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Pathologist Testifies About Savio's Injuries

Testimony in the Drew Peterson murder trial continues after the defense withdrew its mistrial motion Wednesday morning.

 

Updated 5:15 p.m. 

Instead of a mistrial, defense attorney Ralph Meczyk asked Judge Edward Burmila to strike all of Dr. Larry Blum's testimony and the testimony of any witnesses who have any connection to what Blum had to say.

Burmila rejected this request but told the jury to disregard what Blum said about "crawling" into Kathleen Savio's bathtub.

Blum testified throughout the entire afternoon about the 13 supposedly fresh injuries covering Kathleen Savio's body.

Savio had only bruises across the front of her body and abrasions and only abrasions all over the back of her body. She also had a deep, inch-long laceration to the back of her head.

"It looked like she was brutalized that night," said Pam Bosco, a friend of the family of Peterson's missing fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.

"The horror of what Kathleen Savio must have gone through before she died," Bosco said.

Blum's testimony will continue Thursday morning.

Updated 3:45 p.m. 

Everyone is back in court. No mistrial motion has been filed. Defense has chided the prosecution for continually slipping up and acting against Judge Edward Burmila's orders. 

"The disrespect for the court in that regard is shocking to the conscience."

Updated 3:03 p.m. 

The forensic pathologist called by prosecutors may have prompted another call for a mistrial.

Judge Edward Burmila forbade prosecutors from discussing how Dr. Larry Blum climbed into Kathleen Savio's bathtub during his investigation. Blum briught it up without prompting.

A visibly irritated Burmila called a brief recess. One of the defense attorneys indicated that he and his co-counsel will call for a mistrial after the break.

Updated 12:30 p.m. 

Kernc testified that Savio told her about the time Peterson allegedly attacked her at knifepoint. She produced a handwritten statement but then crossed out any mention of a knife.

Kernc also said that while she was co-workers with Peterson, they were "never friends." 

Updated 12:11 p.m. 

Former Bolingbrook Police Lt. Teresa Kernc was still on the witness stand when Judge Edward Burmila called a break for the jury to eat lunch.

Defense attorney Steve Greenberg pointed out that Savio supposedly claimed Drew Peterson would deny being in her house the day of the alleged break-in, but Peterson admitted to being at the home when Kernc questioned him.

Greenberg also said that Savio described the encounter as a "nice conversation" when she spoke to her next-door neighbor Mary Potarelli on that same day.

Updated 10:52 a.m. 

Retired Bolingbrook police Lt. Teresa Kernc continued her testimony by retelling Kathleen Savio's story of Drew Peterson breaking into her home, menacing her at knifepoint and threatening to kill her.

Kernc also said Savio told her Peterson held her against her will for three hours, recounted their entire lives together and blamed her for everything that went wrong between them.

Savio had been served a criminal complaint charging her with battery about 20 minutes before she called the police that morning, defense attorney Steve Greenberg revealed during his cross-examination.

Original story 

Drew Peterson's defense has withdrawn its mistrial motion.

Testimony from former Bolingbrook Police Lt. Teresa Kernc should continue.  

"The defendant, Drew Peterson, wants this jury to decide this case," said Peterson attorney Joseph "Shark" Lopez.

Lopez added that Peterson wasn't "hiding behind legal technicalities." Lopez asked Judge Edward Burmila to strike all hearsay testimony given so far, to prohibit further hearsay testimony, and to reject a prosecution motion to admit testimony from a man who says Peterson offered him $25,000 to find a hit man to kill his third wife Kathleen Savio.

Burmila rejected all three requests.

The Judge will issue an instruction to the jury when they are brought in this morning.

After the jury returns, testimony will continue from retired Bolingbrook Police Officer Teresa Kernc, who was on the stand yesterday afternoon.

Lawyers for accused wife-killer Drew Peterson had asked for a mistrial for the third time in only nine days. A goof by the same prosecutor has prompted the judge to go home early and figure out whether the case can go on.

"It was my fault," said Assistant State's Attorney Kathleen Patton. "I don't know why I asked that question. There's no excuse."

Patton asked retired Bolingbrook police Lt. Teresa Kernc—who is now the mayor of Diamond—whether she advised Peterson's third wife Kathleen Savio to seek an order of protection against her estranged husband.

Less than two hours earlier, before taking a midday recess, Judge Edward Burmila instructed prosecutors not to ask questions about the protective order, which Savio did not choose to pursue.

"I was absolutely specific," the judge said.

"You interjected 'order of protection' into the case when I specifically said not to do that," Burmila said. "There was only one thing I told you not to go into and that's exactly what you went into."

Related Topics: Drew Peterson, Kathleen Savio, and Murder Trial

walt scherff

11:15 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I find it a little odd that your articles on this case always refer to 'Shark' Lopez, yet you never refer to the sleazy prosecution -- I'm begining to believe that the prosecution should be the next ones to go on trial --

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Francis M. Regan

11:23 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Ken who cares what Lopez's wife done, it has nothing to do with the case. Walt can we say bias reporting!

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Ken Olsen

2:11 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The defense teams likes to trash talk all the witnesses so it's nice to see someone doing it to them and having proof to do so.

Ken Olsen

11:26 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

A blog about Drew Peterson's defense team.. This blog has posted a story and proof about Lisa M Lopez being arrested years ago for felony theft. Another one of Drew Peterson's defense lawyers with a shady past. This does not shock me.
http://jafovoice.blogspot.com/

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Reality Bytes!

12:12 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

If a person makes a threat and the person they threaten ends up dead, I would think that should be used as evidence especially when the person doing the threatening has something to gain. Peterson had a lot to gain from Savio's death. His home, his children and his pension were all up in the air. Greed can do crazy things to people. If he actually tried to hire a hitman, it should be used against him in court, hiding it is only helping him get away with murder. Francis Regan - No need to reply to my comment, we all know what you think, and it has nothing to do with my opinion!!!

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joliet resident

1:45 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Pro streeter, thank you for stating the obvious. I don't know who these people are ranting about poor Drew but they obviously have a horse in the race!! Unfortunately, it looks like we have a less than stellar judge on this case too!

Kathy Jackson

2:18 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

maybe this will get to mr plitano if the people that the hearsay is all about and being argued about because they didn't go to the police, if they did go to the police in bollingbrook who exactly would they talk to? His peers, supervisors or the chief. None of them want this headache and will do nothing if they can. What retribution would come from the police to those that reported peterson. The police do have a thin blue line and protect each other for as long as they can. I know this because I was an officer and saw plenty

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Francis M. Regan

2:28 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Drew had no reason to worry about his pension in the divorce settlement,
    (40 ILCS 5/3-144.1) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 3-144.1)
    Sec. 3-144.1. All pensions, refunds or disability pension benefits granted under this Article, and every portion thereof, shall be exempt from attachment or garnishment process and shall not be seized, taken, subjected to, detained or levied upon by virtue of any judgment, or any process or proceedings whatsoever issued out of or by any court for the payment and satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damage, claim, demand or judgment against a pensioner, refund applicant or other beneficiary hereunder.
(Source: P.A. 84-546.)

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tom

2:49 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Francis,

Did you even read this before you copy/pasted it? No where in it does it say anything about divorce.

Good thing you're not a lawyer and only play one on the internet!

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Francis M. Regan

4:26 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Sorry Tom it isn't a copy and paste! I have the actual law article on paper.

Flora Dora

2:33 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

As Alice said, "Curiouser and curiouser... " We can only hope that Justice will prevail.

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Francis M. Regan

2:44 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Kathy Jackson reports were filed by Officers for domestics between Kathy Savio and Drew Peterson. Once the reports are filed its up to the administration to handle the situation, not the officers.

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Francis M. Regan

3:14 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Wrong Tom, go and learn about downstate pensions which this applys too ! I know Officers that got divorced and used the above pension code law and won . Plus read it , it says demand or judgment against a pensioner, what do you think a divorce settlement is? Demand or judgement.

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tom

3:29 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Because you "know people" we should take your word and not that of legal experts. Got it!

Would Alex Moreli and Stephen Peterson be some of these officers that you're talking about?

Francis M. Regan

4:00 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Tom sorry to burst your bubble, no on Moreli or Drews son Stephen! Feel free to call the downstate pension for Police Officers and see what they tell you. I also believe Drew used the pension law in his divorce from his second wife Vicky.

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tom

5:26 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Francis,

So you're saying that Judge Burmila lied when he said ""Once they were divorced, the defendant's pension became a marital asset and whether or not Ms. Savio was going to get the pension was completely up to the judge." ?

You, a retired cop friend of Drew's, think that you know the law better than the judge.

Since you say that Stephen didn't use the law that you typed from your legal paper, his ex-wife Teresa must either be happy (for the money) or worried (that she may also drown in a dry bathtub).

Francis M. Regan

4:10 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I truely believe the incompetent Prosecution is purposely trying for a mistrial so they can regroup and get their crap together to retry Drew!!

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Francis M. Regan

5:39 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Bosco just wants the fame and fortune.

john bruno

5:33 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Will someone please shut up that Bosco woman? She adds nothing to any discussion save some goofy statements that lack substance.

Tell her to ask her buddy Chuckie Pelkie how many murder trials, that ASA James Glasgow, has tried to a jury?

It is either one or none.

He shouldn't be trying this case...simple as that. The screwups will continue, folks, deal with it.

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Hello

8:14 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012

Hi Joel

Nice to have you back...

Francis M. Regan

5:38 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Tom ,Burmila is an excellent trial Judge , but most likely is not well versed in pension law and never handled a pension case. I don't know if Stephen used the pension law in his divorce.

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tom

10:19 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Francis,
You are really full of yourself aren't you!

You think that you, an ex-cop know more about the law than a judge!

Francis M. Regan

10:30 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Believe it or not its known that once in awhile a police Officer is known to out wit a judge. That's why you have lawyers that specialize in different areas if law, they can't know every aspect of criminal or civil law, it depends what their field of expertise is.

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george

1:44 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012

I do not think that the SA Prosecution team on the Public Defender are doing anything less than would be expected. However i am not sure where the judge Burmila came into play he apparently is not quite a judge of any degree and wondering how he was put into a position as such Both the SA and PD had to of filed multiple briefs on the case sitting over the last four years so i think your community needs to get rid on this Judge . He is way out of his league "Traffic Clerk Judge "

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