Drew Peterson trial update murder trial day 20 week 5 recap

Drew Peterson trial update

(Photo: bittenandbound.com)

The Drew Peterson trial  is nearly at it’s completion with Peterson’s defense team resting their case yesterday and deciding not to call Drew Peterson to the stand.

Peterson’s defense team had correctly predicted that when they had their turn, it would only last a few days.

They have also predicted though that when jurors retire to deliberate that it will be a lengthy deliberation.

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Yesterday’s most explosive witness was Stacy Peterson‘s attorney Harry Smith with this testimony overshadowing the eagerly awaited testimony of Drew Peterson’s son.

Drew Peterson’s fourth wife Stacy has vanished and many presume that she died at the hands of Drew Peterson although he has not been charged in that case.

Defense attorney’s loudly bickered as to whether Smith should be called to the stand and , although they are not publicly admitting it, have likely regretted that decision.

He testified that Stacy told him that Drew Peterson killed his third wife, Kathleen Savio. There has been speculation that Stacy Peterson tried to use this knowledge to her benefit in negotiating a more favorable divorce settlement and that she was warned by her lawyer to be careful as that action could constitute extortion.

Smith denied it and said he told Stacy Peterson to be careful because she had was concealing a homicide.

His testimony was a huge boost to the prosecution team instead of the defense team team who was enraged and secured a ruling that Smith could be questioned as a hostile witness. Read more about yesterday’s events in the Drew Peterson Trial

The Chicago Tribune reports that State’s Attorney James Glasgow was overhead saying Smith’s testimony was “a gift from God”

Since the defense team has rested, state prosecutors  will now have the opportunity to to start recalling some witnesses to rebut the defense case.

Drew Peterson trial update state recalls witnesses

Famed pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden took the stand to refute the testimony provided by the two forensic pathologist that were called as expert witnesses yesterday by the defense, Dr. Jeffrey Jentzen and Dr. Vincent DiMaio by saying that Savio’s injuries were the result of a struggle.

Dr Baden had been hired by Savio’s family to conduct an autopsy for Kathleen Savio’s and concluded the manner of death was the result of a homicide.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Dr. Baden admitted under cross examination that the injuries of the diaphragm that he noticed and detailed were missed by other pathologist who did not note it in their reports. He said he has spent more time studying the diaphragm that other pathologist.

Drew Peterson’s defense team tried to undermine Dr. Baden’s  credibility by bringing up other cases that he was involved in, such as OJ Simpson case.

Dr Mary Case was also recalled to the stand to refute testimony from a prior defense witness who said that Savio could have had a brain injury that would have been undetectable at an autopsy. Case disagreed with those findings.

Drew Peterson trial update prosecution rests

Drew Peterson trial closing arguments begin Tuesday

The prosecution has rested their case.  Court will resume Friday and attorneys for both sides are expected to work on details as to what instructions will be provided to the jury.

Closing arguments will begin on Tuesday due to the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Please visit Las Vegas World News for the daily Drew Peterson trial update.

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