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Drew Too 'Cold-Hearted' For Jury To See On Tape

The Judge in the Drew Peterson murder case won't let the jury see video interviews the accused killer gave before his arrest.

 

Accused wife-killer Drew Peterson comes off as so "cold-hearted" in a TV interview that the judge in his murder case won't let the jury watch a video clip of the network appearance.

Judge Edward Burmila ruled during a Thursday morning hearing that the jury cannot be exposed to the interview in any form, but that Peterson's statements in six other video interviews can be transcribed and read in court.

But even these apparently less "cold-hearted" interviews can't be shown during Peterson's trial, Burmila ruled, because the television reporters were "accusatory" and treated Peterson as if he was the subject of a "cross-examination."

The judge also questioned whether the jury might be turned off by the television reporters themselves.

"I don't know what the feelings of the jurors will be about those news reporters," Burmila said.

The completely forbidden video showed Peterson outside the home of his slain third wife, Kathleen Savio, Burmila said. The interviewer told Peterson to look at the house and asked how he feels about Savio, considering she is the mother of two of his children.

"Well, life goes on," Peterson responded, according to Burmila. The judge then said, "That shows the defendant to be cold-hearted."

During Thursday's hearing, Burmila also ruled that the Rev. Neil Schori, a pastor who has said Drew Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, told him that Drew Peterson killed Savio, will be allowed to take the witness stand.

Drew Peterson's attorneys tried to bar Schori's testimony on the grounds that it violated spousal privilege.

The judge also cleared the way for Wheaton attorney Harry Smith, who represented Savio while she was divorcing Peterson, to testify at the murder trial.

Smith has said that Savio predicted Peterson would kill her and make her death appear accidental.

The state police did in fact rule that Savio's death was an accident after she was found drowned in a dry bathtub in March 2004. The state police were forced to reassess that conclusion and eventually arrest Peterson after his next wife—Stacy Peterson—mysteriously vanished in October 2007.

Stacy Peterson remains missing. Smith said she visited him just days before she disappeared. Smith claims Stacy Peterson told him Drew Peterson killed Savio and asked if she could "get more money (in a divorce) if we threatened to tell the police how he killed Kathy?”

Drew Peterson's attorneys argued that Smith's testimony violated attorney-client privilege. Burmila shot that down but said if Smith takes the stand he will compell him to spill about everything Savio told him, including facts that might make her look bad.

Defense attorney Joseph "Shark" Lopez suggested these incriminating facts may involve two battery cases Savio was charged with in 2002. The cases stemmed from disputes with Drew and Stacy Peterson. Savio was found not guilty in both instances.

Defense attorney Joseph "Shark" Lopez speculated that Savio lied when she was being tried for battering her husband and his new wife.

Lopez theorized that Savio may have "admitted to some of the allegations she denied later."

"Which would lead us to believe she lied under oath," Lopez said. "And if she lied under oath, her credibility's shot."

Related Topics: Courts, Drew Peterson, Kathleen Savio, Murder, Stacy Peterson, and TV

Watchful Eye

3:13 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012

Ha. This is such a joke on the part of the judge. The whole point, I would think of Peterson and his lawyer doing tv, radio and print stunts was to get a reaction from the public. Especially, the local folks, who might end up on Peterson's jury. I doubt these appearances and events were meant to put Peterson in an unfavorable light, or to have people think poorly of him, even though it seems many people DO have a negative opinion of him. Negative opinion, even though some might think he's getting the shaft in the way he's been detained on a high bond, and his trial delayed.

That being said, the judge pretty much admitted himself that he thinks Peterson is a cold and heartless individual after watching him in a video. So, what does he do? He takes it upon himself to save Peterson from his own doing, and that of his attorney, by ruling that the jury can't be subjected to coldness of the murder defendant, which might sway their minds when rendering a verdict.

Good job, Judge Burmila. Save the murder defendant from his own stupidity, and that of his attorney, by sparing the jury and keeping them from coming to the same conclusion that you did.

Shaking my head....

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Common Sense

10:13 am on Friday, June 15, 2012

I think we should just keep letting these lawyers postpone the trial for 20-30 years and let this creep die in jail.

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Hugo

2:46 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012

Brace yourselves. Your tax dollars are going to provide Drew Peterson with a big fat check when this is all said and done. When you fight tooth-and-nail to get hearsay evidence admitted....that pretty much means, that's all you got.

Sounds like reasonable doubt is already baked into this cake.

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Watchful Eye

3:37 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012

LOL, oh cut it out, Hugo. He is awaiting trial. He hasn't been wrongly convicted, if that's what you're talking about. If he's acquitted, what grounds does he have to sue anyone if, in fact, he was indicted by a grand jury, arrested and tried?

Fat check? I don't see it. Unless he's special, and he's a murder defendant who can turn around and sue the government for whatever it is you think he's going to get paid for. Can you elaborate on it and explain how this is going to happen? I mean, he's going to get a big, fat taxpayers' check based on what?

Watchful Eye

3:41 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012

Oh, and BTW, Casey Anthony says she didn't murder her daughter. The State of Florida said she did. She was arrested, tried and acquitted.

Where does she go, and who does she sue to get that big, fat check from the taxpayers? She is forever free to do so, isn't she? There was no video of her dumping her daughter, no confession. In fact, her scumbag of a lawyer said it was all a big accident, and Casey's father is the one to blame for disposing of the dead little Caylee. Can she sue him and get a big, fat check?

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John Moreli

12:40 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012

Case Anthony should be charged and tried by the Feds for civil rights violation!

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Bluejeans

9:18 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Savio's credibility may be shot? And Drew Peterson's isn't??

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