are expected to begin.

How do you think it will turn out.  Will Drew Peterson be found innocent or guilty? Stay Tuned.

Related articles

• Closing arguments to begin in Drew Peterson trial

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