Ruling in Drew Peterson Retrial Request Expected Soon
By: Michael C. Fehn
Updated: February 21, 2013
JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- A judge outside Chicago says he'll rule on Drew Peterson's request for a new trial.
The decision Thursday in the former suburban police officer's murder case comes after two days of testimony on the request.
Jurors convicted Peterson in September of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in 2004. He's also a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.
Peterson's current legal team argues he should get a new trial, in part, because Peterson's longtime lead attorney allegedly bungled last year's trial.
If he rejects the retrial motion, Judge Edward Burmila has said he'll immediately sentence Peterson on his murder conviction. The 59-year-old faces a maximum 60-year prison term.
If he's sentenced, several relatives of Savio's plan to address the court, including her brother and sister.
The decision Thursday in the former suburban police officer's murder case comes after two days of testimony on the request.
Jurors convicted Peterson in September of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in 2004. He's also a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.
Peterson's current legal team argues he should get a new trial, in part, because Peterson's longtime lead attorney allegedly bungled last year's trial.
If he rejects the retrial motion, Judge Edward Burmila has said he'll immediately sentence Peterson on his murder conviction. The 59-year-old faces a maximum 60-year prison term.
If he's sentenced, several relatives of Savio's plan to address the court, including her brother and sister.
