The judge presiding over Drew Peterson’s murder trial again denied a defense motion for a directed verdict to acquit the former Bolingbrook police sergeant of killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio.
Defense attorneys and prosecutors spent about four hours Friday debating jury instructions before defense attorney Steve Greenberg argued for the directed verdict. He contended that prosecutors had failed to present enough evidence for jurors to find Peterson guilty.
“It’s a scary day when someone can be on trial or be convicted or have it put in front of a jury when the state still cannot today articulate for you what happened,” Greenberg said.
Peterson is charged with first-degree murder in the 2004 bathtub drowning of Savio, whose death initially was handled as an accident. Savio’s body was exhumed and Peterson was charged with murder after Peterson’s 23-year-old fourth wife, Stacy, disappeared in 2007.
Prosecutors believe that Peterson murdered Stacy, but he has not been charged.
Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Chris Koch said the combination of expert testimony, hearsay statements alleging Peterson killed Savio and the state’s circumstantial evidence was enough for a reasonable person to find Peterson guilty.
Judge Edward Burmila had previously denied Greenberg’s motion at the end of the prosecution’s case. He reiterated Friday that there were sufficient facts for a reasonable person to find Peterson guilty of killing Savio.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday.
