Hearsay, Hearsay: Drew Peterson Trial Now In Hands Of Wardrobe-Coordinated Jury

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 4, 2012 10:30PM

Closing arguments were delivered in the Drew Peterson trial today, after a little over a month of arguments and missteps by both prosecutors and defense attorneys. Each side took its time to make its case that Peterson either killed his third wife Kathleen Savio or that Savio's 2004 death was accidental.

Both the courtroom and overflow room were packed by 9:30 a.m. According to the Tribune people began lining up for seats in the courtroom at 1 p.m. Monday. (Please, let there be photos of people tailgating while waiting for seats.) At 10:15 a.m. Will County Assistant State's Attorney Chris Koch began his closing statements by repeatedly imploring the jury to use "common sense" in finding Peterson guilty and attacking the testimony of defense pathologist Dr. Vincent DeMaio while stating the 2007 autopsy of Savio's exhumed body by Dr. Larry Blum was more believable.

Attorney Joseph "The Shark" Lopez argued the state had no case without hearsay statements made from witnesses and mocked the testimony of some witnesses as "rumor and innuendo."

“But you know what? The state hasn't proved anything beyond reasonable doubt — this case is riddled with doubt like Swiss cheese. You might as well get out a Ouija board to determine what happened.”

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow finally offered a rebuttal to Lopez's statements around 2:30 p.m. Glasgow made a tactical error in trying to match the emotion of the defense. By 2:35 p.m. the jury was ushered out of the courtroom after two defense objections. After a sidebar, Glasgow regrouped and offered a point-by-point rebuttal of the defense's case.

“In this case you combine all of the evidence -- the scientific evidence from the expert, all of the circumstantial evidence that's been admitted regarding the physical attacks... (and) Stacy's statements most importantly, and the defendant's statements to the media showing consciousness of guilt — we don't have to prove each beyond a reasonable doubt,” Glasgow said. “But when combined...you can absolutely see that we have proven this beyond a reasonable doubt. It's solid, it's real, and it proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Drew Peterson killed Kathleen Savio in cold blood. And we ask that you return a verdict of guilty. Thank you.”

Judge Edward Burmila then gave the case over the jury, who will begin deliberations Wednesday. Let's hope they put as much detail into the evidence as they did their coordinated wardrobes.