In Session
Judge: “The law in the State of Illinois is the law . . . Mr. Greenberg says he doesn’t want to put the Court on the spot; when it comes to motions of this type, the Court is always on the spot . . . in this case, the State has met the corpus delecti, in the Court’s opinion; they demonstrated that a death occurred, and if you believe their pathologists a criminal agency caused it . . . the State is entitled to present a circumstantial case before a fact-finder. What is the role the Court has to play at this juncture at this point? Is there any rational finder of fact who could find the defendant guilty on these facts? There’s no question that much of what’s before this jury right now is in conflict . . . Dr. Mitchell says there’s no significant trauma on the body; the opposite conclusion comes from Dr. Blum, that the trauma on the body IS significant . . . looking in the light most favorable to the State, the jury could return a guilty verdict here . . . the State presented evidence of the defendant’s intent to kill Ms. Savio . . . the testimony of the State’s expert witnesses that Dr. Mitchell’s opinions were wrong, and that the wound to the back of the head would not render Kathleen Savio unconscious . . . some mechanical means would be required to have her inhale fluid . . . if we distill down the State’s case, the jury could find on these facts that the defendant was guilty of this offense . . . the defendant’s motion is denied.”

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Drew Peterson trial updates: Defense calls first witness

2:25 p.m. Peterson's 'a funny guy'
Mary Pontarelli testified that Drew Peterson always seemed like a friendly person who loved to joke around.

“He’s a funny guy, he makes jokes about things, not in a mean way, a fun way,” she testified.

She said she never saw any injuries on Kathleen Savio, including on Savio's neck in the fall of 2003.

Pontarelli also told jurors that her close friend was a fighter.

“She’s tough — she wouldn’t let someone hit her without hitting back,” she said.

3:35 p.m. Savio had $1 million life insurance policy
Joseph Steadman testified that in 1997 a $1 million insurance policy was taken out on Kathleen Savio’s life with Drew Peterson as the beneficiary.

The policy was changed in 2002 as part of the couple’s divorce with Peterson’s and Savio’s two boys named as the beneficiaries.

The defense has now called FBI special agent Joseph Basile, who was involved in the investigation into death of Kathleen Savio after Stacy Peterson disappeared in 2007, mostly interviewing Bolingbrook police officers.

Updates at link
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... ory?page=1

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Drew Peterson trial updates: Son of Savio, Peterson to testify

4:40 p.m. Son of Peterson, Savio to testify
Defense attorney Joel Brodsky said the next witness will be Tom Peterson, son of Drew Peterson and Kathleen Savio. Tom Peterson was valedictorian of his Bolingbrook High School class in 2011.

Updated at link
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... ory?page=1

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

August 27, 5:08 p.m. Court adorned for the day.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

TRIAL DAY 18 (8-28-12)

STATE OF IL. VS. DREW PETERSON


Trial Day Starts in Joliet Il. - Tuesday, August 28, 2012 8:30 AM CT

Days will be ....MONDAY through Friday, every week until it goes to jury!!!

There will be no camera's in courtroom unfortunately so we will have to rely on twitter for information as to what is going on in courtroom & also Updates from several outlets.

TRIAL UPDATES: Chicago Tribune Breaking News
(Link to Daily Update Story)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... g&lpos=Sub

LIVESTREAMING FOR TRU TV
http://superusvox.com/index.php/specialty/trutv
or
http://livetvcafe.net/video/7Y78YR9H9DKB/Tru-TV

WGN TV - Drew Peterson trial (links to daily blogs)
http://www.wgntv.com/news/drewpeterson/

5 nbcchicago - Peterson Trial Live Blog
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/dr ... 60506.html

InSession on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/InSession




TWITTER LINKS:

IN SESSIONS.
http://twitter.com/InSession

Joseph Hosey (reporter)
Joseph Hosey@ShorewdILPatch
http://twitter.com/ShorewdILPatch

Tweets for Drew Peterson case
https://twitter.com/#!/search/drew%20...+peterson+case

Jon Seidel
Jon Seidel@SeidelContent
https://twitter.com/seidelcontent

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

It's not hard to dislike Drew P. He certainly appears to have done away with both wives.

But what the prosecution presented would not convince me "beyond reasonable doubt"

But,,, who knows what this jury will make of it? I would be surprised if they vote "Guilty" but perhaps it will be a hung jury?

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The trial is due to start half an hour earlier (8:30)... but I don't suppose Burmila will be on time

The early start will be before the Jury are called... in order to discuss Harry Smith's proposed testimony..

From WGN NEWS

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Drew Peterson's son Tom will NOT be taking the stand today so the Prosecution can prepare for cross examination.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Drew Peterson trial updates:

8:40 a.m. Defense expects lengthy deliberations
Defense attorneys said they expect to wrap up their case on Wednesday, when they plan to call Peterson's son Thomas to the stand.

"His testimony is going to help clear up a lot of issues," attorney Joel Brodsky said.

The defense attorney said they believe there will be a lengthy deliberation by jurors.

Updated at link
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 7951.story

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Peterson Trial Blog: Pathologist who says Savio's death was accidental takes stand

August 28, 9:45 a.m. Court just started at 9:40 a.m. Defense and prosecution arguing over pathologist motions. First defense witness will be Dr. Vince DiMaio, a hired pathologist who says Kathleen Savio's death was accidental. Jury reportedly wearing red, white & blue.

updates at link
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-drew-pe ... .htmlstory

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

In Session:
Judge Burmila takes the bench. Prosecutor Connor says that before the jury comes in, there are a couple of issues that need to be handled. The first issue is some demonstrative aids that the defense hopes to use, but to which the State objects. One of these demonstratives is entitled “Slip and Fall Dynamics”; according to Connor, it has no relevance to this case. Meczyk responds: “With all due respect, this is a meritless objection . . . this is only a demonstrative assistant; that’s all this is.”

Prosecutor: defense illustration of a slip and fall shows someone walking on a sidewalk, no tub, no bathroom

prosecutors say defense exhibits are "out of context" and would force them to bring in Savio bathtub to counter

judge allows most exhibits, despite strenuous argument from Glasgow, who said the exhibits were extremely prejudicial....

In Session
Judge Burmila rules that one of the defense demonstrative exhibits will be banned. He allows the other one, however. A third exhibit will be allowed, after all the test and other additive material has been removed. Glasgow addresses the bench: “This demonstrates a woman whose hands are in front of her as she falls backward . . . there’s nothing around this woman that she’s going to strike; she’s falling in free space. She couldn’t create the velocity to create this injury. This is so out of context . . . this is so far out from anything involved in the State that it would be so prejudicial . . . I would just ask the Court to reconsider its ruling, based on that.” Judge: “It seems to me that you’re aptly able to cross-examine the expert . . . no one will be allowed to argue that this is a depiction of what happened to Ms. Savio; it’s a demonstration about falling, not about Ms. Savio . . . if that opens the door to something you want to try to avail the jury of during rebuttal, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it . . . this is only the dynamic of a fall. If the cross-examination reveals it didn’t happen in this particular fall, then the expert will be damaged by that.”

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

August 28, 10:01 a.m. Jury brought in at 10;02. Judge Burmila commented before they got in, "I would have liked to have started an hour ago." Dr. Jeffrey Jentzen, Forensic Pathologist, is the first witness to take the stand.
Ralph Meczyk leads direct.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

In Session
Dr. Jentzen lists the documents that he has reviewed in the matter of the death of Kathleen Savio (scene reports, Savio’s medical reports, the autopsy reports, the expert testimony of Drs. Blum and Case, and written reports by Drs. DiMaio, Leetsma, and Spitz). “Have you been able to arrive at a conclusion as to the manner of death?” “I have . . . it’s my opinion that Kathleen Savio died from drowning, and that the manner of death is accidental . . . because of the circumstances of the death, the position of the body, the injury patterns, the disease processes, and the toxicology examination.”

Jentzen says there were no defensive injuries on Savio's face or body, he is standing up, demonstrating where those would be.

Jentzen noted a necklace Savio was wearing was still intact, which meant to him there likely was no struggle.

Jentzen: Savio's in-tact necklace significant because one would expect attacker to grab it.

InSession:witness says most of Savio's injuries occurred on her left side; no sign of nails broken/ def. injuries to indicate a struggle

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Drew Peterson trial updates: 'The manner of death is accidental'

11 a.m. 'Classic injury caused by a fall'
Pathologist Jeffrey Jentzen said the cut to Kathleen Savio’s head would be expected in a tub fall.

“As I mentioned before, this is a classic injury caused by a fall, especially in an area where there are numerous areas for the body to strike.

“I believe that the force was coming in a horizontal direction and it struck in the head when she fell backward, and the boney portion of her head hit the surface of the tub.”

He said the surface of the tub could have caused such a wound and the wound on Savio was “certainly consistent with an impact onto the edge of the tub.”

The reason no blood was found on the tub was because wounds typically do not bleed immediately, and Savio's hair would also have temporarily slowed any transfer of the blood to the tub wall.

“The wound basically tears and then it comes together as the force is removed, and then there would be bleeding after that,” Jentzen said. “(Depending) upon the amount of hair, that would also impede the blood flow outside of the wound.”

Jentzen said the force needed to cause Savio's head injury would have been enough to render her unconscious.

Updated at link
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 7951.story

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Peterson Trial Blog: Cross-examination of forensic pathologist

August 28, 2:08 p.m. Cross examination of Dr. Jentzendidn't go for long before an objection raised by the defense put the trial on hold again. Jurors have cleared the courtroom while attorneys argue and look up transcripts.


Updates at link
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-drew-pe ... .htmlstory

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Drew Peterson trial updates: Second defense expert says Savio's death an accident

5:50 p.m. Four more witnesses tonight
Judge Edward Burmila has typically wrapped up each day of the trial about 5 p.m. but tonight things will go later.

Dr. Vincent DiMaio's testimony is done. There are four more defense witnesses to go, starting with Robin Queen, a special agent with the Illinois State Police.

3:50 p.m. Another expert calls death an accident
Dr. Vincent DiMaio, who has written several widely-used forensic pathology textbooks, testified that Kathleen Savio’s death was an accident.

“I concluded that the death was an accident due to slipping in the bathtub and striking the back of the head, this stunned…Ms. Savio or rendered her unconscious. She slipped under the water, and she drowned,” he testified.

He said the injuries on Savio’s body are consistent with an accidental fall and not with a struggle.

“Is there any evidence at all…of a struggle or an assault?” asked defense attorney Ralph Mecyzk.

“You know you can look at any one injury. What you’re looking for is a pattern of injuries, because one injury on a hand could be due to anything,” he said. “But when you see the pattern, you have to go by the whole pattern of injuries. The pattern is up and down the left side of the body. This is the pattern of a fall – not an assault.”

Updated at link
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 7951.story

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Drew Peterson trial updates: Testimony done for the day

6 p.m. Testimony done for the day
The defense called two members of the Illinois State Police who testified very briefly about interviewing Kathleen Savio's friend Kristin Anderson, who testified previously that Savio kept a knife under her mattress for protection.

The judge then told Drew Peterson that he has the right to testify or not, and he will be asking Peterson for his decision about that when the defense rests its case.

Court is done for the day. Motions are scheduled to be heard at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday with testimony to follow.

Updates at link
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 7951.story

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

TRIAL DAY 19 (8-29-12)

STATE OF IL. VS. DREW PETERSON


Trial Day Starts in Joliet Il. - Wednesday, August 29, 2012 8:45 AM CT

Days will be ....MONDAY through Friday, every week until it goes to jury!!!

There will be no camera's in courtroom unfortunately so we will have to rely on twitter for information as to what is going on in courtroom & also Updates from several outlets.

TRIAL UPDATES: Chicago Tribune Breaking News
(Link to Daily Update Story)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... g&lpos=Sub

LIVESTREAMING FOR TRU TV
http://superusvox.com/index.php/specialty/trutv
or
http://livetvcafe.net/video/7Y78YR9H9DKB/Tru-TV

WGN TV - Drew Peterson trial (links to daily blogs)
http://www.wgntv.com/news/drewpeterson/

5 nbcchicago - Peterson Trial Live Blog
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/dr ... 60506.html

InSession on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/InSession




TWITTER LINKS:

IN SESSIONS.
http://twitter.com/InSession

Joseph Hosey (reporter)
Joseph Hosey@ShorewdILPatch
http://twitter.com/ShorewdILPatch

Tweets for Drew Peterson case
https://twitter.com/#!/search/drew%20...+peterson+case

Jon Seidel
Jon Seidel@SeidelContent
https://twitter.com/seidelcontent

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light