Crime & Safety
Drew Peterson Lawyers to Get Look at Savio Evidence After Secret Hearing
Drew Peterson's attorneys will get to look at material related to Kathleen Savio's 10-year-old battery arrests.
Drew Peterson's lawyers convinced a Will County judge to let them look at expunged battery cases brought against the former Bolingbrook cop's slain wife.
Defense lawyers Joseph "Shark" Lopez, Lisa Lopez and Joel Brodsky got the go-ahead from Judge Edward Burmila during a closed-door meeting Monday.
Burmila granted the defense motion to "open two unrelated files," and is allowing the lawyers to copy and take notes from court transcripts as well.
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Savio, who was Peterson's third wife, was arrested twice in 2002 on misdemeanor charges for allegedly battering both her husband and his new young love—and future fourth wife—Stacy Peterson.
Savio was found not guilty in both cases. Drew Peterson claims Savio and her attorney, Harry Smith, coerced his son Kris into lying on the witness stand. Peterson's defense attorneys have also recently speculated that Savio perjured herself during her trials.
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After her acquittals, Savio had both cases expunged and there is no public record of either one available in the Will County Circuit Clerk's office.
Peterson is set to , who was found drowned in a dry bathtub in March 2004. The state police insisted she was the victim of a freak tub accident until fourth wife Stacy mysteriously vanished in October 2007.
Stacy remains missing but the state police have yet to charge anyone with harming her.
The motions granted by Burmila Monday are under seal and cannot be seen by the public. When asked about the motions and the secret hearing in Burmila's chambers, defense attorney Joseph Lopez said he could not comment.
Joseph Lopez, who is married to defense attorney Lisa Lopez, the latest lawyer to enter an appearance for Peterson's defense, did discuss aspects of Savio's arrests that have been mentioned in previous hearings.
"Based on what was said in open court, we're going to see those (Savio trial) transcripts," Lopez said. "You're going to learn about a different Kathy from beyond the grave."
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