Judge rules law in Drew Peterson case constitutional

Chicago Tribune
October 2, 2009
Associated Press
via chicagotribune.com

JOLIET, Ill. - A judge who denied a request to move the murder trial of former Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson out of Will County has dealt Peterson's attorneys another setback.

On Friday, after denying the change of venue motion, Will County Judge Stephen White ruled constitutional a hearsay law prosecutors want to use to present statements Kathleen Savio made before her death.

State's Attorney James Glasgow wouldn't discuss what statements he wants a jury to hear. But when Peterson was arrested in May he said the law would allow Savio to "testify from the grave."

Peterson has pleaded not guilty in Savio's 2004 death. He's a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, but has not been charged.

My guess would be that the evidence in question is the letter to the District Attorney claiming that Drew's next step would be to take her children (which he was already trying to do) or to kill her (which he ended up doing.) In writing and mailed to an official. Good for Kitty.